The Cricket Thread 2016

[tomd2103]

We've bowled poorly in this game, but our failure in this series is mainly down to poor batting.

It's been a bit of a stinker of a series for us.  The line up in positions 1-5 has gone from being a concern to a full blown problem and we've got the summer to work on it before we head down under next winter.  Hameed is the only real positive to emerge in the batting department along with the knockdown from Jennings and Buttler.   

[PaulWinch again]

We've been absolutely smashed in these last 3 Tests. There isn't the mental application there at all.

[paul_e]

What this series says, to me, is that we don't get enough of our players to play in different conditions and it means they struggle to play spin on length on a pitch like this.  The technical flaws in the batting were almost entirely getting caught forward when they should be back or vice versa, that's inexperience of the conditions.  Somehow we need to get our 16-24 year olds out into the world a lot more so they've got experience of all kinds of conditions once they break into the test side and they're not learning in such an unforgiving environment.

It's not just the batting, given where we had them at 307-6 they never should've got more than 400-450 but we let them slip the hook and sert a match winning score.  Our 2nd innings was then poor but it was yesterday morning with the ball where this game was lost.

I also think that we really need to review Cook's role.  He's done well but I think we might need to look at a new captain soon.  He's wilted under pressure a few times in this series (and in Bangladesh) and some of his decisions in this test were very questionable.  I think he's thinking along the same lines himself with some of his quotes about Root's potential as a captain this morning.

[Villan For Life]

I've thought throughout this tour that Cook looks like he's lacking motivation. Maybe he is and it's affecting both him and the team. I believe that his wife gave birth to their second child at the start of October and that he's hardly spent any time with them. That must be really tough.

Once this tour is over he can go back home and recharge his batteries, the next test isn't until next July. I think the test schedule over the past few weeks has been ridiculous, by the end of the 5th test we will have played 7 tests on the subcontinent in 2 months. It's hardly surprising that Cook looks mentally shot, it's a tough place to tour.

I suspect he wants one more shot at the Aussies down under so will stay on as captain to try and revenge the debacle of the last tour. If not his resignation will come soon after the 5th test. This side has some young talent emerging and we need an experienced captain to lead them. I hope he stays until we hopefully retain the Ashes next year and then resign on a high. I won't be surprised if he goes though.

[paul_e]

Decent day, 4 down after losing both openers cheaply is pretty good, should be looking to set a decent total here.  haven't seen much but I did catch the root dismissal which was very harsh, when there is a high degree of uncertainty I think they should really give the batsman the benefit of the doubt and I'm far from being convinced that the snick was bat of ball and not bat on floor.  If they found footage later which was more conclusive then I've missed that but the review at the time was one that I can't imagine management being happy about.

[PaulWinch again]

Fine knock from Moeen, we need him to go on from here. Mo has four centuries this year, which is a great effort. His are for improvement is his focus in his first half hour to an hour at the crease. That's where he's vulnerable.

[Villan For Life]

Fine knock from Moeen, we need him to go on from here. Mo has four centuries this year, which is a great effort. His are for improvement is his focus in his first half hour to an hour at the crease. That's where he's vulnerable.

He has had a good year but I think number four is too high in the order for him. Move him back down to seven.

[PaulWinch again]

I'd be inclined to have him at 5 or 6.

[PaulWinch again]

Top effort from Dawson and Rashid.

[beness]

the tail wagged and gave the bowlers something to work with. I just Hopw India don't go and knock 700+ now.

[paul_e]

The problem with the bowling will be that Cook is naturally negative in his field placings and that's normally ok because he can trust his seamers to get regular wickets in most conditions.  I honestly don't think our batting is why we're 3-0 - we'd love to get bigger scores and in 2nd test we were poor but other than that we've scored enough runs to be competitive but we've repeatedly failed to take advantage when we get a foothold with the ball.

[tomd2103]

I'd be inclined to have him at 5 or 6.

Just watching The Verdict on TV and although the current test is still going,  they are having a debate on the line up going forward towards the Ashes next year.  I think we are looking at Cook, Hameed, Jennings, Root, Bairstow, Stokes, Moeen, Woakes, ?, Broad, Anderson.  The panel were saying that Ali and Bairstow could change positions and were also talking about who that ? should be.  They were saying that there is a spot there for a spinner to come in as none of the current incumbents have really nailed down the spot.

[dcdavecollett]

Jennings's scores have been: a century (dropped on 0 before he'd scored, 0 and 1.

Not much to base future selection on!

He's got plenty to prove yet.

[PaulWinch again]

That's true, but I think he has talent and he can do a job.

[tomd2103]

Jennings's scores have been: a century (dropped on 0 before he'd scored, 0 and 1.

Not much to base future selection on!

He's got plenty to prove yet.

Got to be given a chance though Dave?