The International Cricket Thread 2018

[olaftab]

Buttler sounds like he is going to be a specialist batsman at 7.

No decent team should have a specialist batsman at number 7. Team will always be unbalanced with that.

[olaftab]

Nooooo. This is the most exciting thing that happens on the first morning of a Test match!
ECB supports ICC's proposal to scrap toss in Test cricket
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/44176355

[paul_e]

Buttler sounds like he is going to be a specialist batsman at 7.

No decent team should have a specialist batsman at number 7. Team will always be unbalanced with that.

I'm not sure I agree with that, if you have a wicket keeper who is good enough to bat higher and a genuine all rounder at 6 then 7 becomes a choice between a 6th bowler (or bowling all-rounder) or a 7th batsman. If you feel you need a 6th bowler on most pitches it suggests that you view 1-2 of the bowlers as gambles and want to be able to take them out of the attack if needed.   Given the balance of the England team I like the idea of having someone down the order who can do some real damage, that it's a guy who is very possibly the best t20 batsman in the world who can easily score at 10-12 an over is even better for the job I think he's there to do.

[olaftab]

You have lost me there Paul.  Classic teams in Test matches: Number 1 to 5 batters ( 4 specialists with 5 being a part time twirler but predominantly a thoroughbred batsman ) wicket keeper batsman at 6, genuine all rounder at 7 ( 6 and 7 can be swapped depending on batting quality of the incumbent) and 4 specialist bowlers. Job done.

[paul_e]

You have lost me there Paul.  Classic teams in Test matches: Number 1 to 5 batters ( 4 specialists with 5 being a part time twirler but predominantly a thoroughbred batsman ) wicket keeper batsman at 6, genuine all rounder at 7 ( 6 and 7 can be swapped depending on batting quality of the incumbent) and 4 specialist bowlers. Job done.

Exactly right, but our wicketkeeper is batting in the top 5 and our all rounder is a 6 so for 7 we either pick a 'finisher' to try to score big runs with the tail or we pick an extra bowler/all-rounder.  The issue is that if you pick an extra bowler you've got 6 to rotate and run the risk of under using a few or changing things around too much because you have too many options.  I think Buttler is a perfect choice at 7 in this situation becaues, as I said, he's probably the best t20 batsman in the world right now, letting him come in and try to score big is a massive bonus if the top 6 have managed to get 300(ish) on the board.

[UK Redsox]

Bit of rain at Lord's this morning but looks like the covers are either off or about to come off

[tomd2103]

Root has won the toss and decided to bat.  Still something a bit special for me about the first test of the summer at Lord's.  I think Pakistan should present a decent challenge, especially in the bowling department.  Things I'm hoping for over the course of this summer:

A solid opening partnership to develop
Root to really cement himself at number three
Bairstow to solidify his place as a top order batsman
A first choice spinner to emerge

In terms of the last one, I really haven't seen much of Bess.  Anyone know much about him?

[UK Redsox]

Disastrous start again by England

Root's shot was particularly bad

[Villan For Life]

So bloody frustrating. No apparent improvement over the winter tests down under.

[Villafirst]

Woakes dropped?

[Villan For Life]

Woakes dropped?

He didn’t play in the last test so not dropped for this one. I think Wood offers more as a bowler. Woakes is very similar to the rest of the seam attack, Wood brings variety.

[Villafirst]

Perhaps Woakes can make a rare appearance at Lancs tomorrow in the RL Cup? About time he played some cricket for the Bears!

[paul_e]

Woakes dropped?

He didn’t play in the last test so not dropped for this one. I think Wood offers more as a bowler. Woakes is very similar to the rest of the seam attack, Wood brings variety.

His record in home tests is too good to deserve to be dropped but his record outside England is terrible so he's a tough call for me. I think overall he's a much better player than Wood given he does take wickets, is a very good fielder and he brings important runs in the lower order but I understand why he's been dropped after the winter. The toughest part is that he'd be a perfect 3rd quick for any team with a genuinely quick opening bowler but we don't have that and he ends up being a bit samey as Broad and Jimmy, as you say.

[Villafirst]

Olly Stone is 90mph +. I think they'll give him a chance sooner or later

[Villan For Life]

168-6......pathetic showing again.