The International Cricket Thread

[paul_e]

Yeah I think he has struggled this series, in particular. It’s hard to know cause and effect, but if your bowlers can’t deliver then I imagine it undermines your ability to focus and captain well. But I think he’s enough in the bank to continue, especially given the paucity of alternatives.

I suspect they'll keep him for a little longer so they can keep Brook improving and then he'll take over with Bethell as VC ready to take over as the long-term choice, giving him a game as captain already shows exactly why they've been keeping him with the squad so much, even if it was probably a bad call.

The main reason I think they got it wrong with him though is that the bears were clearly trying to bring him through as an all-rounder and his bowling was improving but all that progress has gone now because England are, at most, considering him as a Root-style part timer and I think he's better than that.

[Dante Lavelli]

I think central contracts are a good idea in principle but pulling the likes of Bethell out of Championship Cricket for a domestic season was pointless and harmed the player. The gap between the test squad and the county game gets wider with every passing season and it that ultimately harms English Cricket as a whole.

A mate works in cricket and is not complimentary of how central contracts are currently being applied. At county level - at least this one - fitness and conditioning is a priority.  However, once the player gets the central contracts they use it as justification to do fuck all i.e. the ECB contract trumps anything the county requires.  This comes from Key who thinks you can only get fit playing the game.

The sports science team for England were effectively told to only speak whilst spoken to, which they duly have.  As predicted, all the bowlers are now injured.  I was told there’s potentially a constructive dismissal case going on in the background because the physios etc are so under-utilised.

[Beard82]

Brilliant by Bethall

I’d add Joe Root as a positive, scored two hundreds and again probably our most consistent batsman. From what I read appears to have had long chats with Bethall,with Bethall joking he didn’t understand it. What a great mentor to have if it’s true.

I wonder if Smith cannot bat and keep on tour, clearly his cricket brain is frazzled atm. You wonder - or at least I do - with a fully fit Stokes Smith bats 6 Stokes 7 and Foulkes 8. Trouble is we are very reliant on part-time spin option if that is the case. Shades of Moeen.

Think archer was a positive too.  I do wonder with some of them like smith, Duckett etc - players with a bit in the bank - are subject to the fact it has just turned into a shit storm and arent thinking straight.

At the moment there looks like a lack of leadership - and I think stokes is a very good leader so not sure what’s going wrong other than coaching and prep. 

[PaulWinch again]

Smith is very obviously mentally shot and was by the end of the India series. He should have had a proper rest. That NZ ODI series was a disaster for most of the batters. Smith is so talented but needs a reset.

[olaftab]

 England spinners to win it on the 5th day turning pitch😩

[Brazilian Villain]

England spinners to win it on the 5th day turning pitch😩

You don't want that, you'll get the blame for them losing the first three tests.

[tomd2103]

Doesn't have any real impact on the game or the series, but that snicko decision was inexplicable really. 

[cdbearsfan]

Yeah, request review, review clearly shows player hit ball... not out. Err, what? What's the point in asking to review any edge then?

Anyway, two down. Got them on the ropes.

[Rory]

England spinners to win it on the 5th day turning pitch😩

You don't want that, you'll get the blame for them losing the first three tests.

Some of us are way ahead of you on that. I blame Aftab, fully.

[Brazilian Villain]

England spinners to win it on the 5th day turning pitch😩

You don't want that, you'll get the blame for them losing the first three tests.

Some of us are way ahead of you on that. I blame Aftab, fully.

He's an Aussie agent, he was compromised during a particularly rambunctious night at a Brisbane hotel on a previous tour.