The International Cricket Thread

[PGW]

At least a bit of good news with Hazelwood missing the 2nd test.
Hopefully Warners bruised ribs will keep him out to.

[PaulWinch again]

Helps a bit but Richardson has been taking wickets for fun. Our batting unit has to find a way of getting big runs.

[PGW]

Helps a bit but Richardson has been taking wickets for fun. Our batting unit has to find a way of getting big runs.

That's the problem, we're currently such a mess on and off the field that i will clutch at any straw however small. I think Richardson is quality.

[PaulWinch again]

One of the big problems we have is the batting hopefuls we’ve tried to blood just haven’t worked. I’ll keep Hameed out of that because he emerged, fell back, and then returned and I actually have real hope for him. But -

Sibley - very one paced with an odd technique. Good bowlers worked him out.
Crawley - talent but his technique is too loose. Doesn’t appear to have the ability to get “gritty” runs when things aren’t going his way.
Pope - loads of talent and has shown glimpses, but hasn’t kicked on anywhere near to the level you’d expect him to be. Looks very frenetic at the moment.

Now I don’t know if it’s the specific players, the environment around the England squad, or a bit of both. But it’s hard to deny that recently batsmen who come into the side don’t improve, and if anything go backwards.

[dcdavecollett]

That's a really interesting point, from a Villa perspective.

Remember when we used to sign players who started off well then got worse and worse as time went on? Lambert was a master of this.

Under Deano, that changed and I'm sure that will also be the case with Gerrard.

Who are the improved England batsmen since Silverwood became head coach?

[PaulWinch again]

I hope they’re not overthinking the pink ball stuff. Yes it might assist swing, let’s bloody hope so, but I reckon it’ll be flat for long periods. Leaving Wood out is a risk, and if you do that I think we definitely need a spinner.

[Villafirst]

Madness to leave Mark Wood out for rest. You play your best team, end of. Look where mindless tinkering with the team got England in the first test - and the dumb decision to bat first in bowler friendly conditions!

[Gareth]

Mark Wood is a bowler that does have to be managed to last a series but to be fair we did only have one innings at them after the inept batting on day one.

Sean bowling doesn’t really worry me, in Anderson / Broad / Woakes / Robinson / Stokes & Wood we have lots of good options to mix and match.  Spin is a huge worry, Leach on evidence of first test was a playing spectator….is he liable to find a pitch this series that he can contribute on or is it better to let Root be the spin option?

Burns & Pope owe runs big time but Bairstow / Lawrence & Crawley waiting in the wings and no games to practice in for them isn’t exactly pressure on those failing in the side.

[JD]

Cummins out of the second test as well as Hazlewood.

[PaulWinch again]

I don’t like the no spinner route. This is going to be tough.

[PaulWinch again]

I fully expect Australia to be 70 or 80 without loss when I get up. I worry about this bowling attack when it’s flat.

[PaulWinch again]

Brilliant catch from Buttler.

[JD]

Fantastic start by England.

[manic-road]

England bowling well this morning without getting the wickets they probably deserve, 24 runs off 18 overs  shows how tough the Aussie batsmen are finding it.

[PaulWinch again]

Looking ominous now and dropping Labuschange isn’t going to help.