The International Cricket Thread

[TonyD]

Burns 17 runs in 3 innings.   

[PaulWinch again]

Look at our bowlers ripping through them as well.

[PaulWinch again]

Woakes has been really poor with the ball.

[tomd2103]

Woakes has been really poor with the ball.

Been made the fall guy yet again. 

[PaulWinch again]

To an extent, but he’s been poor as well. Doesn’t change the fact that it makes no difference if the batsmen can’t get more than 200/250.

Also they’ve abandoned the sound concept they had that Broad and Anderson shouldn’t both play in the side now - unless it’s incredibly favourable bowling conditions. Had they not forgotten that Broad could have played the first, Anderson the second, and they could have balanced the side better in terms of variety. Ultimately probably wouldn’t change anything, but it might have posed Australia a few more questions.

As I said before this series will results in a root and branch review, which needs to happen. It’s been a disastrous couple of years in red ball cricket.

[PaulWinch again]

Oh and this is probably low on the list of grumbles, but our tail is fucking hopeless. I don’t expect them to be talented, but I do expect them to try and stick in. They don’t and it’s awful.

The much maligned Jack Leach at least digs in and tries.

As I say low on the list of issues, but it’s indicative of the lack of fight in our team.

[Rory]

Oh and this is probably low on the list of grumbles, but our tail is fucking hopeless. I don’t expect them to be talented, but I do expect them to try and stick in. They don’t and it’s awful.

The much maligned Jack Leach at least digs in and tries.

As I say low on the list of issues, but it’s indicative of the lack of fight in our team.

I think Jimmy's quite tenacious.

[Gareth]

Woakes has been really poor with the ball.

Been made the fall guy yet again.

Well someone had to take Moeen’s crown.

[tomd2103]

To an extent, but he’s been poor as well. Doesn’t change the fact that it makes no difference if the batsmen can’t get more than 200/250.

Also they’ve abandoned the sound concept they had that Broad and Anderson shouldn’t both play in the side now - unless it’s incredibly favourable bowling conditions. Had they not forgotten that Broad could have played the first, Anderson the second, and they could have balanced the side better in terms of variety. Ultimately probably wouldn’t change anything, but it might have posed Australia a few more questions.

As I said before this series will results in a root and branch review, which needs to happen. It’s been a disastrous couple of years in red ball cricket.

It's happened to Woakesy and bowlers like him when we have gone there before, so I don't know why anyone would expect anything different this time. 

Agree about a root and branch review, as it has been clear that there had been something wrong with the test set up for some time now.  Think we are almost reaching the point we were at when Duncan Fletcher came in and we need someone like that with a clear plan and vision of how to approach test cricket. 

[PaulWinch again]

I think Woakes probably shouldn’t be playing, in pure bowling terms. I think he’s only playing because without him the batting looks even weaker. That’s not to say I don’t think Woakes is a fine player, I just think in Australia he struggles.

[Brazilian Villain]

I’m amazed how the Aussies really love these totally one sided match’s

Can't understand it, like everyone else here I hated that time we smashed Small Heath 5-1.

[PaulWinch again]

I agree on the vision for Test cricket. Silverwood’s, “we need big runs in the first innings” at a principle level is fine, but without a clear strategy it’s meaningless. Again not all his fault, but we’ve not looked like a team with a clear vision for a good while. I also get the impression we’re less than the sum of our parts. Pope is a great example - he has all the talent in the world, but who is working with him on game psychology? He looks incredibly frenetic and on edge. They either aren’t working with him, or they’re doing the wrong stuff, but either way he just doesn’t look supported.

[Gareth]

If Pope played for Derby would he have ever been heard of at this level? Certainly wouldn’t have had anything like the chances he has had….seems he gets picked and does nothing time after time.   Same as Hameed keep hearing he has ‘potential’ - be nice to see the odd performance back up potential

[PaulWinch again]

Poor from Hameed.

[manic-road]

20-1 at tea, I suppose we will end up with about 200 runs this innings.