The International Cricket Thread

[paul_e]

I said part of the reason not the only reason, Bairstow was on the attack and it cost him his wicket whilst playing a shit shot.

But the important bit is the shit shot, not the fact that he was trying to score. What about Moeen, he was trying to leave one that he should've played at so is leaving the ball part of the problem or is it just a shit decision?

This is my point, just blocking everything doesn't work, swinging at everything doesn't work so it's about finding the middle ground. Bairstow played a stupid shot because he had a strike rate of about 25% and, knowing he's in bad form, wanted to feel bat on ball and get a few boundaries, blaming the decision on him trying to get runs on the board but ignoring the amount of dots he'd faced building up to it is wrong, for me. If he'd rotated the strike better and been going at 50-60% he'd never have been in the position where he felt the need to smash at something. I think part of the problem here is you seme to think i mean gonig full t20 and trying to smash everything out of the ground when what I actually mean is trying to go from 2-3 a over to 4-5 a over.

[hilts_coolerking]

How many times do I have to sit through a cricket documentary in which Botham sidesteps the issue of him being a hopeless captain.

[paul_e]

It makes me furious because it's so unprofessional.  Okay, Mo and Bairstow are struggling for runs but if they can't get the ball off the square just fuckin stay there and let the bloke at the other end do it.

They have this mentality that they're going to hit their way back into form, like they're Virender Sewhag. But look at Burns - slow, long, making absolutely sure he gets himself in and gets the rewards.

I get the point but I disagree players who naturally look to score aren't going to get back into form by not scoring, slow and steady works for Burns because that's the type of player he is. Moeen, in particular, should be playing county cricket and getting some form in a less pressured environment so he can come back and have an impact, changing his play style won't help him.

[hilts_coolerking]

That's the difficulty though isn't it?  How does a player whose game is based around attacking and scoring quickly turn things around when he can't get the ball off the square?  You can't just say 'he needs to attack and score quickly' because that's the one thing, in that period, that he can't do.  In that case I think you have to be out there as long as you can and then the runs will come simply through slow accumulation.  The other point is that this is why the good players have more than Plan A.  A lot of our batsmen, most in fact, only have Beast Mode.

[olaftab]

Well that’s not how it was scripted in my head☹️Bairstow and Ali have let the team down. Some recovery there from these two after the shafting this morning.

[olaftab]

Does Moeen actually practice batting anymore?

He did an odd article in the Guardian about how he would be judged on his bowling during the series.

No Mo, you are in the team as an allrounder. The carefree attitude of "it doesn't matter how many runs I get" is not an acceptable one.

He’s hanging in there by a thread. He now needs 5 for nothingish in their second innings to keep his place.

[Risso]

A very good effort from Woakes and Broad, showing those above them the importance of sticking around and not doing anything stupid to give your wicket away.  How long is Moeen going to be allowed to get away with throwing his wicket down the shitter?

[paul_e]

That's the difficulty though isn't it?  How does a player whose game is based around attacking and scoring quickly turn things around when he can't get the ball off the square?  You can't just say 'he needs to attack and score quickly' because that's the one thing, in that period, that he can't do.  In that case I think you have to be out there as long as you can and then the runs will come simply through slow accumulation.  The other point is that this is why the good players have more than Plan A.  A lot of our batsmen, most in fact, only have Beast Mode.

Again though, slow accumulation and digging in aren't the same thing. Root is an accumulator but he often goes at 60-70% in tests. Burns was very much a dig in innings and it as different from Root as Buttler is. What we need people like Moeen and Bairstow to do, when they're struggling for form, is carry on putting bat to ball as they do, but more measured and looking to run between the wickets. Getting them to leave or block just doesn't work (both of them showed as much today, Moeen by leaving one he needed to play and Bairstow by getting frustrated and wafting at one that wasn't on). Focus on adapting where they're strong and using that as plan b rather than training them in a style that's completely unnatural to them.

[Ads]

Smith captaining the side I see. Despite being banned from doing so for another year. Cheating twat.

[olaftab]

That was pretty clear all over the pitch yesterday that Tear Drips is in charge.

[olaftab]

What do you think people should Jimmy come in and bat?

[PaulWinch again]

What do you think people should Jimmy come in and bat?

Yes. Even if he just tries to hold an end.

[hilts_coolerking]

That's the difficulty though isn't it?  How does a player whose game is based around attacking and scoring quickly turn things around when he can't get the ball off the square?  You can't just say 'he needs to attack and score quickly' because that's the one thing, in that period, that he can't do.  In that case I think you have to be out there as long as you can and then the runs will come simply through slow accumulation.  The other point is that this is why the good players have more than Plan A.  A lot of our batsmen, most in fact, only have Beast Mode.

Again though, slow accumulation and digging in aren't the same thing. Root is an accumulator but he often goes at 60-70% in tests. Burns was very much a dig in innings and it as different from Root as Buttler is. What we need people like Moeen and Bairstow to do, when they're struggling for form, is carry on putting bat to ball as they do, but more measured and looking to run between the wickets. Getting them to leave or block just doesn't work (both of them showed as much today, Moeen by leaving one he needed to play and Bairstow by getting frustrated and wafting at one that wasn't on). Focus on adapting where they're strong and using that as plan b rather than training them in a style that's completely unnatural to them.

Ah well we'll have to agree to disagree.

[taylorsworkrate]

What do you think people should Jimmy come in and bat?

Absolutely. He looks more than healthy enough to in fairness.

[PaulWinch again]

This is good and has the added value of putting miles in their bowlers legs.