The International Cricket Thread

[olaftab]

I don't think Buttler warrants dropping yet. He showed that he's learning from his errors today, and that's something to build on.

He is keeping his place as a specialist batsman nothing else and as such he has not delivered.n However I do concede that he is not the biggest problem in the team.

[olaftab]

Farbrace doing his usual high level of punditry:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/49631592

So Root should be captain because he’s the best player and his decline in batting is just the way it is for captains.

Well Paul perhaps you would consider what Root’s value is to the side. Do we get more from him averaging 50+ or from being captain? Think I know the answer.

Quite. Farbrace is all things to all men. Full of bluster and zero substance whenever he speaks.

[Risso]

Exactly.  Ballance has got some experience but then his last 10 test scores were:

8, 17, 1, 9, 9, 5, 20, 34, 27, 4

For an average of 13.

In his last 13 tests, he only got two scores over 50.  Could be worth another go as his early form for England was great, but not the best of squads to be coming back into.

Point taken but that was 2 years ago.  I think in the absence of virtually anyone else, he's got to be worth a look at 3.

Yes, that's fair enough.  He couldn't be any worse than the current squad.

[Steve67]

Farbrace doing his usual high level of punditry:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/49631592

So Root should be captain because he’s the best player and his decline in batting is just the way it is for captains.

Well Paul perhaps you would consider what Root’s value is to the side. Do we get more from him averaging 50+ or from being captain? Think I know the answer.

Quite. Farbrace is all things to all men. Full of bluster and zero substance whenever he speaks.

What price is he for the next England Coach in that case!!  I hope not.  I want a world class coach. 

[Steve67]

Ballance back in? Yes please.  Certainly worth a spot on the winter tours.

I am really disappointed that they have gone for the same squad. 

[hilts_coolerking]

What price is he for the next England Coach in that case!!  I hope not.  I want a world class coach.

So do I and I'd prefer it to be someone who isn't already working for the ECB.  Some fresh ideas are what's required.

[tricky59]

What price is he for the next England Coach in that case!!  I hope not.  I want a world class coach.

So do I and I'd prefer it to be someone who isn't already working for the ECB.  Some fresh ideas are what's required.

Whoever it is I hope they can sort out the ECB,(England's Clueless Batsmen).

[Steve67]

What price is he for the next England Coach in that case!!  I hope not.  I want a world class coach.

So do I and I'd prefer it to be someone who isn't already working for the ECB.  Some fresh ideas are what's required.

Whoever it is I hope they can sort out the ECB,(England's Clueless Batsmen).

Equally Clueless Bowlers.

[PaulWinch again]

Ballance is not worth a shot for me, for previous mentioned reasons. If I were calling up a previous player I’d look at Ben Duckett. He’s a talent who was called up too early.

[paul_e]

I think I'd agree, Ballance has a massive flaw that he's done nothing about, purely on attitude I don't want him in (it's also why Bairstow wouldn't get a place for me).

[PaulWinch again]

Yup Bairstow’s out for me on form and attitude. As anyone posting here will realise I haven’t got past his commons in Sri Lanka.

[hilts_coolerking]

Ballance is not worth a shot for me, for previous mentioned reasons. If I were calling up a previous player I’d look at Ben Duckett. He’s a talent who was called up too early.

If we're talking about attitude, Duckett is a grade A dickhead.

[taylorsworkrate]

Ballance's issues in the past have been against quality pace bowling. With that in mind, I don't think it would be wise to take him on a tour with quick pitches and a high quality pace attack such as South Africa.

[tomd2103]

Exactly.  Ballance has got some experience but then his last 10 test scores were:

8, 17, 1, 9, 9, 5, 20, 34, 27, 4

For an average of 13.

In his last 13 tests, he only got two scores over 50.  Could be worth another go as his early form for England was great, but not the best of squads to be coming back into.

Point taken but that was 2 years ago.  I think in the absence of virtually anyone else, he's got to be worth a look at 3.

We'll see how the next test goes, but Denly has probably done enough to earn a spot in the short term.  We need to find a new opener, so I would have Denly at 3 as a stop gap and move Root back to 4.  Stokes at 5 and give Pope a chance at six (or vice versa) and then a choice between Bairstow, Buttler and Foakes at 7. 

[UK Redsox]

Arise Sir Sir Geoffrey

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/49641823

Having one of his friends as the resigning PM was the only way Geoffrey was going to get a Knighthood

Great cricketer, knowledgeable broadcaster.......utter nobhead