The International Cricket Thread

[Lsvilla]

It's only right that Strauss should dismantle the squad that has failed miserably and plan for the future and you can't do that with a couple of fast bowlers  heading towards 40 even if they have been superb  in the past.

That's a fair point but in the short term, who's going to take the wickets they'd get usually. Archer isn't going to play any test cricket this year by all accounts as he returns from albow injury, and so you're then left with Wood and Robinson effectively.

This. Plus Stuart Broad is 35. He gets attached to Anderson and then them treated as a pair but he’s significantly younger and has plenty still to offer. However, I do think it’s significant that Root has been happy for the both of them to be left out multiple times and wonder if their off-field influence is unwelcome in certain quarters - something the interim coach and interim MD would be well aware of.

[paul_e]

It's only right that Strauss should dismantle the squad that has failed miserably and plan for the future and you can't do that with a couple of fast bowlers  heading towards 40 even if they have been superb  in the past.

That's a fair point but in the short term, who's going to take the wickets they'd get usually. Archer isn't going to play any test cricket this year by all accounts as he returns from albow injury, and so you're then left with Wood and Robinson effectively.

Just from the Bears you have Stone and Norwell who've all been selected for England recently and Woakes will always be around the squad.

After that Carse and Mahmood will probably step up from the one day squad at some point and I'd be amazed if Sam Cook at Essex doesn't get a call up if he bowls as well as he did last season.

At some point we need to move on from them and we've hopefully hit our lowest point now so we might as well look at the options this summer whilst the whole squad is being cleaned up.

[LeeB]

It's only right that Strauss should dismantle the squad that has failed miserably and plan for the future and you can't do that with a couple of fast bowlers  heading towards 40 even if they have been superb  in the past.

That's a fair point but in the short term, who's going to take the wickets they'd get usually. Archer isn't going to play any test cricket this year by all accounts as he returns from albow injury, and so you're then left with Wood and Robinson effectively.

This. Plus Stuart Broad is 35. He gets attached to Anderson and then them treated as a pair but he’s significantly younger and has plenty still to offer. However, I do think it’s significant that Root has been happy for the both of them to be left out multiple times and wonder if their off-field influence is unwelcome in certain quarters - something the interim coach and interim MD would be well aware of.

There were some pointed remarks between Anderson and Root in the press, when Root criticised the lengths being bowled after the test and Anderson replying that it in a round about way that he should have said something during the match, what with being captain and all.

I don't think there's much love lost, but I think it's the start of Root's problems rather than the end.

[olaftab]

I think Root is also a problem as a captain. He overthinks the game due to his lack of strategic awareness and makes tactical errors during the game. However I cannot think of anyone around at the moment   who could be a good Test captain.

[LeeB]

I think Root is also a problem as a captain. He overthinks the game due to his lack of strategic awareness and makes tactical errors during the game. However I cannot think of anyone around at the moment   who could be a good Test captain.

Moeen.

[tomd2103]

It's only right that Strauss should dismantle the squad that has failed miserably and plan for the future and you can't do that with a couple of fast bowlers  heading towards 40 even if they have been superb  in the past.

That's a fair point but in the short term, who's going to take the wickets they'd get usually. Archer isn't going to play any test cricket this year by all accounts as he returns from albow injury, and so you're then left with Wood and Robinson effectively.

Think it is about getting that balance right as well Risso, particularly away from home.  Wanted to see Mahmood get a chance last summer, so hope he does this time around.  Still firmly believe that Woakes need to open the bowling or not play in away test matches, but we might well need his batting.  I'd be quite happy with a seam bowling line up in the first test of Woakes / Robinson, Mahmood, Wood and Stokes as the all-rounder.

The spin conundrum is another issue altogether.

[paul_e]

I'd agree with that, for the spinner I'd focus on Parkinson for now, of the players who have time to develop he's the most promising in my opinion.

[bilsim]

Numerous reports suggesting that Shane Warne has been found dead following a heart attack. Shocking if true, one of the greatest.

[Villafirst]

Confirmed Shane Warne has died at 52. Terrible news, an absolute legend - greatest spin bowler ever. RIP.

[PaulWinch again]

Incredible bowler - a real shock. RIP.

[Rory]

After losing all that weight over recent years, as well.

[saint13]

Devastating news.

Not only the greatest spin bowler of all time, he was in my opinion, one of the best and most entertaining commentators.

[Andy Poole]

Great thinker of the game. Tough but fair. Made spin bowling sexy. True legend. In the words of Gilly. "Bowling Warnie"

[simboy]

Both Rod Marsh and Shane Warne on the same day. Both fantastic and innovative cricketers. So very sad. 

[Villan For Life]

A player who transcended national rivalries, a special talent the like of which we are unlikely to see again. At times he seemed to pick up wickets because of his reputation, he was in the batsman’s head before they’d faced a ball and by that point the batsman was halfway out already.