The International Cricket Thread

[LeeB]

You can admire the overall approach that the England team are embracing, while still being of the opinion that there's room for improvement, especially around decision making.

Succinct, and agreed.

[olaftab]

After all the noise has died down it's not the tactics, strategy or poor decisions from individuals that has led to 0-2. All these things happen in any match and great players in good teams overcome most situations, as Stokes almost did. The simple fact is that XI selected for both matches were not good enough to win. Australia won the first test match by 2 wickets, England lost the second after failing to get 60 or so runs required at 7 down. Demonstrates Aussies have a much better and tougher lower order. England rely heavily on old players such as Anderson and Broad whereas successful teams move on. "They can still do a job"is an often heard phrase and this is simply not good enough at Test level. England rely on a batsman who can also keep wicket  for test matches. Only weak teams do that. Tests are won by expert players doing their job properly. Carey v Bairstow is a massive mismatch as is many others in the two line ups. Also worth noting is that Australia won this match with 10 players, they could not make use of a world class bowler. That's scary.

Despite all of the above it's important to say Aussies are cheating scums.

[paul_e]

I don't disagree with the idea that there's room for improvement, that's clear, what I fundamentally disagree with is that we lost the game because of bazball when, in my opinion, we lost because of poor form in the attack and some poor shots. The same as why we have lost many matches in the past and why we'll lose many matches going forward. I'm worried that, at the first sign of a problem, people are very quickly turning on a play style that has improved us massively.

[kippaxvilla2]

Stuart Broad not walking to the one of the most obvious edges in the history of the game puts him on slightly dodgy ground when it comes to moral outrage.

[PaulWinch again]

I think that’s a bit simplistic. The reason England lost this game, in my opinion, is they failed to get the runs the should have in the first innings. That wasn’t a capability thing, it was absolutely a decision making gap. It resulted in them needing way more runs than they should have in the 4th. Australia didn’t get much from their lower order in the third innings either.

I think the first Test was also lost in England’s second innings, when again they left plenty of runs out there. I think that was a much bigger issue than the declaration.

I don’t think Australia have been coasting in third gear, I think they’re pretty stretched and England can absolutely beat them. Three games in a row will be tough though. I think Jimmy has to be dropped for Wood and then there’s a debate on 4th seamer vs spinner.

Responding to Aftab by the way.

[aev]

Stuart Broad not walking to the one of the most obvious edges in the history of the game puts him on slightly dodgy ground when it comes to moral outrage.

Well he edged it to the keeper, who deflected it to slip so it wasn't THAT bad.

By the letter of the law he was out, but as a cricket fan it was pretty ordinary to not withdraw the appeal, and pretty dopey behaviour by Bairstow to wander out of the crease before "over" was called.

Ultimately he was dismissed because he mistakenly thought the ball was dead, and in these scenarios appeals are generally withdrawn or later regretted.

[tomd2103]

You can admire the overall approach that the England team are embracing, while still being of the opinion that there's room for improvement, especially around decision making.

Nasser Hussain made that point after the game yesterday.  I do think it's a bit unfair that some in the media who have been praising the way they have been playing for the last year, are now piling in on them.

I don't think it is about a change of ethos, they are a good team to watch and although we've lost the two tests so far, both have been good viewing.  I think it's just about managing situations a bit better when they arise.  I think in both games, our first innings has cost us and it's frustrating because we have looked to be in control at times during those innings. 

[tomd2103]

Regarding the Lord's members, they might have said something, but in both cases it was the Australian players who went towards them and confronted them.  Warner in particular squared up to one of the members.

[edgysatsuma89]

Talking about the Aussie's not very sportsman like behaviour I heard about this on a podcast the other day. Before my time so I had not seen it but I found it funny that you could do that so recently (albeit you couldn't do it in England at that point):

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[Drummond]

I wonder of we'll see any Mankading at Headingley.

[Paul.S]

Regarding the Lord's members, they might have said something, but in both cases it was the Australian players who went towards them and confronted them.  Warner in particular squared up to one of the members.

It’s all got a bit silly. Let’s get on with the Ashes and use this to try and get back into it. Warner has history and is not liked over here but if you’re going to shout abuse then expect someone to react. I’ve no problem with the crowd getting on their back from now on, it’s 100 times worse in Australia but there’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed. They know what they did but it’s over and I hope we make them pay in the best way and that’s by winning the next test.

[Richard]

Talking about the Aussie's not very sportsman like behaviour I heard about this on a podcast the other day. Before my time so I had not seen it but I found it funny that you could do that so recently (albeit you couldn't do it in England at that point):

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The great Richie Benaud summed it up well at the end.

[PaulWinch again]

I had seen it before and that was way worse than yesterday.

[edgysatsuma89]

I had seen it before and that was way worse than yesterday.

Oh yeah, 100%, I 'get' yesterday. That however I don't know how they can look in the mirror and not feel embarrassed.

[Steve67]

I don't disagree with the idea that there's room for improvement, that's clear, what I fundamentally disagree with is that we lost the game because of bazball when, in my opinion, we lost because of poor form in the attack and some poor shots. The same as why we have lost many matches in the past and why we'll lose many matches going forward. I'm worried that, at the first sign of a problem, people are very quickly turning on a play style that has improved us massively.

With respect Paul, you were cheering on the declaration in the first innings of the first test, when we all know, deep down, it was a poor decision. 

As for the other issues, Foakes needs to keep wicket, he's a better keeper.  There have been poor decisions all over the place, some poor shots, some poor bits of fielding etc.  Bazball is great against the lesser sides, not against Australia in the only series that really matters.  If you cannot win the test match, make sure you don't lose.  The first test gave the Aussies momentum and we are too soft to drop Anderson.  Arguably, we haven't got the depth of bowling due to injury no way are we winning three tests on the trot against Australia. I wish.