The International Cricket Thread

[PaulWinch again]

I can’t see Atkinson and Carse matching that application though so the end is near.

Yup.

[PaulWinch again]

They’ve picked a bad squad here in terms of choices. They’ve got no back-up keeper other than Pope, and two of the players who need rotating out are probably Pope and Smith.

Their top order batting replacement is talented, but inexperienced and is out of nick. I’d be half tempted to put Jacks at 3.

[simboy]

Without being captain hindsight, the persistence of not having your best keeper in the hope a hybrid batter/keeper will get you consistent runs was an error. Smith is average at best behind the stumps, Pope is a batsman who has a pair of keeping gloves in his bag just in case. Carey has demonstrated the need for a good keeper on foreign soils. As Ringo wasn’t even the best drummer in the Beatles so Smith isnt even the best keeper at Surrey.

Also, apparently the English management didn’t think of booking the WACCA for a practice match before the first game until a few weeks ago - by which time it had been fully booked. Comical really.

[Bernie]

2 down now. The collapse is on........

[Steve67]

Fuck off Bazball. Let’s get back to proper organisation and management.

[aj2k77]

Bazball reeks of sitting on the balcony with your shades on and feet up laughing with your mates.

[tricky59]

Without being captain hindsight, the persistence of not having your best keeper in the hope a hybrid batter/keeper will get you consistent runs was an error. Smith is average at best behind the stumps, Pope is a batsman who has a pair of keeping gloves in his bag just in case. Carey has demonstrated the need for a good keeper on foreign soils. As Ringo wasn’t even the best drummer in the Beatles so Smith isnt even the best keeper at Surrey.

Also, apparently the English management didn’t think of booking the WACCA for a practice match before the first game until a few weeks ago - by which time it had been fully booked. Comical really.

I think Smith has shown he has a weakness to his left hand side when keeping wicket. The catch Root missed off Carey should have been taken by Smith, but he didn't even move.  You can go back to the missed stumping of Pant off Bashir, a very important moment in that series.  He can be a top batter, unfortunately, his keeping has effected his whole game.

[PaulWinch again]

You can tell Stokes in furious.

[PaulWinch again]

Fuck off Bazball. Let’s get back to proper organisation and management.

Not wishing to over simplify, but we’ve been whacked doing the “traditional” thing too. I don’t really think “Bazball” is the problem as such, because the concept is fine. But they’re just playing really badly and not doing the absorbing pressure bit. I think they’re unprepared, which is their fault but also the ECB’s.

Bashir sounds like he had a nightmare in the Lions game, if they think it’s going to turn I’d keep Jacks in. I’d bring Bethell for Pope and I’d probably swap Tongue or Potts in - maybe both.

[PaulWinch again]

Or possibly Pope to 7 and Bethell for Smith.

[Villan For Life]

Bethell has hardly played a competitive game for about 9 months. How can he even be considered in the pressure cooker environment of an Ashes series?

[paul_e]

Bethell has hardly played a competitive game for about 9 months. How can he even be considered in the pressure cooker environment of an Ashes series?

Which is exactly why the strategy of having him carry drinks for the summer was so dumb.

[PaulWinch again]

Well indeed, that’s the point on preparation. It’s not just about this tour, it’s about the lead up.

But frankly 30/40 odd (at best) isn’t going to do it and we’ve seen this before with Pope at 3 (and lower actually). Once it starts to go, he doesn’t pull it back. So they’re left with little option and Bethell is the choice. It might not work, but I’m pretty sure it won’t work with Pope now. Bethell is talented, he did well in NZ when conditions were tough at times.

[PaulWinch again]

I actually think Jof has bowled well the most part with very little reward. He should use that Smith sledge as ammunition to motivate him to rip through them.

[tomd2103]

Well indeed, that’s the point on preparation. It’s not just about this tour, it’s about the lead up.

But frankly 30/40 odd (at best) isn’t going to do it and we’ve seen this before with Pope at 3 (and lower actually). Once it starts to go, he doesn’t pull it back. So they’re left with little option and Bethell is the choice. It might not work, but I’m pretty sure it won’t work with Pope now. Bethell is talented, he did well in NZ when conditions were tough at times.

The scheduling is a big problem when it comes to preparation.  I don't know if it would be possible for the England management team to request a clear calendar from September onwards in preparation for an Ashes series in Australia, or the ECB simply tell them where they are going to be. 

As for the approach, it's a tough one really as you wouldn't want them to retreat into their shells completely.  Just think it comes down to recognising key points in games and managing them appropriately I guess.  That said, they just don't look prepared for Australian conditions though.