The International Cricket Thread

[dcdavecollett]

One strand of belief is that Baz needs to start winning some ODIs or T20s, or he could be out of a job.

[cdbearsfan]

India refuse to play in host country... ICC changes rules to suit them, giving them every possible advantage along the way.

Bangladesh refuse to play in host country... kicked out of competition.

[PaulWinch again]

A win!

[tomd2103]

A win!

⁴
Yes and although minds will be focused on the T20 World Cup next month, the 50 over World Cup is next year and plans need to start being put together for that.  It's in southern Africa so would expect fairly good batting conditions.   We need to find an opener to go with Duckett, as getting off to a good start will be important.  Root will be at 3, but I'm not sure about Bethell at four and wonder whether he could open.  Root, Brook, Buttler at 3,4 and 5 is fine, but then I think we need an explosive type of batsman to close out the top six.

We're obviously playing more spinners than usual in Sri Lanka, but will need more seamers in South Africa.  Rashid will play, so maybe have Jacks at 6 as another spin option and then play four seamers.  Curran, Overton and Carse are on this tour and can bat as well, but we'd still need an opening bowoer (hopefully Archer will be fit).  So maybe a line-up of Bethell, Duckett, Root, Brook, Buttler, Jacks, Curran, Carse, Overton, Rashid and TBC.

[paul_e]

Really good batting performance today, Duckett went cheaply but Ahmed did a top job as the opener and then Root and Bethell built a platform that has allowed Brook to come out swinging and be a match winner.

[Villan For Life]

India refuse to play in host country... ICC changes rules to suit them, giving them every possible advantage along the way.

Bangladesh refuse to play in host country... kicked out of competition.

Pakistan are now threatening to boycott the tournament in support of Bangladesh with Uganda taking their place.

If that happens then the TV companies lose their most attractive fixture, India v Pakistan. The $3bn TV deal with the ICC stipulates that India and Pakistan must play each other in every tournament which is why they’re always drawn together in the same group. If that happens then the broadcasters will probably sue for breach of contract and loss of income, that could mean the ICC takes a huge financial hit.

[PaulWinch again]

This is the type of action needed to move the current stranglehold.

[cdbearsfan]

India refuse to play in host country... ICC changes rules to suit them, giving them every possible advantage along the way.

Bangladesh refuse to play in host country... kicked out of competition.

Pakistan are now threatening to boycott the tournament in support of Bangladesh with Uganda taking their place.

If that happens then the TV companies lose their most attractive fixture, India v Pakistan. The $3bn TV deal with the ICC stipulates that India and Pakistan must play each other in every tournament which is why they’re always drawn together in the same group. If that happens then the broadcasters will probably sue for breach of contract and loss of income, that could mean the ICC takes a huge financial hit.

Good. The ICC need to start standing up to bigotry and tell the countries they need to play each other. If countries are unable or unwilling to host all the teams they shouldn't be able to host any of them, keep major tournaments out of the sub-continent until they stop acting like twats. I won't hold my breath.

[cdbearsfan]

Deano's Mullet will be loving the "Tamworth Blues" flag.

[Villan For Life]

Deano's Mullet will be loving the "Tamworth Blues" flag.

My cousin is there, he’s a nose who has lived in Doncaster for the last 30 years. To be fair he does travel down for every game at the Sty but I could have done without seeing him on TV in his blose shirt during the morning session!

[Villan For Life]

India refuse to play in host country... ICC changes rules to suit them, giving them every possible advantage along the way.

Bangladesh refuse to play in host country... kicked out of competition.

Pakistan are now threatening to boycott the tournament in support of Bangladesh with Uganda taking their place.

If that happens then the TV companies lose their most attractive fixture, India v Pakistan. The $3bn TV deal with the ICC stipulates that India and Pakistan must play each other in every tournament which is why they’re always drawn together in the same group. If that happens then the broadcasters will probably sue for breach of contract and loss of income, that could mean the ICC takes a huge financial hit.

Good. The ICC need to start standing up to bigotry and tell the countries they need to play each other. If countries are unable or unwilling to host all the teams they shouldn't be able to host any of them, keep major tournaments out of the sub-continent until they stop acting like twats. I won't hold my breath.

Moving the HQ of the ICC from Lords to the UAE may have increased revenues but it’s come at the expense of the integrity of the international game.

[PaulWinch again]

That’s a hell of a turnaround by England in this series.

[tomd2103]

That’s a hell of a turnaround by England in this series.

Yep, a good series win in a difficult place to win.  Only slight concern is that we still seem heavily reliant on Root and Brook to get us match winning runs.

[paul_e]

Most teams rely on their mid-order to turn starts into winning scores and we still had Buttler and Jacks yet to bat but in the last 2 matches it just happens that Root and Brooks have scored the bulk of the runs which has left the players down the order with little to do.

I actually think the balance of the side is pretty good now but we need Alternatives to Dawson and Jacks when we need to go with 4 seamers and ideally you'd want one of them to be a batting all-rounder but it wouldn't be awful for Curran to go 1 higher in the order.

Th big step was to break the Duckett/Crawley partnership at the top and I think Ahmed is good choice for that and means we don't need to look at moving Bethell who I like at 4.

[tomd2103]

Most teams rely on their mid-order to turn starts into winning scores and we still had Buttler and Jacks yet to bat but in the last 2 matches it just happens that Root and Brooks have scored the bulk of the runs which has left the players down the order with little to do.

I actually think the balance of the side is pretty good now but we need Alternatives to Dawson and Jacks when we need to go with 4 seamers and ideally you'd want one of them to be a batting all-rounder but it wouldn't be awful for Curran to go 1 higher in the order.

Th big step was to break the Duckett/Crawley partnership at the top and I think Ahmed is good choice for that and means we don't need to look at moving Bethell who I like at 4.

It will be interesting to see how the 50 over side develops over the next 18 months in the lead up to the next World Cup.  Like you say Paul, it is coming together a bit.  Ahmed opening was an interesting one, but presume it was to try and get another spinner in and may not be a longer term option (though I do think he is a serious talent and hope he can be the number one spin option and all-rounder for us for years to come).  I think finding an opening partner for Duckett is a must.  If its not Bethell, then a 3,4,5,6 of Root, Bethell, Brook and Buttler is fine.  Rashid will hopefully still be around, so it will then be him and four seamers who are available at that time.  Curran, Overton, Carse and Archer are probably the current picks and all offer a bit with the bat as well.

As for the more pressing matter of the T20 World Cup and the game earlier, I would imagine that line-up will be the one that starts the tournament.   Think there are a few in there who are still unproven at international level, but let's see how it goes.