collapse collapse

Please donate to help towards the costs of keeping this site going. Thank You.

Recent Topics

FFP by tomd2103
[Today at 02:17:42 AM]


The International Cricket Thread by tomd2103
[Today at 01:33:41 AM]


Villa Park Redevelopment by FatSam
[February 25, 2026, 11:29:07 PM]


Other Games 2025-26 by Mellin
[February 25, 2026, 11:25:39 PM]


Other Villa stuff by cdbearsfan
[February 25, 2026, 11:20:49 PM]


Winter 25-26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc. by eamonn
[February 25, 2026, 11:15:20 PM]


GUESS THE GOAL R20: Wolves v VILLA Friday 27Th February 🥅 by frank
[February 25, 2026, 11:14:15 PM]


Wolves vs Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread by Toronto Villa
[February 25, 2026, 10:00:08 PM]

Recent Posts

Re: FFP by tomd2103
[Today at 02:17:42 AM]


Re: The International Cricket Thread by tomd2103
[Today at 01:33:41 AM]


Re: Villa Park Redevelopment by FatSam
[February 25, 2026, 11:29:07 PM]


Re: Other Games 2025-26 by Mellin
[February 25, 2026, 11:25:39 PM]


Re: Villa Park Redevelopment by cdbearsfan
[February 25, 2026, 11:24:50 PM]


Re: Villa Park Redevelopment by Percy McCarthy
[February 25, 2026, 11:20:50 PM]


Re: Other Villa stuff by cdbearsfan
[February 25, 2026, 11:20:49 PM]


Re: Other Villa stuff by Stu82
[February 25, 2026, 11:19:03 PM]

Follow us on...

Author Topic: The International Cricket Thread  (Read 1324370 times)

Offline Baldy

  • Member
  • Posts: 1598
  • Location: Little Island somewhere
Re: The International Cricket Thread
« Reply #14340 on: February 25, 2026, 09:08:06 AM »
Buttler is well out of nick at the moment.

Should have been moved down the order and Duckett should have come in.  Bethell also struggling at the moment.  Need Brook to go really big here.

Not sure why you're adding Bethell there, he was our top run scorer in the tournament until today.

I also wouldn't bring Duckett in, his form in other formats has been terrible and he's not had any games to do anything about it.

Personally I don't think I'd change much right now, maybe push Buttler down a little but he's the only one I'm particularly worried about right now.

For next match, I would drop Buttler as he looks terrified when batting at the moment, his timing is way out.

Salt is a good wicket keeper to replace him and Duckett to open the batting.

Just a thought.

Offline PaulWinch again

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 57614
  • Location: winchester
  • GM : 25.05.2026
Re: The International Cricket Thread
« Reply #14341 on: February 25, 2026, 09:13:11 AM »
I wouldn’t drop Buttler. He’s arguably our greatest white ball batter. He’s in poor form, but his upside if he clicks is absolutely massive. He’s worth the risk.

Online tomd2103

  • Member
  • Posts: 15894
Re: The International Cricket Thread
« Reply #14342 on: February 25, 2026, 09:29:02 AM »
Buttler is well out of nick at the moment.

Should have been moved down the order and Duckett should have come in.  Bethell also struggling at the moment.  Need Brook to go really big here.

Not sure why you're adding Bethell there, he was our top run scorer in the tournament until today.

I also wouldn't bring Duckett in, his form in other formats has been terrible and he's not had any games to do anything about it.

Personally I don't think I'd change much right now, maybe push Buttler down a little but he's the only one I'm particularly worried about right now.

It's just that Bethell's form seems to be going in the wrong direction at a key time and in a key position.  Hindsight is wonderful, but with the scores being as low as they have been during the tournament, Joe Root would have been ideal to have in the side.  That said, it's a small squad so they haven't got much scope for changing things

The NZ game is pretty much a free hit now, so I'd give Duckett a go and see how he goes.  Brook has got to stay higher up the order after yesterday, so maybe Banton is the one who misses out with Buttler going down the order.


Offline Villan For Life

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 14145
  • Location: Exiled on Main Street
  • GM : 07.08.2026
Re: The International Cricket Thread
« Reply #14343 on: February 25, 2026, 09:44:55 AM »
Buttler is well out of nick at the moment.

Should have been moved down the order and Duckett should have come in.  Bethell also struggling at the moment.  Need Brook to go really big here.

Not sure why you're adding Bethell there, he was our top run scorer in the tournament until today.

I also wouldn't bring Duckett in, his form in other formats has been terrible and he's not had any games to do anything about it.

Personally I don't think I'd change much right now, maybe push Buttler down a little but he's the only one I'm particularly worried about right now.

It's just that Bethell's form seems to be going in the wrong direction at a key time and in a key position.  Hindsight is wonderful, but with the scores being as low as they have been during the tournament, Joe Root would have been ideal to have in the side.  That said, it's a small squad so they haven't got much scope for changing things

The NZ game is pretty much a free hit now, so I'd give Duckett a go and see how he goes.  Brook has got to stay higher up the order after yesterday, so maybe Banton is the one who misses out with Buttler going down the order.



Before yesterday’s game Banton was one of the success stories in an underperforming squad. He should keep his place.

Offline PaulWinch again

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 57614
  • Location: winchester
  • GM : 25.05.2026
Re: The International Cricket Thread
« Reply #14344 on: February 25, 2026, 09:48:30 AM »
Definitely Banton should be in.

Online tomd2103

  • Member
  • Posts: 15894
Re: The International Cricket Thread
« Reply #14345 on: February 25, 2026, 03:24:31 PM »
Definitely Banton should be in.

No changes then Paul? 

Offline paul_e

  • Member
  • Posts: 38799
  • Age: 46
  • GM : July, 2013
Re: The International Cricket Thread
« Reply #14346 on: February 25, 2026, 03:32:46 PM »
I know you were asking other Paul but it's no changes for me, we're 5 wins from 6 in the tournament despite not really having got going yet.

Buttler is the only player I'm worried about but he's still a good wicket keeper in this format and brings a lot of experience that might be useful in the final stages.

With the ball we've been excellent, with the 4 frontline bowlers all contributing and Curran and Jacks backing them up well and Bethell in reserve if needed.

Online tomd2103

  • Member
  • Posts: 15894
Re: The International Cricket Thread
« Reply #14347 on: February 25, 2026, 03:56:31 PM »
I know you were asking other Paul but it's no changes for me, we're 5 wins from 6 in the tournament despite not really having got going yet.

Buttler is the only player I'm worried about but he's still a good wicket keeper in this format and brings a lot of experience that might be useful in the final stages.

With the ball we've been excellent, with the 4 frontline bowlers all contributing and Curran and Jacks backing them up well and Bethell in reserve if needed.

Agree about the bowling.  I still think Curran is probably one too high in the order, but then I guess you could swap him Jacks if needed.  There's just a niggling thought though there might be a few in that attack who will get taken to the cleaners when we face one of the top teams in the tournament.


Offline PaulWinch again

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 57614
  • Location: winchester
  • GM : 25.05.2026
Re: The International Cricket Thread
« Reply #14348 on: February 25, 2026, 04:43:09 PM »
Curran in T20 has a pretty clear trend of batting better the higher he moves up the order

Online tomd2103

  • Member
  • Posts: 15894
Re: The International Cricket Thread
« Reply #14349 on: Today at 01:33:41 AM »
Curran in T20 has a pretty clear trend of batting better the higher he moves up the order

How come he isn't opening then Paul  :)?  I like Sam Curran and have often wondered why he seems to have been discarded in the test format, but I just feel six is a bit too high for him.  I guess there was a need to get as many bowlers in as possible so needs must. 

I think there are going to be quite a few debates about the balance of the side when Ben Stokes finishes playing as we don't seem to have a genuine all-rounder replacement waiting in the wings at the moment.

 


SimplePortal 2.3.6 © 2008-2014, SimplePortal