The International Cricket Thread

[Baldy]

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.

[PaulWinch again]

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.

[tomd2103]

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.

[Villan For Life]

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.

[PaulWinch again]

Definitely Banton should be in.

[tomd2103]

Definitely Banton should be in.

No changes then Paul? 

[paul_e]

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.

[tomd2103]

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.

[PaulWinch again]

Curran in T20 has a pretty clear trend of batting better the higher he moves up the order

[tomd2103]

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.

[Baldy]

India must be hoping for a big South Africa victory over West Indies or run rate could become a massive issue for them.

[cdbearsfan]

Yeah, narrow win for Windies to fuck Modi's Fascists over, please.

[paul_e]

I don't think Curran has the patience to play test cricket, he relies so heavily on his variations that he struggles with just bowling a solid line and length and sticking to a plan. It's the same reason why Rashid has never truly broken into the test team despite being the best white ball spinner in the country for years.

Maybe we'll take another look at Curran but given Surrey don't seem to fully trust him with the red ball I just can't see it.


I do think Curran and Jacks at 6 and 7 is about right though, both are capable of both sticking around for a while and smashing it around which is exactly what you want there. As I said, I think we're not far off where we'd want to be which is making the semi-final and giving ourselves a chance.


Lets not overlook the fact that we don't play as much T20 as most other major nations, with only Australia playing fewer in the current ranking period. We're the 2 that are largely keeping test cricket alive and this is the consequence of that. We also have far fewer players 'on the circuit' for the T20 leagues, if you look at the West Indies for example virtually all of their team are players who are white ball specialists who travel around the T20 leagues. I think Hope and Holder probably have as many Test caps each as the rest of their team combined.

[cdbearsfan]

Yeah, narrow win for Windies to fuck Modi's Fascists over, please.

Well, so much for this plan.

[cdbearsfan]

Right, come on Zimbabwe. If you knock out the Aussies and India I am officially awarding you the Cuddliest Team In Cricket Trophy*. If that doesn’t inspire you, nothing will.

*there is no trophy.