The International Cricket Thread

[PaulWinch again]

I don’t think Key’s a pompous blazer at all though, I also think characterising it into establishment vs non-establishment confuses the issue. Now, I’m not saying there isn’t an argument for Key going, but given Stokes decided to go and McCullum has gone then unless you sack everyone every time something goes wrong then you have to draw the line somewhere. He’s got the opportunity to show he’s learned from the key (no pun intended) mistake they all made - not realising what worked for an experienced team needed to change for an inexperienced one.

[Villan For Life]

Key doesn’t come across at all well though, he does seem like am bumbling oaf. He wasn’t a popular player and his personality didn’t shine through when he was part of the Sky commentary team and let’s face it we do like our cricket commentators.

We seem to go in cycles, lose an Ashes series in Australia and have a review of English cricket then sack a few people. Then it all improves until we lose another Ashes series in Australia and the cycle starts again. The last Ashes tour was a shambles and it hasn’t really improved since. There’s a disconnection between the side and their own fans, I’m going to the ODI at Edgbaston tomorrow and I’m feeling pretty downbeat about it.

Key must go, he appointed McCullum and should not be anywhere near the selection process for the next test coach.

[PaulWinch again]

Yeah but that implies it was a disaster to appoint McCullum. I know the narrative has shifted, but it realise wasn’t. For 18 months to 2 years they played really good cricket from a place where they were on the floor.

The appointment of McCullum wasn’t bad, it was really good. It’s the transition stuff they didn’t manage at all well.

[Gareth]

Yeah but that implies it was a disaster to appoint McCullum. I know the narrative has shifted, but it realise wasn’t. For 18 months to 2 years they played really good cricket from a place where they were on the floor.

The appointment of McCullum wasn’t bad, it was really good. It’s the transition stuff they didn’t manage at all well.

It was initially a good appointment of McCullum (& glad he is still in charge of the pyjama teams as he is very good at that) but once it started failing in red ball they never addressed it and showed no willingness to adapt….& Key was in charge so the buck should stop with him.  Key has let the test team become a circus, poor behaviour standards, brainless cricket in tough situations that comes from a lack of application or accountability. 

[paul_e]

I'm with my fellow Paul, if we break things down the failure has been the inability to replace Jimmy, Broad and Woakes. It's put more pressure on the batting and shown the flaws in what we were trying to do but even if we'd flipped to a safety first approach we'd still be left with a very inexperienced attack and you don't win many games with that.

This is why I personally would like them to identify a set of bowlers and give them 18 months largely regardless of results and see who develops into leaders in that unit. We don't have the options to do a more steady transition so we need to take some risks.

[Villan For Life]

It was great to spend time with family in the sunshine at Edgbaston today until the game started.

How we can ever be successful at 50 over international cricket when we don’t have a first class 50 over competition? I saw a stat  today that said since the 2023 50 over World Cup we have played 30 50 over ODI’s and lost 20 of them. In the same period New Zealand have a win percentage of 67.6% and India 66.6%.

So we are shite a test cricket and shite at 50 over cricket, never mind, the 20/20 and 16.4 will be along in a bit to fatten the bank balance.

English cricket is fucked.

[PaulWinch again]

RIP Sir Garfield.

[cdbearsfan]

Proper legend, always seemed a nice bloke too.

[Villan For Life]

RIP Sir Garfield

[Bernie]

I'll never tire of seeing those six sixes.
I only saw him playing once, for Notts at Worcester  when he was applauded all the way to the wicket.
Louder applause followed a few minutes later when he was out for 2!
RIP,  one of the greats.

[tomd2103]

Very saddened to hear the news about Gary Sobers.  Before my time as a player, but grew up on the stories about him. 

[KevinGage]

Key doesn’t come across at all well though, he does seem like am bumbling oaf.

Indeed.

Between the second and third game of that dismal Ashes series he said he himself didn't have the vocab to explain why things had gone wrong.

Maybe don't take a management position then.

[Beard82]

It was great to spend time with family in the sunshine at Edgbaston today until the game started.

How we can ever be successful at 50 over international cricket when we don’t have a first class 50 over competition? I saw a stat  today that said since the 2023 50 over World Cup we have played 30 50 over ODI’s and lost 20 of them. In the same period New Zealand have a win percentage of 67.6% and India 66.6%.

So we are shite a test cricket and shite at 50 over cricket, never mind, the 20/20 and 16.4 will be along in a bit to fatten the bank balance.

English cricket is fucked.

Took my dad to Sophia Gardens yesterday for his 70th.  We go to watch Villa regularly, but that was the first time we've been to the cricket together since I finished Uni.  I go regularly with friends to the test matches, and he watches Somerset with his mates. 

Was a great day.  And England seem much less of a mess with Joe Root.  What a player - just played proper cricket and won England the match. 

From a test perspective - no idea what we do next - don’t want to burden Root, but Brooks isn’t ready.