Another crushing defeat, so two down with three to play. Now that's not an impossible situation - it has been know for a team to win numbers 3,4 and 5 after losing 1 and 2. One small problem. The only time it has been achieved was (from memory) in 1936-7 by Australia who had a middling useful chap by the name of Bradman in the side.
Still one can hope
Mike :pigfly:
You must have a good memory. You either weren't born or was just a ween when that happened. Or did your mammy tell you about it?
As they say 'read orl abart it'
Mike
I can't see things changing, lackadaisical batting & fielding discipline's are a systemic failure in the entire unit. Our best bat so far apart from Joe, Malan is post 34 too ...
sadly, nor can I
Mike
Ah the death of English cricket. :sad:
They should just burn the stumps and have done with it :grin:
now I wonder from where that idea came?
Quote from: Michael Rolls on December 20, 2021, 09:20:16 PM
now I wonder from where that idea came?
Foreigners - they're all the same :worried:
Yep. Better at cricket than England... :sad:
We should let the football players play cricket and the cricketers play football. We'd still lose but it would be more entertaining than watching them now.
Ooooohhhh you are awful - but I like you!
Mike
Quote from: zoony on December 21, 2021, 07:03:47 PM
We should let the football players play cricket and the cricketers play football. We'd still lose but it would be more entertaining than watching them now.
:nooo:
Quote from: Cassandra on December 22, 2021, 03:19:33 PM
:nooo:
Behold the violence inherent in the legal system!!
Yes. Like Boris I'm afraid. Do as I say not as I do. :grin:
The old story continues 128-5, the last pair of batsmen at the crease, only the tail to come
Correction - 128-6 - Butler gone for 3
Here we go again - all out for 185 in two and a half sessions
Having gained the impression that England almost always fold in the first innings of an away Test, I was surprised when I checked. Starting today and going back, the most recent ten away tests show first innings scores of
185, 236 (but chasing 473), 147, 205, 112, 134, 578,344, 421, 400.
So four scores of under 200 (and one only just over) - I expected more
Mike
Just watched, in sad disbelief, Root's dismissal as he wafted his bat at a ball a good two feet outside his off stump. 5-0 is looking more and likely with each session, never mind each match
Mike
All too familiar. Having done pretty well to bowl Australia out for 267 (still a lead of 82, though) England 31-4 at close of play, and this was only day two. Can't see the match going into the fourth day, never mind the fifth
Mike
31-4 sounds more like a rugby score than a cricket score :cry:
True!
Mike
I'm pretty sure you can't get 4 in Rubgy though now I think about it.
Quote from: klondike on December 27, 2021, 04:22:53 PM
I'm pretty sure you can't get 4 in Rubgy though now I think about it.
You are right - many years ago a dropped goal scored four points (and at the time a try was only three). 1, 2 and 4 cannot be scored, but just about any other number can be
Mike
Thinking about whether 31 is possible might take your mind off the cricket :smiley:
It is. Four converted tries and a drop goal or penalty. There are other combinations, but that is the neatest.
Mike
If ye have tears..........
shot out for 68 to lose by an innings and 14 before lunch on the third day
Debutant Boland took 6 for 7 in just four overs - a wicket every fourth delivery
Can't see even a glimmer of hope - only Root and Stokes reached double figures - 28 and 11 respectfully
Ashes already gone
Mike [1160]
Is that bad? :grin:
Oh yes - didn't you notice the world stop turning?
Mike
it is pretty dark... :scot: :yell:
and may stay that way!
Mike
No point in repeating past opinions here I'm afraid, the batting faults are now too tiresome to endure further. Personally I won't be tuning in again, it's not even worth recording.
Considering the England Squad are paid in excess of a million each yearly by the TCCB, we are obviously in trouble if these people are supposedly the best.
The game is set to die (in the 5 day format) soon anyway ...
Can't help but feel that the way the English first class game is marginalised in favour of pyjama frolics has much for which to answer. Can't make up my mind as to whether or not I am brave enough to watch the highlights of the final day.
Root said that the 18 members of the squad are the best available. Assuming he is correct, heaven help the future of English cricket.
Mike
now you know how us Scots football fans have felt for the past forty years.. :nooo:
😁😁😁
Third highest scorer for England after Root and Burns in the past 12 months of English Test Cricket is 'extras' - says it all really. In the old days (50's) the team went out by boat. They then played several 'State Matches' before the Tests, it was called acclimatising. Nowadays, no preparation, everything rushed. With inferior players is this nadir really surprising?
Quote from: Michael Rolls on December 28, 2021, 09:00:31 PM
Can't help but feel that the way the English first class game is marginalised in favour of pyjama frolics has much for which to answer. Can't make up my mind as to whether or not I am brave enough to watch the highlights of the final day.
Root said that the 18 members of the squad are the best available. Assuming he is correct, heaven help the future of English cricket.
Mike
If that were true of England players then logic implies that it's the same situation for the other Test nations but it doesn't seem to be, 'specially the Antipodeans..
Haven't checked precisely, but I am pretty sure that the Aussies play less domestic pyjama games than in England, and they haven't marginalised their first class game in the manner of the ECB
Mike
well its not holding the Indians back any, and most teams have Foriegners..
but being honest, did any of you doubt the team before they left to vist Oz?
Sadly, very much so - although I never expected them to be this hopeless
Mike
Quote from: Michael Rolls on December 31, 2021, 01:24:08 PM
Sadly, very much so - although I never expected them to be this hopeless
Mike
Sorry but I did, not being clever just expectant of continuing decline. From attitude, skill and their destination, everything was going South ...
so true
but please never lose sight of the fact they are 'YOUR' team... :nooo:
of course they are
Mike
Quote from: Michael Rolls on January 01, 2022, 12:35:11 PM
of course they are
Mike
We've had one and a half Scottish captains gentlemen. One was the infamous 'Douglas Jardine'. Known as the 'Iron Dike' he was the architect of the fearsome
Bodyline bowling theory of the 1934 series in Australia, where 'International Relations' were nearly severed. He's only half Scots, because despite being of 100%
over the line stock, he was born in India. The other was Mike Denness, of Kent and Essex, whom I had the pleasure of knowing personally. A refined gentleman, who did a lot with poor players, unlike the present day's offering .
Always felt for Mike Denness, the way that he got worked over by Thompson and Lillee that he dropped himself. When was taht? 1975 downunder from memory?
Mike
and a schoolmate of Mr Denness was Ian Ure, who was certainly capped but may have captained Scotlands football team at that time...he played centre-half for the Woolich Arsenal... :scot:
Quote from: Michael Rolls on January 02, 2022, 04:28:55 AM
Always felt for Mike Denness, the way that he got worked over by Thompson and Lillee that he dropped himself. When was taht? 1975 downunder from memory?
Mike
Yes Mike 74/5 tour. I think everyone got mashed. Remember Colin Cowdrey playing so bravely aged 43 and called out as a replacement? David Lloyd once said he went out in 74 as a 'side on' batsman and came back six months later with a two eyed stance, thanks to Thompson! Brian Luckhurst was peppered with bruises all over, mainly from this fearsome catapult. A sling shot action (like Darren Gough) he was very difficult to sight. He bought the ball from just above his right ankle, concealed behind his torso until the very last twist of his shoulder. From really a shortish run, his pace was truly rapid and he was a clever bowler too.
It's said the when Sir Colin first took guard against Thommo in this 'come-back' test our gentle Knight's greeting of
"How good to meet you" was rebuffed with
"That's not going to help you fatso, piss off."Aussie culture at it's natural best, David Loyd at the other end (who roomed with Cowdrey) said the next bouncer went for six. 'Bumble' thought his partner had gone mad, "stirring oop bloody ornets nest".
In the last Test of that series, Denness returned to the side, scored 188 and we won by an innings! I know of no player who wasn't nervous over playing Thommo then and with good cause! A real unique bowling nightmare to face I would think. I could watch him all day, beautiful delivery stride, compact run up, perfect rhythm
(Like Fred). The whiplash action however took its bodily toll though and once the 'zip' went he faded quite quickly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSpBOYzoKyk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSpBOYzoKyk)
Long before JT was on the scene - I tried an action rather like that in the nets after sending down gentle off cutters, the batsman hit one back over my head - so next one, with no change of run-up or apparent action, was to be flat out at chin level - wrecked my back, and its never been the same since - that was 1954
Mike
I watched Thompson at Southampton when he toured. Barry Richards and Gordon Greenridge were facing him. They played him well, but the graceful rhythm of his action was a thing to watch.
I do wish the modern speed guns had been available in the good old days. I would love to know how Fred, Holding, Tyson, Lindwall, Willis, etc., compared to the modern quicks.
I always remember Ritchie Benaud saying that he reckoned Frank Tyson in 1954/5 to be the quickest that he ever saw.
Mike
Something that always sticks in my mind is the fifth Test of the 82-83 tour, played at Sydney. Thommo was no longer an automatic choice and the edge of that sheer raw pace was generally reckoned to have gone. I videoed the play and watched it the next day. Geoff Miller had made 34 and was facing Thompson who induced an edge to the keeper - which I think only the umpire missed. JRT looked ready to spit blood and Miller looked a bit apprehensive as the next ball thumped into his pads - first time I've seen anyone walk for an LBW shout!
My video had a facility for replaying one fame at a time and Thompson's delivery to Miller seemed SO much quicker than anything else I had watched that I replayed that and the delivery before it and deliveries from the other quicks as well. The result was that Thompson's deliveries were normally taking 10-11 frames, the other quicks (Lawson, Hogg, Willis, Cowans) were around 11-12. The one that was adjudged as getting Miller took just 9 frames. The video's normal recording rate was 24 frames a second.
Taking a flight of 20 yards that very quick one from Thomson works out at around 108 mph. Allowing for the difficulty of determining precisely when the ball left his hand and when it hit the pad (and I must have replayed that delivery a dozen or more times) - so my counting could easily be anything up to a whole frame out in total - and the fact that he was timed in 1975 at Perth at 99.7 mph, that seems to tie in quite well as somewhere at or over 100
Mike
In 1986, I went to Barbados to watch the Test match. West Indies got 400+ in their innings and we finished the second at 100+ for 1 with Gooch and Gower looking comfortable. The next morning Patterson and Marshall ripped through the batting with a blitz of fast bowling. John Snow was leading the holiday group and I was able to discuss it with him. Fastest he had ever seen was his description. Marshal was the scariest because of his low trajectory.
Malcolm Marshall, great bowler, taken too soon - much too soon
Mike
Quote from: 1955vintage on January 03, 2022, 09:43:10 AM
In 1986, I went to Barbados to watch the Test match. West Indies got 400+ in their innings and we finished the second at 100+ for 1 with Gooch and Gower looking comfortable. The next morning Patterson and Marshall ripped through the batting with a blitz of fast bowling. John Snow was leading the holiday group and I was able to discuss it with him. Fastest he had ever seen was his description. Marshal was the scariest because of his low trajectory.
I actually played Roy Gilchrist the tempestuous Jamaican, as a guest opener for a Lancashire Town in their Northern League in the early 70's. Famed for striking a batsman with an uprooted stump and delivering 100 mph 'Beamers', I think he was generally regarded as having the lowest action then seen. Of small stature for a quick at 5'7", he seemed to have extremely long arms and a fast whiplash action. He was famously sent home by the West Indies Captain Gerry Alexander from India, after having allegedly pulled a knife on him? He was well behaved in our match and I only received three bouncers over about an hour of him bowling and I ducked all of them! In modern day cricket, Lasith Malinga the Sri Lankan who has just retired would surely be the lowest delivery action of all time to date. Regarded as a slinger, I personally always enjoyed watching him, such beautiful rhythm and rarely today he finished with a T20 average per wicket nearly 13 runs behind his long game statistic - very rare.
If you look the great Malcolm Marshall had quite an upright action. Again of modest height and within a team of 'giants' he was so dangerous with a skidding, skimming delivery?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6VZVoP4nYY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6VZVoP4nYY)
I described Marshall as low trajectory because he was a short arse (compared to Garner, everyone is) , but you are right he had a classic upright action. I used to open with a guy who played against Gilchrist in the Lancashire leagues, did not say anything pleasant about him.
Malinga the slinger - fascinating to watch
Mike
Quote from: 1955vintage on January 03, 2022, 02:57:47 PM
I described Marshall as low trajectory because he was a short arse (compared to Garner, everyone is) , but you are right he had a classic upright action. I used to open with a guy who played against Gilchrist in the Lancashire leagues, did not say anything pleasant about him.
Yes I completely agree, kept muttering at me when I was at the non-strikers end and his eyes were rolling wildly too! Big Joel what a gentleman in every way - truly a 'Genial Giant'.
Quote from: Michael Rolls on January 03, 2022, 03:50:12 PM
Malinga the slinger - fascinating to watch
Mike
Yes wasn't he and truly rapid when he started
(95mph +). Perhaps more interesting as he matured though, despite losing pace, he developed his art so well and added new dimensions. Terrific fielder too by the way, but prone to injury, perhaps by his mercurially unnatural delivery (as you experienced too) and sheer physical exertions?
I shall tune in to hear the first day. A triumph of loyalty over experience. That's if it goes ahead.. Weeshalsea..
Quote from: zoony on January 03, 2022, 05:09:53 PM
I shall tune in to hear the first day. A triumph of loyalty over experience. That's if it goes ahead.. Weeshalsea..
England to lose by 8 or 9 wickets one way - or an innings again ...
Aye.. 'Appen.
Burns will make a century in both innings, Root a double, England to win by 350
Mike :pigfly:
well, as Burns isn't playing...
Mixed first day at Sydney - 126-3 sort of maybe yes, maybe no sort of a day, especially with so many breaks for rain. Seems to be a 'spot' on the wicket giving trampoline bounce - at least three deliveries, not especially short, have soared way over Butler's head for five wides. AT one stage both batsman and bowler were examining the ground in puzzlement!
Mike
Quote from: Michael Rolls on January 05, 2022, 09:44:29 PM
well, as Burns isn't playing...
Mixed first day at Sydney - 126-3 sort of maybe yes, maybe no sort of a day, especially with so many breaks for rain. Seems to be a 'spot' on the wicket giving trampoline bounce - at least three deliveries, not especially short, have soared way over Butler's head for five wides. AT one stage both batsman and bowler were examining the ground in puzzlement!
Mike
I definitely won't be bothering Mike, not that I dislike any of them, I just feel too ashamed. :cry:
Quote from: Michael Rolls on January 05, 2022, 09:44:29 PM
well, as Burns isn't playing...
Does that alter the odds on him making that century?
Asking for a friend :smiley:
Quote from: klondike on January 05, 2022, 09:57:53 PM
Does that alter the odds on him making that century?
Asking for a friend :smiley:
Gets most of his runs that way ... :cry:
Sorry I know nothing of cricket or the man. Just rattling the cage for sadistic pleasure.
Listening to TMS and really enjoying it, despite the situation.. Jonathon Agnew is worth his weight in light-meters..
Looks as though the pitch is getting two-paced already on day two. In addition to the 'trampoline' deliveries a 90 mph effort from Wood effectively ran along the ground (exaggeration?)
Khwaja reaches his century on the brink of tea. He and Cummins have already put on 36 in 10 overs
Mike
Root dropping Khawaja on 28 is haunting England - now 132 not out
Mike
one of England's better opening stands! No wicket lost, 13 runs - of which Mr. Extras has contributed 9
Mike
Well I'm pleased at this staggering performance. Almost as decisive as...
(https://gallery.digitalham.co.uk/images/poor_jo.jpg)
I'm always one to accept a challenge. :grin:
Guess who'll be the backup guest here when the inevitable(?) comes to pass a (probably) little later?
[1120] [1120] [1120]
Oh dear. 36-2 quickly became 36-4, with Malan out for 3, Root for a duck. Australia have now bowled nine consecutive maidens and taken three wickets in the course of them. Just when you think things can't get worse.....
Well, thankfully Stokes and Bairstow have shown the fight that has been so lacking earlier. Interesting to see Wood, at number eight, scoring 39, whereas our top four could only manage 27 between them!
Congrats to Bairstow on a well deserved century - although he seems to have picked up a nasty hand injury in the process, and Stokes' side strain prevents him from bowling for the rest of the match, and apparently he may even be doubtful for the fifth Test
Mike
Khawaja has a second century in the match, this one not out. Pope has taken four catches which I believe equals the record for catches by a sub in an innings. Set a mere 388 to win, England 30-0 at stumps.
At least the game will go into day five, which seemed unlikely when England were 4-36 in their first innings
Mike
Incredibly - or perhaps not - this is already England's best opening stand of the series. The seven completed opening partnerships total just 67 runs, or an average of 9.57.
How on earth can a team hope to win with with such awful starts?
Mike
If supported my local football team -The Cobblers (and I should possibly be ashamed to admit I don't even know which league they play in let alone their position but I'm not) then I could share your self inflicted pain.
Some religious folk are known to go in for a bit of self scourging or maybe flagillation and the like so perhaps this England cricket supporting brings you enlightenment.
Couldn't you support one of the other teams instead as happens with football? If I told folk here in Northampton that I supported (say) Arsenal not an eyebrow would be raised.
Plus if I told them I supported Romania or Poland at football it wouldn't either.
national pride is at stake!
Mike [1160]
Yeah. I did add a bit while you were typing about national teams...
so I see - tolerant lot, soccer fans
Mike😁😁
Quote from: Michael Rolls on January 08, 2022, 07:36:34 AM
Incredibly - or perhaps not - this is already England's best opening stand of the series. The seven completed opening partnerships total just 67 runs, or an average of 9.57.
How on earth can a team hope to win with with such awful starts?
Mike
Get used to it Mike. They all play across the line and none of them (with latter exception of Sibson) have any patience. Most of them also don't know where their off stump is. Money for old rope!
looking at some of the dismissals our openers have suffered all series, Sir Geoffrey's granny wouldn't need a stick of rhubarb - one of her knitting needles would do!
Mike
five down and 24 overs - minimum - left. Nails likely to come in for a bit of chewing
Mike
Nails chewed to the elbows, but England managed to hang on for a draw! Sorry to hear that Butler's hand injury rules him out of the fifth Test and he is going home.
That second innings first wicket stand of 46 brings the average up to 14.13, still nowhere near enough
Mike
Poor technique (whatever happened to straight up and down the line) and poor shot selection means the top three are a waste of time.
I think we will get pasted in the fifth test.
Should this thread be moved tot he controversial section.
trouble is, nobody better seems to be available. Since Andrew Strauss retired we haven't had a sold opening partnership - just Cook carrying whoever else turned up. Since he retired, just one horror show after another.
Mike
Quote from: 1955vintage on January 09, 2022, 08:19:05 AM
Poor technique (whatever happened to straight up and down the line) and poor shot selection means the top three are a waste of time.
I think we will get pasted in the fifth test.
Should this thread be moved tot he controversial section.
Dunno Mike, is there a 'Glass always half-empty' thread? :wink:
with most of our top order 'glass half empty' would be an improvement
Mike
Come come! I heard it described as "A THRILLING Draw!"!.. :grin: :grin:
Yes - the thrill lay in the sheer nervous energy expended waiting for those last few deliveries to be kept out. In the entire history of the Ashes it is only the second time a side has hung on for a draw with nine wickets down. The other time was in 2005 when Australia were the escapees at Old Trafford. Oddly enough, that means that in both cases it was the visiting side that survived.
Mike
Mike, It's so nice to see that little dog in her mum's arms rather than sitting alone..Good to see your lovely lady too.
thank you. One of my favourite pictures of the two of them.
Mike
I was intrigued be the dismissal of Joe Root in the second innings, and his dismissal in the second innings of the third Test. Caught behind off a faint edge both times, once at slip, once by the keeper, to very similar deliveries. Both from Boland, both of no great pace and, as far as one could see on the screen, no movement off the seam. Both around off stump so not safe to leave. Each time Root seemed to simply misjudge the line of the delivery when attempting a defensive stroke to a straight ball. Reminded me of dear old Fred Trueman's comment upon seeing that sort of dismissal. 'Thing is 'e were playing down 't Piccadilly line, but ball were on 't Waterloo' or words to that general effect.
Mike
I watched the last day, a losing draw and so close to the huge defeat I'd predicted. I don't know whats wrong with Joe at the moment. Perhaps Boland is temporarily (or forever) his nemesis. I think he's a fine bowler by the way accurate and persistive. They (The Lockdowners) have found a fault line. just short of a length off stump, where he seems unable to commit. Naturally he's a back and across player.
For instance Trevor Bailey would have played him much better off the front foot and probably sent him and the slips to sleep in the process! The great Ken Barrington and particularly his fellow Surrey team mate John Edrich would have been better at leaving these balls alone off the back. Shot selection and lack of patience generally again contributed to the sad spectacle of endemic failure.
One good think! How beautifully Zak Crawley stroked the ball for his 77 off only a 100 balls. Reminds me so much of Ted Dexter at that age. We must persevere, he'd be in my side permanently, whatever the scores, because he' so talented.
Similarly for the reverse reason, Hameed would be out for good. Nice chap, but strictly a County player only I'm afraid.
Only seeing the highlights is always a pain - virtually every ball taking a wicket or conceding runs - but what I saw of Crawley looked really good. Can't remember his dismissal, must try and find it
Mike
again difficult to judge fairly from just highlights, but Hameed, to me, never looked even remotely comfortable at this level. Between him and Burns - not much to choose. To my mind, neither really good enough.
I reckon you've made more posts in this thread and the one on PF than England got runs in the series :grin:
Quote from: klondike on January 11, 2022, 09:52:51 PM
I reckon you've made more posts in this thread and the one on PF than England got runs in the series :grin:
A good bet klon :wink:
Quote from: klondike on January 11, 2022, 09:52:51 PM
I reckon you've made more posts in this thread and the one on PF than England got runs in the series :grin:
Not hard, believe me, not hard!
Mike [1160] [1160]
Quote from: klondike on January 11, 2022, 09:52:51 PM
I reckon you've made more posts in this thread and the one on PF than England got runs in the series :grin:
Guess what - combining my posts on here and PF makes me England's second centurion - only Bairstow's 135 outscores my 102!
Mike :wow:
:grin: :grin: :grin:
And that's only two innings.
👍👍
at 12-3 I had to make sure it really was Australia batting, not England! However, they are now going hell for leather - already passed 50 for the fourth wicket
Mike
236-5. Despite his pace, Wood is getting carted all over the place. On the greenest of greentops, from all accounts ever seen in a Test In Oz for many years, our part-time spinner has already sent down 10 overs. I see Robinson, who looked really threatening early on, has only bowled 8 overs, Hope there's nothing wrong
Mike
As I feared - Robinson has picked up a back spasm - not clear if he will bowl again
Mike
Good Lord! Just watched the highlights - I have never, ever, seen so green a wicket for a Test in Oz. Have to feel sorry for Labuschagne - foot went from under him as though he had stepped on ice
Mike
Oz all out for 303 - not bad after being 12-3!
Mike
Another brilliant start from England. Burns run out without scoring, Crawley goe for 18 - 34-2 at the break
Mike [1170] [1170]
So 188 all out, now have Oz at 74-6, a lead of 189. Given the way England have batter, that could be enough!
Mike [1050]
Australia all out, leaving England 271 to get. Easy!!
Mike :pigfly: :pigfly: :pigfly:
How on Earth do they do it? from 68/0 to 124 all out! If you exclude Mr. Extras - third highest scorer with 13, Burns and Crawley scored 62 between them - more than the other nine put together.
Mike
Mike i admit having little or no interest in Cricket but i just noticed you must have set some kind of record, twelve posts without reply... i felt i should step in and acknowledge your posts at least, in case you felt abandoned...keep your chin up old boy, its the taking part that matters....isnt it...
play up, play up, and play the game....
C'est la vie! (Even the French would probably beat this lot at the moment!)
Mike [1170] [1170]
Quote from: crabbyob on January 16, 2022, 03:02:36 PM
Mike i admit having little or no interest in Cricket but i just noticed you must have set some kind of record, twelve posts without reply... i felt i should step in and acknowledge your posts at least, in case you felt abandoned...keep your chin up old boy, its the taking part that matters....isnt it...
play up, play up, and play the game....
No offence intended.. I'm just fed up with England cricket and cricketers. I'll start watching them again, and comment when they stop looking so incompetent.
Could be a long wait
Mike 😢😢😢
Just watched the brief highlights on the BBC site - can't remember ever seeing such a sequence of clueless dismissals - they would have disgraced an under 15 XI
Mike
Well I thought it was great.
They could nearly get the entire English last innings on the 6 o'clock news.
Lol. :grin:
I think the 6 o'clock news has enough tales of disaster as it is!
Mike
Back 'spasms' etc! Fred Trueman bowled over a 1,000 overs a season, as did the great Brian Statham. John Lever of Essex was renown for bowling 'through' injuries. You could have only kept all three from bowling on a 'green-top' in Hobart with cloud cover by chaining them up. Let alone paying them a million pounds in a calendar year!
This batting line-up is a national disgrace and more importantly so is the captaincy and the structure behind it all.
Huge salaries, for re-cycling garbage, Boris Johnson must be envious.
Good job perhaps the British game is becoming extinct. Who wants to watch decay ferment?
I don't think that I have ever seen so abject a performance from an England Test side. No idea how bad the injuries picked up are, and given the relative success of Mark Wood, I do wonder what might have been the case had Stone and Archer been available - several of the Aussie batsmen were clearly unsettled by Wood.
Mine you - as Broad said a little while back 'if you get bowled out for 148, it doesn't matter which bowlers you pick'
Mike
Oh, and there was a discussion on the web between Ian Chappell and Mark Taylor on the general progress of the series and Taylor mentioned Root. 'He's not a captain, never mind a Test captain,' was Chappell's cutting response
Mike
Quote from: Michael Rolls on January 17, 2022, 03:15:49 PM
Oh, and there was a discussion on the web between Ian Chappell and Mark Taylor on the general progress of the series and Taylor mentioned Root. 'He's not a captain, never mind a Test captain,' was Chappell's cutting response
Mike
Right on, great batsman but when I first saw him as skipper, his field placings were naive and his limited personality doesn't assure command. He should go now and let Ben have a turn whilst we still have him, concentrating on his batting only, to avoid injury exposure as he goes older. I think it will aid Joe too. Even his seemingly disinterested cliche repetitive, monosyllabic delivery must be shaken by this latest debacle. He got out to 'good' balls but at his level he keeps playing 'bad' shots to them!
my cricket knowledge is hovering just above minus...but... i feel i must agree with Cass on this one, i think Root is a top class batsman, but being skipper of any team is a diffrent kind of skill set... i think his place in the team is at risk [and you dont exactly have a shed full of batsmen] in my opinion if you dont have a 'Captain' i would give it to the keeper who sees everything on the park.... :biker:
Interesting - Billings is skipper of Kent, a much better keeper than Butler. At 30, not a callow youth
Mike
Quote from: Michael Rolls on January 18, 2022, 06:14:17 PM
Interesting - Billings is skipper of Kent, a much better keeper than Butler. At 30, not a callow youth
Mike
Nice chap, but not in the same class as Buttler as a batsman and only played cos he happened to be in Lockdownia at a time, when both the former and Bairstow as keepers were damaged and the position was a hapless one anyway. Bit like Jon Agnew in the 80's I remember somehow. Though Billings still had to
drive over 500 miles to play as the Govt wouldn't permit him to fly of course!
As a batsman, Butler seems terrific in white ball, but was pretty non-existent in this series. In 57 Tests he has two centuries, averages 31.94, but nothing like that of late. FC average is 32.17, Billings actually has a slightly better FC average at 33.90, with 6 centuries in 75 matches; Butler has 7 in 122, so Billings' stats as a batsman seem reasonably comparable. A couple of really good catches apart - remember I only saw the highlights, Butler's keeping wasn't anything to write home about.
Interesting comment in the paper the other day - adding the three 'wickets' to no balls to 17 dropped catches - that's Oz bowled out twice!
Mike
Forgive me Mike butt you're driving me mad mate.. BuTTler spells his name with two Ts!!.. :nooo:
thanks - so he does - never noticed - just about makes his spelling as odd as his recent batting!
Mike
Or bating :smiley:
as i posted in tother place, its reported that England are hireing the tennis player who has been filling the news ....he impressed the ties that run English cricket as it took the Aussies two weeks to get him 'OUT'
You sure it was there I read that? Bugger I thought I'd given that up in my new year resolutions. I do still put a post or two in every few days to annoy Chris. Childish I know :evil:
i thought you were calling to prod our old 'mate' scratchimo a bit of a prod, but even that is now illegal