The Cricket Thread

[Spurs_Bear]

What worries me about Bethell at 3 is he's never batted there, and indeed hasn't played much fc cricket at all, (20 games) and that's at an average of only 25.

Pope is a second rate keeper and frankly his batting has been shite lately, I don't know what Ollie Robinson has to do to get a look in if Cox is a consideration? Again, is this all an admission that he's not cutting it?

As has been said Stokes hiding at 7, is that just so he has license to go out swinging without having to think?

The bowling always look light whilst the quick can't stay fit for long enough to play more than one or two matches in a row!

In fairness neither had Pope before he batted at 3, I'm not sure he'd even batted at 4 when he was put there either, he'd been a 6 for Surrey. Ollie Robinson will apparently come out for the second Test, but there must be something they don't really like about him, he plays for Stokes' county, he must know him pretty well! Any other era and Foakes would have played 80 Tests.

That's why I see the Bethell things as a free hit for the lad, do well and you're a hero and they'll find a spot for you somewhere, do badly and it'll be nothing more than what was supposed to happen.

 

[Dunc2610]

In fairness neither had Pope before he batted at 3, I'm not sure he'd even batted at 4 when he was put there either, he'd been a 6 for Surrey. Ollie Robinson will apparently come out for the second Test, but there must be something they don't really like about him, he plays for Stokes' county, he must know him pretty well! Any other era and Foakes would have played 80 Tests.

That's why I see the Bethell things as a free hit for the lad, do well and you're a hero and they'll find a spot for you somewhere, do badly and it'll be nothing more than what was supposed to happen.

But why do it against a red hot New Zealand side in their own back yard? Why didn't they do it against the Windies?

I will caveat that despite my misgivings, I hope he smashes it and that's nr 3 sorted for England!

 

[Spurs_Bear]

But why do it against a red hot New Zealand side in their own back yard? Why didn't they do it against the Windies?

They are doing it because they arrogantly picked the wrong squad. They'd already said what the top 7 was going to be before Cox got injured.

Crawley
Duckett
Pope
Root
Brook
Stokes
Cox

They've had to throw Bethell in as they cant expect Pope to keep and bat 3, which is probably fair when he's not a genuine keeper. Unless Bethell scores runs in this match I would expect the top 7 to revert to previous but with Robinson in for Cox.

 

[midoshairband]

lots of movement with the new ball. we really didn't bowl well this morning.

got a feeling NZ will hit the right areas.

 

[Impspur1]

The way NZ just probe away and use the seam, have a feeling it could be painful today in this wicket

 

[Impspur1]

They are doing it because they arrogantly picked the wrong squad. They'd already said what the top 7 was going to be before Cox got injured.

Crawley
Duckett
Pope
Root
Brook
Stokes
Cox

They've had to throw Bethell in as they cant expect Pope to keep and bat 3, which is probably fair when he's not a genuine keeper. Unless Bethell scores runs in this match I would expect the top 7 to revert to previous but with Robinson in for Cox.

I think it’s more likely Pope struggles with the bat and Robinson comes in for Pope, especially if Bethall has a decent couple of innings

 

[midoshairband]

what a catch by Glunn Fullups.

Pope really unlucky there.

 

[Dunc2610]

what a catch by Glunn Fullups.

Pope really unlucky there.

Nailed the kiwi accent there!

 

[Timbo Tottenham]

I went to bed at lunch (as I got back from the spurs game), was not expecting to see us still batting!

 

[funkycoldmedina]

We have a serious problem with the openers. I don't think either are good enough. Brook is class and I knew he was going to get big runs by before I fell asleep. Pop was looking very good too.

Duckett is phenomenal. He's averaging over 40 now and really sets the tone. Crawley is an issue but as was said at the start of comms yesterday, he's not in the team for consistency, he's in because he can be devastating. If there was another option in the counties then absolutely get them in but there isn't as far as I can tell.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Duckett is phenomenal. He's averaging over 40 now and really sets the tone. Crawley is an issue but as was said at the start of comms yesterday, he's not in the team for consistency, he's in because he can be devastating. If there was another option in the counties then absolutely get them in but there isn't as far as I can tell.

I get this argument to a point, and there might not be an opener on the circuit that can do what Crawley does, but I also think the "can be devastating" bit only holds a certain amount of weight. He's got 4 centuries in 50 Test matches, 91 innings and his last was over 2 years ago. The selectors can only go so far with that.

I actually think it's a bigger problem than Pope at 3, who is the definition of inconsistency but still has 3 centuries this year alone. Duckett is great though, apart from when he gets out in frustrating ways like today.

 

[funkycoldmedina]

I get this argument to a point, and there might not be an opener on the circuit that can do what Crawley does, but I also think the "can be devastating" bit only holds a certain amount of weight. He's got 4 centuries in 50 Test matches, 91 innings and his last was over 2 years ago. The selectors can only go so far with that.

I actually think it's a bigger problem than Pope at 3, who is the definition of inconsistency but still has 3 centuries this year alone. Duckett is great though, apart from when he gets out in frustrating ways like today.

Duckett averages 41 with a positive way of batting, he'll always get out in 'frustrating' ways because that's how we think. At the end of the day and opener averaging 41 is great.
Crawley gets bowled at, he doesn't rotate the strike and make the bowlers have to change their length, he's a sitting duck on a wicket doing a bit. Pope is the same, the definition of a great net batsmen. I loved how Brook counter punched, yes they dropped some catches but l their cordon was up and Brook goes hard at it when he goes for it.

 

[Nine while nine]

Crawley is an issue but as was said at the start of comms yesterday, he's not in the team for consistency, he's in because he can be devastating.

Indeed.

I saw Crawley get out for a duck last night and, I have to admit, I was pretty devastated.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Watched it until lunch last night

Wasn't really a fan of Bethall but I thought, on debut, coming out at an incredibly difficult time he did really really well

Didn’t get off the mark for about 14 balls and showed great character and maturity

Got a fantastic ball and that 34 ball 10 will be better than some 50’s he’ll get

Terrible really to stick him in at 3 when you’ve got Pope/Stokes at 6 & 7 - maybe throw him in v a lesser nation but New Zealand away, just after stuffing India, doesn’t get much tougher

 

[Dunc2610]

The problem England has is that since Andrew Strauss retired (aside from Alistair Cook), the next best opener is......Joe Root (averaged nearly 42 in his 6 tests opening), who is also England's best nr3 and best nr4!! Is that fact ability wise he's incredibly flexible, the reason its so frustrating he's not willing to bat anywhere but 4 now?

England have been spoilt up to Strauss and Cook with good openers. Sadly, there is no one of their quality/style that can open. In lieu of that, I'd happily have Duckett at the top.

Who bats with him....that's the issue. England have tried Crawley (av. 22), Roy (av. 8.85), Jennings (av. 25), Hameed (av. 23), Denley (av. 31), Burns (av. 30) (amongst others).

 

[funkycoldmedina]

Watched it until lunch last night

Wasn't really a fan of Bethall but I thought, on debut, coming out at an incredibly difficult time he did really really well

Didn’t get off the mark for about 14 balls and showed great character and maturity

Got a fantastic ball and that 34 ball 10 will be better than some 50’s he’ll get

Terrible really to stick him in at 3 when you’ve got Pope/Stokes at 6 & 7 - maybe throw him in v a lesser nation but New Zealand away, just after stuffing India, doesn’t get much tougher

I do love the way they put their trust in talent and temperament. They could easily have put Leach instead of Bashir for a bit more control but investing in these players in tough series does wonders for their development. Some delivery he got as well, he did nothing wrong.

 

[Timbo Tottenham]

Stokes and Brook (especially) going for it this morning.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Atkinson with an outrageous innings

A bowling all rounder batting at no9 who looked like Viv Richards in his pomp (and I’m not joking) Worlds gone mad!

140 in that first session and they cruised it

 

[funkycoldmedina]

Atkinson with an outrageous innings

A bowling all rounder batting at no9 who looked like Viv Richards in his pomp (and I’m not joking) Worlds gone mad!

140 in that first session and they cruised it

Now Carse is doing it. Devastating batting

 

[Finchyid]

I get baz ball but stokes is 20 from hundred and we could get a decent lead but that shot was horrible