Alex 35595 Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 it's interesting to look at his career average in different positions and see he's another one who clearly does better down the order. i think root could go on to become a good number 3 in the future. for bell, it's probably last chance saloon. he's the senior batter, on his home ground in what should be his best position. time for him to step up in this series with a significant contribution or he's another one whose place in the side will be under pressure. I think Bell has had a strange career in general because, given the talent he has, take away the odd purple patch and his average is pretty ordinary. I think he'll struggle at 3 tbh because, as you allude to, he usually has. I just think he should go there because of his seniority and it's then a case of 'now or never' to step up. In fairness anyone bar the true greats would struggle a bit having to come in in the first 5 overs all the time. I think you could play Hales or Lyth there and have the other one of those opening. That would keep Root in the middle order where he's done so well. Hales at 3 could counter-attack too. Think he should have been picked earlier in the summer though when he scored that big hundred in a 4 day game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 22177 Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 Not giving hales or rashid a chance against NZ or the windies this year was a chance missed by the selectors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 35595 Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 Not giving hales or rashid a chance against NZ or the windies this year was a chance missed by the selectors Aye, definitely. But it was because Peter Moores and (to a lesser extent) Cook were worried about their jobs, so they picked conservative teams. It backfired anyway as they drew a series they should've won and Moores got the bullet. I suppose that was probably a good thing for English cricket in the long term. And while I didn't agree with it at the time (particularly not playing Rashid on pitches which would've helped him, especially when Moeen wasn't even available for the first test), I could see why they played it safe under the circumstances. Playing Trott as an opener as well smacked of desperation. Lyth or Hales could've been given valuable experience in those games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 35595 Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 Clive Rice has died. One of the best all-rounders ever. RIP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 22177 Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 RIP In other news, Wood faces a late fitness test for edgbaston. Finn to come in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 35595 Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 Clive Rice tribute: http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/story/903871.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 22177 Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 such a shame for him on a personal level that his career almost entirely coincided with SA's isolation from the international game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 35595 Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 such a shame for him on a personal level that his career almost entirely coincided with SA's isolation from the international game. Yeah. He'd have been right up there with Kapil Dev, Botham, Hadlee and Imran Khan in that era of great all-rounders. I can remember him from the old John Player 40 over games that were shown on council telly. Back then you had the best players in the world playing county cricket. He used to open the bowling with Richard Hadlee. Don't know if you remember but back then tests were Thursday to Tuesday with Sunday being a rest day and if there was a test match on England players would play for their county in the one day games on the Sunday. Used to love Somerset with Ian Botham, Sir Viv and Joel Garner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 22177 Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 i've always been a bit of a fair weather cricket fan when it comes to the county game. but yeah, it was a different beast in the 80s, that's for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toonotl 3114 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 I know next to nothing about Clive Rice, but 26,000 FC runs at 40 and 930 wickets at 22. It seems like he was robbed of the chance to be up there as a contender in the debate about the greatest cricketers of all time. Its a real shame that the apartheid era for South African cricket could have otherwise been a golden age for them at international level. I don't know much about the players of that time obviously, but you can't help being mightily impressed looking at the FC records of the likes of Procter, Barry Richards, Graeme Pollock and Clive Rice. I've heard some people say Barry Richards was the best batsman since Bradman. I saw him interviewed by an Aussie journalist over here during the WC. It seems the guy was an amazing player, and he may not even have been the best out of the others mentioned, because their records are all very similar in terms of quality. Such a shame. RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toonotl 3114 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 (edited) Aussies have won the toss. Batting. Edited July 29, 2015 by toonotl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 22177 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 and there goes the test match for england according to early reports, the pitch is another featherbed like cardiff - with little to no carry through to the keeper. pathetic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toonotl 3114 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 I don't know Gloomy. They're saying on the Aussie commentary that there's a bit of grass on it. Not sure what the bounce is like just yet. Will soon see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 35595 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Good start at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toonotl 3114 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Yeah. Watson-like review there from Warner too. Outside leg was the only thing that was going to save him there. England's bowlers have started well, not giving Australia anything so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toonotl 3114 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 I reckon this is a good pitch. There's some real pace in the wicket for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 46064 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Oiiiiiiii reckon. You missed "Ah look" from the start of that sentence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 [emoji38] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 22177 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 there goes smudger smith! there's life in this pitch. wooohooo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 22177 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 and welcome back steven finn with a wicket in his first over! now here's the captain, short of runs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toonotl 3114 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Oiiiiiiii reckon. You missed "Ah look" from the start of that sentence. Fark off cunt chops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 35595 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Could be big for Finn who seems to be such a confidence bowler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Absolutely. Always liked him mind, shame we have pretty much neutralized his pace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex 35595 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Absolutely. Always liked him mind, shame we have pretty much neutralized his pace. Andy Flower and his attempt to turn him into Glen McGrath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toonotl 3114 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Great bowling. Struggling big time now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now