The Cricket Thread

[Dr Gloom 22211]

3 minutes ago, Alex said:

Funny because Swann reckons Moeen is one of the most naturally gifted spinners he's seen in recent years but he lacks the self belief. You'd have to have Lyon ahead of him though. The latter's turned into a genuinely class off-spinner.

 

lyon has the better figures, but who would you want in your team? i think possibly moeen with the counterpunching threat he offers with the bat down at number 8

[Ken 119]

2 minutes ago, Dr Gloom said:

 

Did you not see us just beating them 3-1? 

Over at yours.

[Ken 119]

You also lost a match to the Windies at home. Hard to judge form.

[Dr Gloom 22211]

1 minute ago, David Kelly said:

Wasn't on the hard pitches though which is what I assume Ken's getting at.  Mind you, they would have been hard when we beat them in SA.

 

he just said we're not at their level, which is clearly nonsense given we've beaten them home and away in the two most recent series.

 

they're obviously better suited to playing on hard pitches than us, as are the aussies but we're at a higher level than SA on recent form. 

[Alex 35667]

Just now, Dr Gloom said:

 

lyon has the better figures, but who would you want in your team? i think possibly moeen with the counterpunching threat he offers with the bat down at number 8

If he could find more consistency then Moeen. It's an issue of self-belief with him and his bowling. They'll go after him this winter too.

[Dr Gloom 22211]

1 minute ago, Ken said:

Over at yours.

 

we beat them at theirs too, dipshit. 

[Ken 119]

2 minutes ago, Dr Gloom said:

 

we beat them at theirs too, dipshit. 

Didn't realise. Too much cricket being played everywhere in all forms.

Good effort though.

[Alex 35667]

There's not much between the top 6 test teams. You'd pretty much bet on all of them to win at home and lose away in a 4 or 5 test series against any of the others. I appreciate Pakistan don't play 'at home' before some larrikin points that out.

[Ken 119]

This Ashes series will go down to the wire. We aren't playing great, lack of confidence in the group atm. Pay dispute between players and cricketing body has been a massive distraction and tours to Bangladesh and India were pointless.

[David Kelly 1260]

24 minutes ago, Dr Gloom said:

 

he just said we're not at their level, which is clearly nonsense given we've beaten them home and away in the two most recent series.

 

they're obviously better suited to playing on hard pitches than us, as are the aussies but we're at a higher level than SA on recent form. 

Completely agree.

[Dr Gloom 22211]

54 minutes ago, Ken said:

This Ashes series will go down to the wire. We aren't playing great, lack of confidence in the group atm. Pay dispute between players and cricketing body has been a massive distraction and tours to Bangladesh and India were pointless.

 

i don't think it'll be close. two evenly matched teams on paper, with similar strengths and weaknesses, but i think home advantage, and poor selections by england, will be enough for your lot to win 4-1 

[Dr Gloom 22211]

that said, i fancy us in the ODI series for once. we're looking a genuinely exciting team in that format for the first time ever

[Ken 119]

27 minutes ago, Dr Gloom said:

 

i don't think it'll be close. two evenly matched teams on paper, with similar strengths and weaknesses, but i think home advantage, and poor selections by england, will be enough for your lot to win 4-1 

So what are the expected changes from the eleven that beat South Africa then?

[Ken 119]

27 minutes ago, Dr Gloom said:

that said, i fancy us in the ODI series for once. we're looking a genuinely exciting team in that format for the first time ever

I fancy our chances more in the ODI's tbh. We are almost unbeatable here.

[Tom 14021]

Gayle gone already  

[David Kelly 1260]

6 minutes ago, Ken said:

So what are the expected changes from the eleven that beat South Africa then?

Stoneman for Jennings (which already happened against West Indies), Vince for Westley and Woakes for Rowland Jones.  Maybe Ballance challenging Malan too.

[David Kelly 1260]

8 minutes ago, Tom said:

Gayle gone already  

Game over then.

 

[Dr Gloom 22211]

9 minutes ago, Ken said:

So what are the expected changes from the eleven that beat South Africa then?

 

James Taylor has retired because of his heart problem since then. We were experimenting with Compton and Hales as openers back then. Remarkably, Ballance is still in contention despite doing nothing for about two years. 

 

We we only have half a batting line up - big holes at numbers 2, 3 and 5. We've a dangerous middle/lower order right down to number 9 with Root/Bairsrow/Stokes/Moeen/Woakes all able to do damage if the top order make runs. 

 

Even Broad at number 10 can be a handful with the bat on his day. The problem is that when Cook and Root both fail to provide a platform, we're still prone to collapsing. 

[David Kelly 1260]

Taylor retiring is a real shame, not just for him obviously.  He was really starting to look the part.

[Dr Gloom 22211]

3 minutes ago, David Kelly said:

Taylor retiring is a real shame, not just for him obviously.  He was really starting to look the part.

 

i wonder which one of us mis-read ken's question

[David Kelly 1260]

Just now, Dr Gloom said:

 

i wonder which one of us mis-read ken's question

I doubt even he knows 

[Ken 119]

9 minutes ago, David Kelly said:

Stoneman for Jennings (which already happened against West Indies), Vince for Westley and Woakes for Rowland Jones.  Maybe Ballance challenging Malan too.

Cheers mate. I honestly had to google every one of those players except Gary Ballance to know who they are.

Nothing like I knew England.

[Ken 119]

10 minutes ago, Dr Gloom said:

 

James Taylor has retired because of his heart problem since then. We were experimenting with Compton and Hales as openers back then. Remarkably, Ballance is still in contention despite doing nothing for about two years. 

 

We we only have half a batting line up - big holes at numbers 2, 3 and 5. We've a dangerous middle/lower order right down to number 9 with Root/Bairsrow/Stokes/Moeen/Woakes all able to do damage if the top order make runs. 

 

Even Broad at number 10 can be a handful with the bat on his day. The problem is that when Cook and Root both fail to provide a platform, we're still prone to collapsing. 

James Taylor hey?.. hmm. Hales? Compton? Yup. I see why you aren't so optimistic now.

[David Kelly 1260]

1 minute ago, Ken said:

Cheers mate. I honestly had to google every one of those players except Gary Ballance to know who they are.

Nothing like I knew England.

Vince played in the big bash for one of the Sydney teams last time around.  Surely you'd heard of Chris Woakes? He's played 18 tests and 66 ODI's.

[Alex 35667]

Since Australia last won in England in 2001 ( ) every series bar one has been won by the home team.