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Post by flashblade on Mar 18, 2015 15:05:17 GMT
Pusillanimous of Whittaker not to face the press; he should be out there bigging up Lyth, Wood and Rashid. Typical of the craven attitude of England management. Is Tich Taylor a little unlucky not to be in the squad? Have he and Finn been the two scapegoated for the World Cup fiasco so that Broad, Anderson and Bell can escape scot-free? Looks like Trott and Lyth are competing for one place as Cook's opening partner. Trott is a big mistake for me and when he gets smacked on the bonce by Taylor, Roach or Holder, those who have exposed him to this again should feel very guilty. Can't imagine his fragile psyche and questionable technique and temperament against the fast, short-pitched stuff will surivive through to the Ashes. But if the Windies don't deck him, I fear Mitch Johnson will turn into a gibbering wreck once more. Nice thought!
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Post by hhsussex on Mar 24, 2015 21:02:23 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2015 21:10:45 GMT
Rather he was another Illingworth than another Grieg. He only said he expects to beat a "mediocre" West Indies side, not that he intends to make them grovel, (and saying it in the soft, clement accents of the Yorkshire dales rather than in the clipped white supremacist tones of Cape Afrikaans helps, too!)
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Post by flashblade on Mar 27, 2015 13:00:06 GMT
"We must stop being so English" says Bopara. www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/story/855527.htmlMaybe there's some sour grapes in there, but I tend to believe what he says about the coaching and dressing room culture. Bopara believes the side were inhibited by a "sense of fear" during the World Cup. I shouldn't think Graves' recent aggressive 'pep talk' will have done anything to assuage that!
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Post by hhsussex on Mar 27, 2015 14:15:30 GMT
"We must stop being so English" says Bopara. www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/story/855527.htmlMaybe there's some sour grapes in there, but I tend to believe what he says about the coaching and dressing room culture. Bopara believes the side were inhibited by a "sense of fear" during the World Cup. I shouldn't think Graves' recent aggressive 'pep talk' will have done anything to assuage that! I think so too, and if we agree that there is a problem with English cricket in that it is too tentative, too much concerned with identifying what is a "par" score, and how could we manage to creep over the line, rather than going out to seize the initiative and deny their opponents the chance to dictate the contest, then we have to look at the best ways of changing that culture. We can bluster and tell everyone that their jobs are at risk if they don't beat such and such a mediocre side, or that even if they do this, they have to at least ensure a draw against the next opponents, because any other result would be unacceptable, but would this really motivate success? We have become used to the posturings of the increasingly desperate wannabes who appear on The Apprentice, their desperate urgency and insistent mantras that "failure is not an option" that "you have to be tough to get to the top", and we've seen each one make pratfall after pratfall. Even when the most unpleasant of them wins through their prize is a nothing job, a piece of window-dressing that benefits no-one but Sugar and the production company. This kind of approach is harmful and inimical to lasting success. The current Australian side has been tellingly handled by Lehmann, whose relaxed approach conceals a keen understanding for the psychology and will to win of his players, and an innate understanding of how to marshal their talents. In little more than eighteen months he has turned Steve Smith from yet another New South Wales hopeful all rounder ("hits the ball around a bit, gives it a bit of tweak, fields close in") into one of the most effective batsmen in the world - in any form of the game - and clearly with such self-confidence and can-do that he will make a superb captain. In conjunction with Clarke, a captain who was previously regarded as failing in empathy, a new squad of young pace bowlers has emerged, and the career of Johnson has been revitalised. Other teams have taken a more positive stance, particularly New Zealand, who were in the position a year or so back of having nothing whatever to lose, with a captain at odds with his selectors and coach, over-reliance on Vettori,and a dismal history of nearly-men amongst their fast and medium pace bowlers. The territorial advantage of being co-hosts at the World Cup has helped them , of course, but this has merely built on a more cohesive and collaborative team approach. Whatever the result at Melbourne in two days time, this team now looks line one, and works as one, and will be supremely motivated when they come to England. What will England be like? At present there seem to be at least three philosophies active within the wider squad, embracing management of the direct and indirect kind as well as the technical staff and the spear-carriers, or players. First there is the sabre-rattling of Graves, gleefully stoked up by the media who can't dissociate their relish for a story centred around Pietersen from the broader long-term interests of the game. Then there is the brooding discontent of Cook and Moores, one feeling stitched up by the upper echelons of the selectors, the other only to well aware that he has stitched up his own mouth around the shape of the foot he left in it. Finally there are the earnest attempts of good and likeable young players to battle through this and to build up their careers. Their remarks may be naive and certainly they are great pains not to appear critical of their managers, but players like Jordan, Moeen Ali, Ballance and Woakes must be wondering how on earth they can fulfil themselves when they don't know what set of criteria they will be measured against from day to day, nor what kind of hoops they will be expected to jump through. Some of these players may be very good indeed, some of them may be slightly below the estimate that has been set on them. The problem is that with the lack of cohesion and proper respect for working within agreed competences displayed by the non-playing ECB representatives, it won't really help them if they beat a "mediocre" West Indies side 3-0, or pursue a pattern of draws as in 2009, or even if they fall victim to a revitalised team around the Simmonds-Holder axis: we don't have a clear vision of how to play the game positively. The return of Trott to the squad is one example of this and the refusal to use the opportunity to try out new fast bowler pairings in advance of the really tough calendar of the next few months - New Zealand, Australa, Pakistan and South Africa, all by Christmas! - is deeply depressing. Maybe we'll muddle through, but as a lover of cricket first, and not as a diehard patriot-at-all-costs (note to borderman) I don't want that. Muddling through means middling and enmiring.
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Post by hhsussex on Apr 2, 2015 8:32:35 GMT
Moeen Ali is reported as hoping to be fit to play in the 2nd Test against West Indies. www.espncricinfo.com/west-indies-v-england-2015/content/story/858001.html. That will probably spell the end of Rashid's ambitions to play in Tests, although it is just possible Tredwell might play alongside Moeen if two spinners are needed. Looking at the averages for what used to be called the Shell Shield, and is now known by the much snappier title of the WICB Profesional Cricket League Regional 4-day Tournament, this year, it is dominated by spinners: 67 wickets at 14.07 to Permaul (SLA) 61 at 17.06 to Bishoo (LB) 56 at 21.89 to Khan of Trinidad (SLA)
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2015 9:33:09 GMT
Does Moeen's absence from the first Test mean both Lyth and Trott will play?
HH's Windies domestic bowling stats suggest either Rashid or Tredwell must play; so I'd predict something like this - although with Stokes at eight you could probably afford to leave out a batsman (probably Lyth) in favour of Jordan or a second spinner (although I don't think England have played two specialist spinners in more than 20 years - I have it buried in the back of my head that the last time may have been Tufnell and Hemmings?)...
Cook Lyth Trott Ballance Bell Root Buttler Stokes Rashid Broad Anderson
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Post by invicta1977 on Apr 2, 2015 9:48:26 GMT
Does Moeen's absence from the first Test mean both Lyth and Trott will play? HH's Windies domestic bowling stats suggest either Rashid or Tredwell must play; so I'd predict something like this - although with Stokes at eight you could probably afford to leave out a batsman (probably Lyth) in favour of Jordan or a second spinner (although I don't think England have played two specialist spinners in more than 20 years - I have it buried in the back of my head that the last time may have been Tufnell and Hemmings?)... Less than two years ago - Swann and Kerrigan at The Oval. Before then, Swann and Panesar during the previous winter in India.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2015 9:50:45 GMT
I'd forgotten the disastrous Kerrigan 'trial'. But yes, thinking about it logic says Swann and Panesar must have played together quite a few times...
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Post by invicta1977 on Apr 2, 2015 9:55:06 GMT
Of course, there was once a Test in West Indies when England played three specialist spinners (Underwood, Pocock, Birkenshaw) plus Tony Greig bowling his offies (and taking 13 wickets with them). WI played just the two front line spinners (Gibbs, Inshan) plus Sir Gaz.
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Post by hhsussex on Apr 2, 2015 12:13:33 GMT
Of course, there was once a Test in West Indies when England played three specialist spinners (Underwood, Pocock, Birkenshaw) plus Tony Greig bowling his offies (and taking 13 wickets with them). WI played just the two front line spinners (Gibbs, Inshan) plus Sir Gaz. Indeed, not sure what Sobers was bowling in the second innings , and whether Bernard Julien was bowling seam up or his slower floaters. www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/34/34064.html
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Post by hhsussex on Apr 5, 2015 8:12:17 GMT
No information about the structure of the 2 2-day practice matches, but the St Kitts team for the first of them, starting tomorrow is, with acknowledgements to www.windiesfans.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8692, one of whom provided the following character sketches: "Jacques Taylor= Average player at best
steve Liburd= Good player for Leewards but was punished for cussing off a Leewards official which is why he was missing for much of last season
jeremiah Louis= LOL at this skunt calling him a "pacer" :mrgreen: ..HE'S AN ALROUNDER DUMMY!!..and may well be the best one to emerge since Dwayne Bravo. Only 19 years old but if he works hard i see him playing at the top level.
Jamar Hamilton= Had a poor PCL by his standards and has been left behind by Dowrich but he's being messed around a little due to him and Thomas sharing the gloves...i think he'd be better off going to Winwards next season.
Akeem Saunders= Big potential but has struggled at the first class level...needs one big score to get himself going.
Shino Berridge= Bowler..not too much info on him
Elvin Berridge= Left arm spinner and i think he's the brother of Shino.
Darren Hobson= Opening batsman..around 21 now and played for Leewards u19s three years ago"
Quinton Bostswain= Done ok towards the end of the PCL and has decent pace...needs to keep working hard on his game.
Ross powell= u19 opening batsmen who has done well in the youth ranks.
leon Clarke= Not much known about him but i hear he's a batsman in his mid 20s
Sherwin Peters= Originally from Trinidad. Scored a ton in the PCL and took some wickets..only 24 so hopefully he'll continue to develop.
Shane jeffers= Scored a ton against Bangledash last year but never played in the PCL"Good to see other forums being equally forthright and non-partisan.
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Post by fraudster on Apr 5, 2015 12:34:22 GMT
Bloody annoyed we've brought Trott back, pointless and backwards for me. Rather bring back KP myself, much better to watch. Hope Lyth gets a gig.
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Post by hhsussex on Apr 6, 2015 14:06:48 GMT
Bloody annoyed we've brought Trott back, pointless and backwards for me. Rather bring back KP myself, much better to watch. Hope Lyth gets a gig. The England twelve for this first practice game is Cook (C), Trott, Ballance, Bell (VC), Root, Stokes, Buttler, Rashid, Jordan, Broad, Tredwell, Anderson. So bad luck Lyth, you're carrying the drinks and it's between Rashid and Tredwell, and between Stokes and Plunkett. No surprises there, like giving Billings (freudian slip, Bairstow) a run behind the stumps to prepare him for taking over from Buttler, or Wood having an outing to see what he can do.
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Post by hhsussex on Apr 6, 2015 15:35:06 GMT
Second wicket for Jordan at 43-6
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