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Post by liquidskin on Aug 3, 2021 18:29:29 GMT
Second biggest Test series on offer starts tomorrow, although you wouldn't have guessed it. Unlike England's one-day teams the Test team's got big problems I think. Root's a poor captain for me. Sibley is the poorest, ugliest opener I've ever seen. Our top three is the worst I've ever seen and completely uncemented going into the two biggest series on offer.
We continue to pick the worst spinners in the country. One of them doesn't even spin the ball. The four best, Rashid, Ali, Parkinson & Crane continue to entertain in the Hundred. I've no idea what Bess and Leach do, Bess in particular. We have two undroppable old men leading the line who are in complete control of their own destinies, and in complete control of Root. And we've lost Stokes, the key whose absence completely wrecks our balance, because he wants another few months off to go with the few months he had off at the start of the season. Nice work if you can get it. And we've replaced him with Craig Overton, the bowling version of Sam Billing. Enjoy the cricket Craig. Should have called up Ali as Stokes' replacement. Pretty obvious that one.
On the plus side, I've had a mental breakdown so I can watch it instead of go to work. If the media ask, I need a mental refresh but I should be back Monday. Damn right I want full pay.
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Post by liquidskin on Aug 4, 2021 16:08:49 GMT
Worst England Test side I've seen in my short dismal life. You could dump the lot of them barring Root but the biggest issue by far is the Vicar. He plays like a vicar, the man spent 2 hours at the crease today, scored 18 of the ugliest runs and gets out having wasted 70 odd balls striking at 25.
This isn't new and it heaps pressure on the rest of the top order cos they know they have to score well just to be going at 3 by the end of the day. He's an absolute liability to the whole line-up. This man will kill test cricket, youngsters will look at this pill leaving 20 balls on the bounce and turn off, or over, to the new version. Test cricket needs to move with the times. They did a while back but they've gone another way in the last few years and it's a death-trap.
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Post by philh on Aug 5, 2021 5:37:03 GMT
Given the fact some English batsmen haven’t seen a red ball for months, particularly on an English wicket, I thought it was a thoroughly decent performance to reach 183 against a top-notch side.
Hopefully, the ECB can come up with a new format to make our batsmen more flexible. I understand they are considering a 6 over and 4 ball tip-and-run tournament using the wrong end of the bat in which you can only score with reverse sweeps or ramp shots. It’s going to be called The Faulty.
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Post by liquidskin on Aug 6, 2021 15:18:53 GMT
If I were an England bowler I'd demand a new batting line-up ahead of me. The added bonus being they'll probably be better fielders than this bunch too. Sibley out, Burns out, Lawrence out, Buttler out and Curran, you guessed it, out. These bums are lucky they weren't playing in the 90s cos they'd be playing for their counties by now if they were.
Having said that, Sibley's going strong - nought from 13 but still there. The man will kill his team-mates then kill Test cricket.
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Post by joe on Aug 6, 2021 17:53:06 GMT
A Michele for Ollie Robinson in only his second Test. Looked every inch a Test bowler and should have a long successful career for England.
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Post by liquidskin on Aug 7, 2021 10:41:17 GMT
Need a big one Root. And if you could score some runs that would be good too.
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Aug 7, 2021 11:47:36 GMT
You've gotta feel sympathy for Sibley. He's hanging on by his fingernails.
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Post by liquidskin on Aug 7, 2021 13:38:38 GMT
Thank Christ Sibley's out. He has to go, he heaps so much pressure on his team-mates. Bairstow has immediately relieved it with 20 off 29. Our top 3 is a huge problem.
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Post by flashblade on Aug 7, 2021 13:49:33 GMT
Thank Christ Sibley's out. He has to go, he heaps so much pressure on his team-mates. Bairstow has immediately relieved it with 20 off 29. Our top 3 is a huge problem. You're not wrong there. Who would you pick instead? Is the county circuit flush with quality red ball openers? |
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Post by liquidskin on Aug 7, 2021 14:09:56 GMT
Bairstow's got out the bum, should have reigned it in.
For the purpose of clarity, the above is a joke. Of sorts.
Jonny scored more runs than Sibley in about 45 minutes of batting. Sibley must have been there for 4 hours.
I'm not really qualified to say Flash, unfortunately. Anyone at all, for Sibley. He is so detrimental to his partner. Astonishingly, he has a strike rate of 120 odd in 40 domestic T20s with a reasonable amount of sixes. Average isn't bad either. Something has to give with him.
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Aug 7, 2021 15:11:16 GMT
I reckon a 250 lead and England have a chance.
The conditions suit our bowlers, but the catching needs to improve.
The final session today is vital. Root gets his 100 and heads towards
150, while Buttler supports him and assists with a 50+ partnership.
We could be in for a stonking sunday, if the weather holds.
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Post by joe on Aug 9, 2021 11:45:08 GMT
When are the ECB going to wake up and realise there needs to be a reserve day for all Tests in England?
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Post by flashblade on Aug 9, 2021 12:20:33 GMT
When are the ECB going to wake up and realise there needs to be a reserve day for all Tests in England? Good question. Would it come into force only if you've lost the equivalent of a day's play over the normal 5 days? |
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Post by joe on Aug 9, 2021 12:56:05 GMT
When are the ECB going to wake up and realise there needs to be a reserve day for all Tests in England? Good question. Would it come into force only if you've lost the equivalent of a day's play over the normal 5 days? It could be used for a days play or to catch up on overs lost and it should be free entry too! |
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Post by flashblade on Aug 9, 2021 13:43:25 GMT
Good question. Would it come into force only if you've lost the equivalent of a day's play over the normal 5 days? It could be used for a days play or to catch up on overs lost and it should be free entry too! That's OK, but I wouldn't like to unfairly deprive a team of the opportunity of playing for a draw on the final day. It might be difficult for a captain to plan his match strategy if he doesn't know until day 5 that there might be a day 6. |
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