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Post by leedsgull on Nov 18, 2015 16:24:13 GMT
I am surprised that no one has commented on the retirement mid series of Mitchell Johnson. He is not injured and when Graeme Swann retired in similar fashion he was widely criticised. I think Johnson was a bowler of great spells rather than a great bowler. He may have taken 300 test wickets but he had far too many off days when he was useless to be called one of the greats.
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Post by hhsussex on Nov 18, 2015 16:56:21 GMT
I am surprised that no one has commented on the retirement mid series of Mitchell Johnson. He is not injured and when Graeme Swann retired in similar fashion he was widely criticised. I think Johnson was a bowler of great spells rather than a great bowler. He may have taken 300 test wickets but he had far too many off days when he was useless to be called one of the greats. I completely agree with you leedsgull. His Test series record ( www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/10/10021/t_Bowling_by_Season.html) shows that inconsistency. Only for a short period, around 2009 and 2010, could his captain rely on him achieving his best form in two consecutive series. Too often he would go from something devastating to mediocrity or worse. |
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Post by leedsgull on Nov 18, 2015 17:10:12 GMT
hh Thank you for providing the statistics to back up my feelings. Johnson follows Clarke,Haddin,Rogers& Watson into retirement following the Ashes defeat. England "lost" Trott, Prior, Swann & Pietersen last time they lost the ashes. Perhaps future series should come with a health warning? This series may end your career.
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Post by coverpoint on Nov 28, 2015 20:35:27 GMT
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Post by flashblade on Nov 28, 2015 20:58:55 GMT
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Post by hhsussex on Dec 4, 2015 9:37:35 GMT
South Africa 56-3 in the 4th Test against India and Amla out cheaply again. He now has 93 runs form 6 innings, i not out, at an average of 18.60, and even De Villiers has only managed 1 50. Yes, they are deliberately prepared spinners' wickets and at least one of the pitches has been declared Poor by the ICC, which probably means abysmally dreadful in less official parlance, but their failure to build even one strong innings suggests that this South African side is less combative than some of its predecessors.
They won't be spinning wickets when England play there in a few weeks time but the batsmen will still be feeling less than assured, and it may be a case of heavy reliance on their fast bowlers to inflict damage. Hence I hope that England will play Compton from the outset to help Cook build walls early on.
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Post by leedsgull on Dec 4, 2015 10:37:17 GMT
I have had my suspicions for some time that this SA side is not particularly great. Despite the rankings they are over reliant on De Villiers and Steyn. Smith and Boucher have not been replaced, Tahir has failed in Test cricket and if Amla is struggling they seem not to have great strength in depth. The upcoming series v England should be very close if England bat with application. Therefore I agree with hh and would like to see Cook, Compton, Taylor & Root as the top four before the "dashers" get their chance.
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Post by coverpoint on Dec 6, 2015 19:04:56 GMT
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Post by hhsussex on Dec 7, 2015 8:44:58 GMT
Boring to watch, as coverpoint has made clear, but a remarkable performance. Currently 136-5 with 24 overs to play and Amla, du Plessis and pre-eminently de Villiers have shown caution and self-control beyond anything the former two had achieved in the series so far. It looks as if England will face a flawed team, one where there can be easy wickets, but one with considerable mental toughness. It could be a very good series.
On edit: But when the cracks finally appear the sea surges right in over the land. 5 wickets for 7 runs in fewer than 5 overs. This wasn't the worst wicket to bat on and Yadav may be a little flattered with figures of 21-16-9-3, but after that day-long resistance surely South Africa deserved a better ending? Moeen Ali might fancy his chances against that sort of mixture of swish and block, and Broad should do particularly well from the bounce.
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Post by fraudster on Dec 7, 2015 23:42:11 GMT
Shocked to see that from SA given they had lost the series already. Should have gone for it, nothing to lose. I think we're gonna turn these boys over looking at their side - haven't even heard of some of them, they look weaker than I've ever seen them. And I can actually watch a series for the first time in two years now that I've found the SKY remote.
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Post by coverpoint on Dec 12, 2015 11:52:02 GMT
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Post by coverpoint on Dec 27, 2015 8:26:28 GMT
Has the time come for the West Indies to have their test status removed?
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Post by hhsussex on Dec 27, 2015 9:16:57 GMT
Has the time come for the West Indies to have their test status removed? No more than for Zimbabwe or Bangladesh, but possibly it is time to dissolve the WIBC and replace it with something fit for purpose and that better reflects national strengths. |
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Post by leedsgull on Dec 27, 2015 14:17:55 GMT
Zimbabwe did have their status removed for a period & I think it is time for the West Indies to possibly lose theirs. A play off with Ireland home and away would be interesting.
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Post by coverpoint on Dec 27, 2015 21:24:03 GMT
Time for two test groups - one of seven elite teams and a second of seven associate or weaker test nations. Pool A; South Africa, India, Australia, Pakistan, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka Pool B: West Indies, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Ireland, Scotland, Netherlands A good year for Hazelwood, Ashwin and the now banned Yasir Shah. stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=wickets;spanmin1=01+Jan+2015;spanval1=span;template=results;type=bowling |
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