^^ For me, Root, Brook, Bairstow & Stokes all needed time at the crease, only Root spent any meaningful time doing so, although he started by attempting a number of reverse shots, which was a joke. Ironically, Crawley, Duckett & Pope have played a number of Championship matches & against better opposition.
Australia will warm up against India in the one-off Test to decide the WTC & their best batsmen, smith & Labuschagne have been playing in our County championship. Chalk & cheese.
(02-06-2023 20:35 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote: [ -> ]^^ Yesterday on Sky the said it was important that England showed Ireland respect, yet haven't backed that sentient themselves by constantly switching their attention to the Ashes.
I can remember a documentary around the time that Ireland were starting out in Tests. I believe they had a plan/vision for their own First Class set-up, without this they are doomed to fail as the change in status in the England domestic game has resulted in the counties moving away from Irelands players. The group of players that earned the reward of Test Match status included 10 or more who had County contracts & featured in Championship Cricket, despite the fact that England cherry-picked their best in Morgan & briefly Joyce & Rankin.
True facts in both these cases! The dismissive nature towards Ireland in the comm box has been nothing short of reprehensible, and the constant Ashes Ashes Ashes is foremost among the examples, but it also includes remarks from Ward Hussein, Butcher, even to the point of pointing to what they saw as an early finish today (how long can Ireland survive etc?? - Lunch??). Well that didn't happen - did it?? In fact, If Ireland hadn't continued to gift wrap their wickets today, a totally different scenario??
Yes I saw that documentary too, and as I recall, it coincided with a change in Chief Exec of Cricket Ireland to Warren Deutrom. I remember reading his 'blueprint' for the future at the time, and had a clear view that it was not only far removed from reality, but was a list of fantasy land pipe dream proposals! Look where we are now?? I told a number of people at the time that document was released, just what a nonsense it was! It reminded me of a time when a boy, you would jot down these seemingly grand plans visualising some grand project that was likely to change the world. You convinced yourself it was a winner, but the reality was you were just playing!!
As far as Ireland have still to travel, performances like that of today, continue to show - remember scoring close to 500 in Sri Lankas backyard??- that, far from having the rug pulled from under them, they continue to show that test cricket is not beyond them. What they need is constant fixtures, not drip fed matches when it suits someone else to bother finding room! This match is a prime example! shoe horned in to a small gap before the main event (England's only event) and a fixture that was able to be labelled a Test match due to the 'flexible' definition of the term!
If these are the pitches that Stokesy plans for the Ashes btw, the skill will be seeing which team stays awake the longest to see it through before boredom sets in!
I was expecting a response from Ireland today, not sure the Sky team had done their homework, but that's exactly what has happened this winter. Som low scores, not enough partnerships, but plenty of good individual performances with the bat, & many coming from the middle-lower order. The bowling looked toothless, but they are missing a few through injury & Little & his left-arm pace would've been a real point of difference, & someone you could build your attack around.
Very few Tests in the future but still progress can be made & talk of money coming in next year which could help to fire-up the domestic game. No shortage of talent these younger players just need more exposure & competitive matches.
I can see Tector joining Little & earning some money in the T20 comps around the world. He has some impressive stats in the 50 over cricket & a game which should transfer well across all formats.
England spinner Jack Leach has been ruled of the Ashes series with a low back stress fracture.
^^ That would explain the time he spent off the field yesterday & the overs bowled by Root.
The cupboard is pretty bare in the spin department, this is a problem, I have no idea who is our number 2 spinner, Leach is approaching 40 caps, whoever it is they will lack experience. Bit odd he's got such an injury, usually it is associated with fast bowlers. Even with Leach fit the Aussies will attack spin, with England down to a 3-man pace attack, Stokes will only bowl as a last resort. One option would be to replace Leach with another pace bowler & use Root, who will bowl anyway with a number of left-hand batsmen in their ranks. Jacks did a tidy job in Pakistan, but is he any better than Root, playing young Ahmed would be a big risk in such an important series. Moeen has retired from Test Match cricket, but maybe a comeback.
^ They could bring in either Adil Rashid or Moheed Ali
(03-06-2023 18:33 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote: [ -> ]I was expecting a response from Ireland today, not sure the Sky team had done their homework, but that's exactly what has happened this winter. Som low scores, not enough partnerships, but plenty of good individual performances with the bat, & many coming from the middle-lower order. The bowling looked toothless, but they are missing a few through injury & Little & his left-arm pace would've been a real point of difference, & someone you could build your attack around.
Very few Tests in the future but still progress can be made & talk of money coming in next year which could help to fire-up the domestic game.
All salient balanced and contextualized points Booms! Something the Sky Comms (except perhaps douley and Kumar) were clearly not willing to give, so wedded are they to their 'England agenda' at all times! Even when Ireland hit back and made England's openers strap them on again, it was a flat pitch so no big achievement then?? We all know different. As I stated in previous comments, Ireland did as much to beat themselves as England did to overcome them! I think - in large part - Ireland will be reviewing the video of the match through the lens of missed/wasted opportunities
The complete lack of Test opportunities from this point on is as damaging as it is unacceptable, and I question to be honest Booms, whether that can be said to be progress?? It is, though, another piece of evidence that suggests that the schedule should be centralised and formed by a governing body - a new governing body! The 'vested interest group' should be made fully aware that the sport will no longer be in their hands (ENG,AUS,IND)
(04-06-2023 18:41 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote: [ -> ]^^ That would explain the time he spent off the field yesterday & the overs bowled by Root.
The cupboard is pretty bare in the spin department, this is a problem, I have no idea who is our number 2 spinner, Leach is approaching 40 caps, whoever it is they will lack experience. Bit odd he's got such an injury, usually it is associated with fast bowlers. Even with Leach fit the Aussies will attack spin, with England down to a 3-man pace attack, Stokes will only bowl as a last resort. One option would be to replace Leach with another pace bowler & use Root, who will bowl anyway with a number of left-hand batsmen in their ranks. Jacks did a tidy job in Pakistan, but is he any better than Root, playing young Ahmed would be a big risk in such an important series. Moeen has retired from Test Match cricket, but maybe a comeback.
With respect, why more than any other?? This is one thing - as a cricket lover and Ashes watcher since the late 70s - I can never get my head around! In particular after that abomination of '05. The growth in the media and their propensity for hype, hysteria, hyperbole and worst of all, a one time only interest in the greatest ball sport on earth! I understand that many had their first introduction to cricket in '05 and the drama that unfolded - they get a free pass, but the rest who trot out this 'important' tag to one series only, not so much!
(04-06-2023 18:41 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote: [ -> ]^^
The cupboard is pretty bare in the spin department
Maybe at the moment in the spin resources, but these things are cyclical aren't they booms??
I can recall - and it was just a few short years ago when apparently England's cupboard was bare in just about every respect, and it was all the Counties fault (overseas kolpak etc)
Suddenly (or not so??) - the same team/squad was/is awash with options! How did that happen?? England management?? no, actually the same counties and their coaching/management depts. The players were always there, so maybe they just needed time to come through (naturally/properly)?? the club system?? Maybe overseas names and faces have reduced in number a little, but not by that much overall I don't think? and still Kolpak etc being signed on!
Another option if there isn't a suitable spinner is to play a different type of bowler.
They could bring in one of the Currans to bring in their brand of medium pace.
Or they could use a battery of quick bowlers, Wood, Broad, Woakes and Jimmy Anderson. Stokes if available and all the spin bowling from Joe Root.
The problem that I see is that the pitches could well be dry and hard and not responsive to swing or seam movement.