01-09-2022, 10:20
England announced an unchanged squad for the deciding 3rd & Final Test of the series at the Oval, starting next Thursday, September 8th.
01-09-2022, 10:20
02-09-2022, 14:34
It's been painful to watch Crawley & his struggles, & admirable that he's been backed, but I just wonder how helpful it has been throwing him to the lions again, & again in what has t be the toughest job in Test cricket. He was praised, & rightly so for his battling 2nd innings 38, yet instead of building on the confidence of at least making a start, if not a sizable innings, he played a frantic innings in the Hundred comp, & potentially he could play again today & tomorrow if his side progresses. Looking at his white-ball form in the Blast he batted 4 times making 57 runs with a top score of 40 with a strike-rate of 114, in the Hundred, 95 runs from 4 innings, highest score 41, strike-rate 110. In the shortest form, strike-rate is all important, more so than average, & he opens in this format as well.
I was disappointed to read that his opening partner was actually under more pressure, despite the fact that he has at least scored 2 half-centuries, & played only 9 Tests (av 23.5) against 27 (av 26) for Crawley. Take out his Test best 267, & his average drops to 21. Lees would benefit from an opening partner who could help him, & not put more pressure on him with his own poor form.
In the Championship Lees has scored 651 runs from 13 innings, 2-50's, 2-100's, av 59 Crawley has 388 runs from 16 innings, 3-50's, av 24.
This season has seen an avalanche of runs, Crawley has the 12th best average at Kent with Compton averaging 62, Bell-Drummond 51.8, & 4 others 40+.
You wonder why Key hasn't yet appointed a head selector, he's coached/mentored Crawley, but is he biased.
Consider if Root had still been captain, would he have had some influence over selection. I remember his being behind a failed recall for Ballance in the past. After batting with Brooks this season, root had remarked that he had been made to look ordinary by comparison, & that's from the World No.1 Test batsman, coming off one of the best years in Test history. what has happened since, is that by his non-selection, he's been played out of form, England 12th man, driving around the country playing the odd game, different formats, totally wasted an opportunity to play a man in the form of his life. at one point he had a run were his lowest score was a 40, which is about Crawley's 4th best all year.
Gough spoke recently, about Brook being happy to open, & he is better equipped than his early efforts for Yorkshire.
The sign of a great batsman is when the look to have time to play a shot, even to quick bowling, Brook has always had that, & he's very still at the crease, Crawley's movements just look completely out of sync. But ow much longer do have to wait before he's out of the team.
I was disappointed to read that his opening partner was actually under more pressure, despite the fact that he has at least scored 2 half-centuries, & played only 9 Tests (av 23.5) against 27 (av 26) for Crawley. Take out his Test best 267, & his average drops to 21. Lees would benefit from an opening partner who could help him, & not put more pressure on him with his own poor form.
In the Championship Lees has scored 651 runs from 13 innings, 2-50's, 2-100's, av 59 Crawley has 388 runs from 16 innings, 3-50's, av 24.
This season has seen an avalanche of runs, Crawley has the 12th best average at Kent with Compton averaging 62, Bell-Drummond 51.8, & 4 others 40+.
You wonder why Key hasn't yet appointed a head selector, he's coached/mentored Crawley, but is he biased.
Consider if Root had still been captain, would he have had some influence over selection. I remember his being behind a failed recall for Ballance in the past. After batting with Brooks this season, root had remarked that he had been made to look ordinary by comparison, & that's from the World No.1 Test batsman, coming off one of the best years in Test history. what has happened since, is that by his non-selection, he's been played out of form, England 12th man, driving around the country playing the odd game, different formats, totally wasted an opportunity to play a man in the form of his life. at one point he had a run were his lowest score was a 40, which is about Crawley's 4th best all year.
Gough spoke recently, about Brook being happy to open, & he is better equipped than his early efforts for Yorkshire.
The sign of a great batsman is when the look to have time to play a shot, even to quick bowling, Brook has always had that, & he's very still at the crease, Crawley's movements just look completely out of sync. But ow much longer do have to wait before he's out of the team.
02-09-2022, 18:09
BREAKING NEWS - Bairstow out of 3rd Test with leg injury. Ben Duckett called into the squad.
02-09-2022, 21:24
^^ Just realized that after bemoaning that Brooks hasn't been picked, that somehow subconsciously got him into the team, at the expense of his Yorkshire teammate.
07-09-2022, 16:30
Brook in for Bairstow, for the Oval Test, in an otherwise unchanged side.
07-09-2022, 21:28
After two crazy test matches the final English test at home of 2022 may it be more of the same either a exciting run chase or some gritty wicket feast
08-09-2022, 11:03
The start of the test & the toss has been delayed due to a wet out field.
Update England have won the toss and have elected to bowl.
Update England have won the toss and have elected to bowl.
08-09-2022, 11:24
England v South Africa 3rd Test The Oval Day 1
England elected to field
No Play
England elected to field
No Play
08-09-2022, 11:35
South Africa make 4 changes, Zondo, Rickelton, Mulder, & Jansen come in, replacing, Markram, van der Dussen, Harmer, & Ngidi.
Re-scheduled start 11.30 but more rain has caused further delay.
Re-scheduled start 11.30 but more rain has caused further delay.
08-09-2022, 21:59
Fridays day 2 play is to be suspended, as a mark of respect, following the queens death.