Cricket
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We obviously need to start with who needs to be dropped from the England team.
To early to say much about the weather.
I don't know why we have these tour games slotted in between Tests. Useless for betting.
To early to say much about the weather.
I don't know why we have these tour games slotted in between Tests. Useless for betting.
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Yes they need to be dropped.
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I think England should make at least one change but I can see them playing an unchanged side. The biggest problem is they keep being 3 wickets down early because of Lyth, Ballance and Bell. Lyth has played in 4 tests and has an average of 25 which is nowhere near good enough but the fact that he reached the magical three figures in the second of these will no doubt keep him in the team a bit longer. To me this is flawed logic. Had he got 99,99,2,0,0,0,0 and 0 then he could be dropped but what is the difference? Ballance and Bell seem to be hopelessly out of form but the their averages of 47 and 43 respectively give them enough credit in the bank to stay in the team a while longer also. The question is should Root be moved to number 3? I say yes as he has been coming in often with the score on around 30 anyway which is not unusual for a number 3. Maybe Ballance will be better at number 5?
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I think Balance will be dropped. Bell has earned at least another crack at it.
I'm going to the first day. Can't wait. |
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Mr Eboue who do you think they will or should replace Ballance at number 3 and/or in the team with?
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I said afetr the win at Cardiff the top 4 needed to be culled. It would have been a harsh but the correct thing to do. Our talented middle order were exposed again but this time the well ran dry. Geoffrey was right in that this hoisting of the white flag was shameful.
The Tyke also makes another point...who to play instead. This one I couldn't honestly answer as I don't watch domestic cricket anymore. Johnny Barstard deserves another chance for his rich vein of form but I also think his technique is vunerable in Test Cricket. I don't know if he has sorted out his bottom hand, across the line technique. KP was always the obvious candidate to bat 4. Who to open I don't really know. I love to watch Bell bat but he is out of form and should have gone already. What will happen? Bell is on a home wicket, Lyth gets a chance to show his ability and Ballance is retained to demonstrate to all there is no crisis. Don't panic Captain Manwaring! Just who are Dad's Army in this series? |
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James Taylor is the answer WD.
We don't need someone else who can be "positive" in our 6. We need someone who can be positive when we need him to, and someone who can knuckle down when we need him to. Obdurate defensive knock against the saffers in 2012 while KP was going beserk, 98* against hazlewood and the three mitches in the world cup at the mcg, and is currently on 176* against Sussex. Although he needs to be careful and get out really, there is precedent in that the closer he gets to 300+ the more likely it is he'll never be selected again. |
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double up.
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There are no obvious openers out there at the moment who are consistently scoring runs - in fact there are not many batsmen averaging over 50 in championship cricket this season with the exception of Prince and Bairstow
I'm a Lancs member but these days Lancs would rather spend their money on Kolpaks (Prince and Peterson have 2000 championship runs between them, and Kyle Jarvis 58 wickets) than invest in youth and in a way you cant blame them. Say you build an academy and 3 internationals come through, so what ? They will rarely wear the red rose - we never get to see Anderson or Buttler, even when they have 3 weeks off they aren't allowed to play county cricket - so, other than ECB covering their contracts what is the incentive ? I'd rather have Prince, Peterson, Faulkner and Jarvis playing for Lancs than Anderson and Buttler as I will get to see top players playing for my county and that is what I pay my money for Anyway back to the 3rd test - the selectors need to identify a batsman or batsmen with a sound technique - Bairstow has to come in, although contradicting myself as his technique is suspect, but there is no substitute in cricket for form, he could even come in for Buttler as Buttler is not a great keeper is struggling with the bat. The other thing to take out of Lords is that our bowlers are overrated - its all very well blaming a flat pitch but our bowlers never put their batsmen under any pressure - should Finn have played with his extra height, what about some variety, a left armer, Footitt ? Lets make Edgbaston seamer friendly with a bit of green Thank god Moores wasn't still in charge as the media were quick to praise Bayliss after Cardiff but not a mention of him now |
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one crumb of comfort is that england will really look forward to playing at edgbaston. a raucous crowd that will get right behind them and after that trentbridge where jimmy anderson has a fabulous record
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You'd like to think that Lyth, Ballance and Bell would all be up for the chop but the question is who replaces them?
Bairstow is flavour of the month but from what we've seen in the past, does he look good enough to score runs at test level against the likes of Oz? DStyle makes an eloquent case for Taylor but who could come in to open alongside Captain Cook? |
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250
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I still think you have to give Lyth another go. A ton against the Kiwis is enough to allow him a few more attempts. Ballance, on the other hand, has to go away and fix himself. I don't see it happening out in the middle with Johnson, Starc and Hazlewood bowling at him.
The thing with Bell, is that if the selectors were prepared to give Cook such an incredibly long run waiting for him to come good, why are they not going to afford the same luxury to Bell. Again I think you give him one last chance, off the back of his runs at Cardiff. I'd like: Cook, Lyth, Root, Bell, Taylor, Stokes, Buttler, Rasheed, Broad and two from Anderson/Wood/Finn depending on the nature of the wicket and weather. It's about time england dropped anderson based on conditions. He's toothless if the conditions aren't there. The thing about Ali is that he's only been so useful because the top order have been so rubbish. If the top 7 score runs his batting becomes largely irrelevant and we're left with an ordinary spinner, the majority of whose wickets come from the opposition's mistakes rather than through outstanding bowling. |
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Despite all the talk about needing 'more sporting wickets', I'm expecting another flat batting track, although not as flat as Cardiff. Previous Tests had more modest 1st inn scores, which perhaps indicates a draw back to lay isn't the play here.
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No idea about the weather yet. If good weather lay draw if rain around then lay England will be my starting point.
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I missed the first day at Lord's - did it swing???
Too much mention of the pitch imo. If it swings for Jimmy, England's chances of success probably rise by 30=40%. He is that important.. Some balls swing more than others. Overhead conditions, some grounds more than others etc. He's not a seam bowler so to leave greenery on the pitch at B'ham would suit Hazlewood more than Jimmy. |
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ball did next to nothing on day 1
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Weak links always get exposed in an Ashes series. Lyth and Ballance not good enough imho. Why they have never given Compton a decent go as opener is non-sensical to me, much like Onions omission for so many years.
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Draw shortening a bit here, and I'm laying it. Just a few showers in the forecast. Could change of course. A few days ago, Wednesday's forecast looked grim.
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k.o. with an england lay@4.9
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If England bat first,I'll be laying the aussie lot.if aussies bat first and weather holds good, a draw lay at sometime low odds suits....day 1 nearly decides the game now a days.300+ on a day and you do get a result bar bad weather. English bowling looked toothless on a flat deck.moin Ali too couldn't spin.hope it was a doctored flat pitch to be blamed at Lords. Bits of overcast and Jimmy and broad swings it,seen them do over the years. ...huge toss incoming!
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Don't see England put up a good score batting 2nd with huge targets like at lords and with start and Mj with tail up. ...The English crumble under pressure we know that.
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The pitch is the key
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Lyth is 27 in a 40 year old mans body. Average is weak at first class level, hardly see the appeal.
Hales has the most potential and is the one that needs the work put into him. Need to put Root at number 3, Ballance number 4. Pietersen clearly not coming back so will leave him out. But Cook Hales Root Ballance Taylor Bell Stokes Ali Buttler Woakes Bresnan Finn England 12. Anderson and Broad need to go, or at least have a game or 2 off. Anderson should only really be picked at Trent Bridge, the only place he is dangerous. Root/Taylor/Ballance/Stokes/Woakes, are the future of England, and as such should be playing, at least more often than not. Root can bowl, Ali can bat. Basically 2 spinners who can both bat, Root of course in the team for batting. Hales very good batsman, put the time into him. Ballance couple of nasty little habits, but will find a place in the team for a long time. Cook good enough to hold down an end, but needs somebody up the other end getting the scoring going. That isn't Cooks go, but needs a combination where the runs still come. Stokes has more go about him than the rest of your team combined. Cook should be a batsman only, and the only obvious replacements are Bell, who is out of form and getting on a little much, and Root. I think throw Root the captaincy. Woakes a handy bowler, and a decent bat. Bresnan and Finn opening the bowling with a decent ball, will improve their figures. Would leave Woakes as 12th man there. Other options to mix things up, are to throw Stokes in to open and see how he goes or Buttler for a game. A test match is a grind, but the quicker you put your opponents on the defensive, the more successful you will be. All good to say you are going to be more attacking as a team, but the best way to do that, is to pick a more attacking team. At the moment, England are hopers. They hope to win the toss, and if they don't, they hope for it to rain. If neither of those 2 things happen, they hope the game finishes quickly enough for them to then hope to win the next toss. |
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The pitch is the key
Normally, at this stage I'd expect to see some more or less informed speculation about the pitch, a google news search shows nothing. |
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We're going through a cool damp spell here in Birmingham, been raining heavily all day and still tipping down.
It's expected to brighten up by Tuesday though. |
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Have layed the draw as I think conditions might favour the bowlers. it's possible, looking at the forecasts, that a little time might be lost but don't think this one will last the full five days anyway.
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Apparently, using grow lamps on the pitch. Media thinks to dry it out, but could be to make the grass grow.
I'm no expert on english pitches. Does this indicate the pitch might break up later? |
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It's been gloomy all day pxb with temperatures on the cool side. No rain. Probably more of the same tomorrow.
Don't know anything about the effects of grow lamps on the pitch. |
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Light rain shower this morning, overcast and cold for time of year.
Hope things improve for tomorrow. |
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Tomorrow looks OK. Chance of very light showers in the afternoon. Hopefully play will be extended into the evening if that happens.
Going with my brother and father tomorrow, can't wait. |
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Will be a great match. Enjoy!
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Wear something funny and wave at the camera so that we can recognise you.
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Looking like a fair bit of rain from lunch onwards now. I'm backing tthe draw as its also looking like a bit could come sat/sun. Most unlike me to back the draw... Just think the weather will play a part this time.
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Nasser says the pitch will be a bit of a green top. If so, only rain will stop this being over in 4 days.
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no rain now, the forecast has improved
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http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/gcqdt4b2x#?fcTime=1438128000
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Straight draw lay for me.
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Rain has a tendency to appear and dissapear from the Met office's hourly forecast.
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It's only just been updated so you would of thought it would be more accurate. A bit of rain on the first day shouldn't make any difference, they can make anytime up throughout the game. I don't like to see rain towards the end of a game, unless i'm on the draw
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