The Ashes 2021/22

[ddrap14]

I think Crawley's worth giving a go for longer for one simple reason: he's been the only English top order player who's had any idea that sitting back and blocking everything under pressure only increases pressure.

We've seen far too much of Hameed, Burns and (since Melbourne) Malan just trying to survive and it costing them their wickets

 

[wasteyouryouth]

I think Crawley's worth giving a go for longer for one simple reason: he's been the only English top order player who's had any idea that sitting back and blocking everything under pressure only increases pressure.

We've seen far too much of Hameed, Burns and (since Melbourne) Malan just trying to survive and it costing them their wickets

Someone pointed out yesterday that Crawley's innings might have, ironically, made defeat more likely. Someone like Dom Sibley might have scored 30 but, if he did, he'd probably have batted until tea.

 

[Aislabie]

Someone pointed out yesterday that Crawley's innings might have, ironically, made defeat more likely. Someone like Dom Sibley might have scored 30 but, if he did, he'd probably have batted until tea.

But think of the Intent™

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Did I read correctly that England are again going to rest Anderson? For what? Just retire him already! Such bullshit tactics is what has got England in this scenario. HE IS YOUR BEST BOWLER, he should have played all 5 tests.

 

[Aislabie]

Did I read correctly that England are again going to rest Anderson? For what? Just retire him already! Such bullshit tactics is what has got England in this scenario. HE IS YOUR BEST BOWLER, he should have played all 5 tests.

He's a near 40-year-old opening bowler and there's an away series against the West Indies coming up

His efforts are more likely to bring about a series win and the resulting WTC points against the WIndies batters than against the Australians in game five of a series where a half-fit England team has been battered for four Tests. It's not to the same extent as the previous cycle (all Tests are now worth the same amount of points) but ultimately I think it's the right call to leave Anderson out for the fifth Test

I am also in favour of playing Billings, Overton and Bess so that England play 19 players from their 18-man squad

 

[blockerdave]

Glad you included Woakes. Said to a mate today, if he'd had as many chances as Jos Buttler has at 6 or 7 he'd have more centuries and probably a better average.

Crawley's best innings have been in matches where Buttler also got 150 and where Jonny Bairstow, who has been rubbish for years, looked world class and a guy who hasn't played for two months scored two centuries.

If 2 years ago we'd said to Woakes and Leach, forget your bowling you're opening the batting, I am convinced they'd have done better than any opener we've actually played in that time. Their techniques are far superior.

 

[Believe]

I actually quite like Rory Burns. I know he scored a butt-ton of runs in the County Champ since he began taking the weird "dominant eye" stance, and his start in tests was more promising than most others who they tried, I think if Rory perhaps makes a little tweak or two to his set-up, he'll start getting things going again. Perhaps a straighter backlift, or less of a back-and-across (If he insists on the eyeball of doom.) But that aside, in the last year, he was Englands second highest run scorer (Admittedly it was something like 500 runs, to Roots 17million) I think he just got the yips as a result of that first baller. He's been out for 2 now, and Hameed hasn't scored any more runs than Broad has, so I think time for Burnsie to come back. I havn't thought much of Crawley so far, but I have to admit his positivity did look good, in comparison to Hameeds 4 off 50. ( Is Sir Alistair reeeeally insistent on retirement?) Glad JB got some runs, I think he's class, but has been treated like crap (Just like Moeen was) by being asked to bat in a different spot literally every series. Whatever happens, I hope it gives the ECB the kick up the arse they needed, and really puts an end to that "focus on white-ball cricket" crap. England, when on song, are gorgeous to watch in test cricket.

 

[durhamsafc]

Someone pointed out yesterday that Crawley's innings might have, ironically, made defeat more likely. Someone like Dom Sibley might have scored 30 but, if he did, he'd probably have batted until tea.

Dom has the ability to bat for a long time and score little perfect batsman when your setting up for the draw. I actually liked the lad me.

 

[ddrap14]

Did I read correctly that England are again going to rest Anderson? For what? Just retire him already! Such bullshit tactics is what has got England in this scenario. HE IS YOUR BEST BOWLER, he should have played all 5 tests.

He's clearly not their best bowler

 

[GuyIncognito]

Marnus lol. wtf was that?

 

[asprin]

Exciting first hour followed by brilliant counter attack. But Broad had the last laugh.

 

[ddrap14]

Marnus lol. wtf was that?

First time I've ever actually laughed at an Australian wicket falling

 

[Aislabie]

So I've just woken up to find that England have picked four bowlers, of whom Robinson has a suspected stress fracture and Wood has pissed runs away at eight an over.

Rootalitharan is going to get through some overs.

Also, not picking Craig Overton on a green seamer is very very silly

 

[Aislabie]

With the benefit of hindsight, I'd probably have gone with this XI for England in this Test:

1. Rory Burns
2. Zak Crawley
3. Dawid Malan
4. Joe Root
5. Ollie Pope
6. Chris Woakes
7. Sam Billings
8. Craig Overton
9. Dom Bess
10. Ollie Robinson (assuming there was no sign of him carrying an injury into this game)
11. Stuart Broad

It probably wouldn't have fared much better - I'd have mostly been picking players to avoid too many more players getting severe, long-lasting injuries

 

[Ed Smith]

So I've just woken up to find that England have picked four bowlers, of whom Robinson has a suspected stress fracture and Wood has pissed runs away at eight an over.

Rootalitharan is going to get through some overs.

Also, not picking Craig Overton on a green seamer is very very silly

Bring back Ed Smith.