Custom Bats Cricket Forum
General Cricket => Latest Matches => Topic started by: edge on February 16, 2023, 06:24:27 AM
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Not going to pretend I've stayed up and watched it all, but Harry Brook just keeps going. You did warn us @Manormanic ! Inevitably as I type this he gets pinned hard by Wagner... :(
On a CBF note, I'm pretty sure he's used the same bat for all of this purple patch, it has an amazing amount of tape on it.
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Balls. My bad. On the bright side, looks like the Broad Nighthawk thing is actually on.
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Argh, I turn the radio on and we loose a load of wickets. Have turned it off now!
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I'm not sure the Bazball thing is the strongest tactic with the tailenders. Maybe they just fancy bowling under lights?
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Looks like it. Early declaration to give Broad, Anderson and Robinson a dart under lights.
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Three down. The magic touch appears to be continuing.
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Neil Wagner is underrated. Rattled the Aussies with his pinpoint bouncers and has done the same to England.
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Good bowler.
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Not convinced Root needs to go quite so hard as he has done, plenty room for him to go at his old ODI pace and let Brook, Stokes, Duckett, etc do the snacking it about.
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Just read an incredible stat. Anderson has taken a test wicket every year for the past 21 years.
I will think about that as my creaking body recovers from one net... 🤣
Adding Test Match Special twitter thread of pics:
https://twitter.com/bbctms/status/1626146236360273920?t=XiRiIYyoFSWa1ynjK3O-cQ&s=19
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Mental, his last 100 wickets have come at an average of 20.
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Absolute machine. Truly incredible that he is still easily performing at test level.
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Robinson seems to be getting better every series as well, clearly learning a lot being around the likes of Anderson.
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Robinson seems to be getting better every series as well, clearly learning a lot being around the likes of Anderson.
Yes. Also he looks considerably stronger and fitter than 18months ago and is bowling better for it.
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The penny has dropped with Robinson, I thought it odd when Strauss gave Root his perceived freedom leaving both Anderson and Broad at home for the Windies tour- watching a forty year old train as he does to stay fit must be an inspiration.
Anderson’s record recently is remarkable as he shows no signs of performance dropping if anything he is getting better.
Dom Sibley seemed to be motivated to lose weight after presuming he was fit enough then seeing Buttler and Stokes train close up.
It’s was Stuart Law I think who said when he hit 30 he has to train twice as hard just to keep up. I look at someone like Anderson and just think the level he maintains is so unusual he can only motive others around him.
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It is a cause for concern when you see the fitness gap between those coming from county cricket into the international game. Talent is one thing - there aren't enough good players to fill 18 professional sides and this has been made worse by the international calendar restricting quality overseas players and by Brexit removing the Kolpak route - but there is absolutely no excuse for poor fitness.
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You'd think that the performance pathways should be emphasising the importance of excellent fitness to all the players coming through, nobody should really get to the test side without an ECB coach seeing them and assessing their fitness.
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Surrey's very much does.
Anyway good days cricket today, Blundell batting brilliantly to keep NZ in the game.
Breezy start from Duckett and Crawley before Chaos with Stuart Nighthawk Broad.
Really hope England can bat all of tomorrow and build a huge lead.
No idea where that fits into Bazball world though.
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If they bat as they have done and bat all day it'll be one hell of a lead 😅 I hope Root ticks along at good pace rather than trying to force it. Him, Pope and Foakes balancing out likes of Stokes, Bairstow, Duckett, Brook seems like the most obvious refinement of BazBall.
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It is a cause for concern when you see the fitness gap between those coming from county cricket into the international game. Talent is one thing - there aren't enough good players to fill 18 professional sides and this has been made worse by the international calendar restricting quality overseas players and by Brexit removing the Kolpak route - but there is absolutely no excuse for poor fitness.
Though...until you get onto an international contract, you have no way of limiting the amount of cricket you are asked to play. As a result, I think a lot of county players play through niggles and tiredness, and probably don't have the time for the elite level strength and fitness work that is required at the top level of the game - maybe with the exception of Surrey, who have a good program on the back of being able to finance a huge squad in professional terms.
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The quality of strength and conditioning programmes must vary wildly across county teams. And getting access to good training equipment and spaces when you are on the road for weeks on end must be an issue as well as eating correctly. Central contracts mean the top players can devote much more time to getting their bodies right. So for those coming into the England set up there may be a gap before they get into optimimum shape.
EDIT: I think I'm just repeating @Manormanic 's point
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One of 'those' Broad spells, lovely stuff.
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Batting under lights doesn't seem fun.
What Broad (and Robinson and Anderson) is doing here is really attacking the stumps.
This is a change when we have for years bowled too short or in the channel.
Forget the batting. This is the biggest change that Stokes and Baz have brought to the Eng team and we have got 20 wickets in every single test.
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Surrey's very much does.
Dom Sibley came through the Surrey pathway and was one of those highlighted as being well below the fitness levels required to play for England.
It's now twenty years since Michael Vaughan persuaded the ECB to provide funding for every county to employ a fitness coach to improve standards across the domestic game but it appears to me to be far to amateur in the standards demanded of players
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Well, that didn't take long.
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Didn't realise we hadn't won in NZ for 15 years. Jesus. Wish Broad would have spells like that more often - doesn't do it anywhere near enough like he used to.
Brook is an absolute star
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There is some nucleus here (and I'm not fool enough to think that some of them will have some form problems with the pace that 'Bazball' is played at).
I'm pleasantly surprised by Pope and Duckett, doing better than I thought, and Brook seems to be a superstar, as well as Foakes chipping in.
I still think that Robinson will be an understated superstar in the way that Fraser was.
My only concerns are whether Crawley will run the race and how much rope Leach will get.
What price a test attack in 18 months time of:
Stokes
Ahmed
Robinson
Potts / Mahmood
Stone
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Still think that would be very early to throw Ahmed into conditions that don't lend themselves to legspin, but then with the way they prioritise wickets in this team now it might afford him the extra leeway needed to make a success of it.
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Would he be any less potent than Leach?
I'm sure he has his supporters, but Jack just doesn't feel like the real deal or a match-winner to me.
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Potentially not, although I think Leach is one of those where you do almost miss how decent his stats are because of the image he projects. Ahmed would certainly add more with the bat.
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Random thought - doesn't Bairstow just come in for Crawley as a straight swap? He's aggressive enough.
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Would be well in keeping with how want their openers to play.
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Not sure Bairstow is the right guy to open.
More likely Brook will get the job.
On the spinner role, Stokes loves Leach and is happy with him in the team. Rehan may get another go at some point, but not yet.
I suspect there is more chance of him replacing Rashid in the white ball side after the World Cup.
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Brook is maybe a more like for like replacement for Crawley, just seems a shame to move him from the slot he's been doing so well in.
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I think they will think about things rather differently, pick the best XI players and then worry about who opens - whether that it moving Pope up one, asking one of the middle order guys or it might even be that Foakes is asked to do it!
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Can we finally bin off Crawley
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Bairstow back in to open, BazBall to an extreme.
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Three down - is it time for everyone to turn on England and to start questioning Bazball yet... 🤣
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Dare I say that Harry Brook is bloody good
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He really is quite something. It's the time he has - quite remarkable.
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Can we finally bin off Crawley
For who?? Was a bit of a nut on a green top and blown the top.3 away in first hour. He suits this England side perfectly
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For who?? Was a bit of a nut on a green top and blown the top.3 away in first hour. He suits this England side perfectly
Bairstow would seem the obvious option for the time being.
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Blimey. Loathe to big up any young players too much but it seems @Manormanic was right about Brook.
I would not want him moving anywhere from the middle myself which does present a problem when Bairstow is fit.
Also want Foakes in the side. Been down the route of Bairstow opening I suppose he could and in Bazball extreme mode tee off from the top.
That won’t work I don’t think but England seem totally fearless these days
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Three down - is it time for everyone to turn on England and to start questioning Bazball yet... 🤣
Classic CBF
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Is it out of the equation that Stokes, selfless as he is, puts himself in at the top and Bairstow comes in at 6? Left Field I know but not much about this regime has been from the text book so far
He has less experience opening than JB for sure but knowing Bairstows history of being shuffled around the order this would be the ultimate act of leadership and man management. He doesnt bowl alot anymore so I dont see that being a factor
He could re-write the Art of Captaincy.
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Blimey. Loathe to big up any young players too much but it seems @Manormanic was right about Brook.
I would not want him moving anywhere from the middle myself which does present a problem when Bairstow is fit.
Also want Foakes in the side. Been down the route of Bairstow opening I suppose he could and in Bazball extreme mode tee off from the top.
That won’t work I don’t think but England seem totally fearless these days
I agree Foakes should stay in, big chances need to be taken in big games and he balances the batting order nicely. Probably averages more than crawley and duckett aswell!
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I have to keep reminding myself this is Harry Brooks SIXTH test match……..
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Is it out of the equation that Stokes, selfless as he is, puts himself in at the top and Bairstow comes in at 6? Left Field I know but not much about this regime has been from the text book so far
He has less experience opening than JB for sure but knowing Bairstows history of being shuffled around the order this would be the ultimate act of leadership and man management. He doesnt bowl alot anymore so I dont see that being a factor
He could re-write the Art of Captaincy.
Stokes is already rewriting the Art of Captaincy. And yes no one should be at all surprised if Stokes opens the batting so Bairstow can bat at 6.
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Stokes definitely has the technique against pace bowling to do it. Wasn't so long ago one of the Wisden writers was suggesting Stokes bat 3 for much the same reason.
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Also, at his current rate of 6 hitting, Brook will go past Stokes current record in his 59th innings. Absolute monster.
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Stokes is already rewriting the Art of Captaincy. And yes no one should be at all surprised if Stokes opens the batting so Bairstow can bat at 6.
Whether it will be Stokes I couldn't say - I still wonder if Foakes might be given the job - but certainly Stokes' England get the idea that you pick your best players and then worry about which order they bat afterward.
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Foakes isn't as good as Stokes (or Bairstow for that matter) against the quicker bowlers. He's not bad by any means but I don't know if I'd expose him to the quicks at their freshest and quickest if it could be helped.
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Foakes under the new regime of Stokes/McCullum
393 runs @ 43.6, 1 100s, 3 50s.
Plus with his keeping (he is miles ahead of the other candidates) I just find the idea of dropping him to accomodate elsewhere a bit...mad? More often that not he's been the guy at the other end in those chases, just doing his thing.
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Foakes under the new regime of Stokes/McCullum
393 runs @ 43.6, 1 100s, 3 50s.
Plus with his keeping (he is miles ahead of the other candidates) I just find the idea of dropping him to accomodate elsewhere a bit...mad? More often that not he's been the guy at the other end in those chases, just doing his thing.
I'd agree, he's earned his place. Then again, since May 2022, Bairstow has scored 681 in 11 innings at 75.66, with 4 tons and a 50. Sr of 96. Surely you've got to find a place for him? Crawley can't go on much longer, so why not try Stokes or Bairstow up top instead of dropping Foakes? This England team isn't against radical thinking and going against tradition. Plus, Crawley isn't exactly doing a traditional openers job either
As Bairstow has been out and Stokes has been playing, you'd think Stokes could work better, but with the captaincy and if he's bowling it may be a bit much to ask. Stick Bairstow at 2 i say, it'll be a fun watch regardless!
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Duckett and Bairstow teeing off early doors against Starc, Hazelwood and Cummins sounds like absolutely unmissable cricket.
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Just anyone other than Crawley I'd take
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Assuming Bairstow is fit for the summer, he has to play given his recent record which means Foakes makes way. Foakes has a couple of nice test hundreds against off spin but he isn't a test match batsman against pace bowling which is what Australia will bring this summer
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To anyone thinking of dropping Foakes, just think about Bairstow's likely longevity keeping wicket after a badly broken leg...
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I believe Foakes has scored hundreds against SA and NZ, both decent pace attacks. I agree, asking Bairstow to go straight back in the side plus keeping after serious injury- is a big ask. All his recent success is as a specialist batter also.
I also like Foakes who is capable of a gutsy innings and can occupy the crease, allowing the strokemakers to do their thing.
Brook or Bairstow to open I reckon in place of Crawley
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Please god don't let them move Brook. Bairstow or Stokes up to open, Crawley out. Foakes adds a different dimension with the bat and is a worldie keeper, Bairstow did too well as a batsman not to come back.
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Forget the keeping for a moment.
What Root and Foakes provide is balance to all the stroke players. You can't pick 7 one dimensional batters.
Bairstow is clearly a class player and I suspect the approach will be pick the best keeper and best batsman and somehow work out the batting order from that.
Crawley will likely score runs in the second innings here too...
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Yeah you’re right actually I was a bit loathe to suggest Brook opening. Will be interesting to see who they do go with assuming Bairstow is fit. Stokes to show his big cajones perhaps and just get on with it.
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Stokes with license against a hard new ball that travels off the bat doesn't sound fun to bowl to. Wouldn't hate that at all!
@Buzz bold call suggesting England will need to bat twice 😅 touch wood...
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Assuming Bairstow is fit for the summer, he has to play given his recent record which means Foakes makes way. Foakes has a couple of nice test hundreds against off spin but he isn't a test match batsman against pace bowling which is what Australia will bring this summer
Sometimes I read stuff posted on here and just scratch my head thinking I’m seeing something one way, others see something completely different.
You need a gutsy player somewhere in the order with a brain who can read the game. Foakes seems to still be seen as weakening the batting when he is picked.
It’s absolutely baffling….
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Sometimes I read stuff posted on here and just scratch my head thinking I’m seeing something one way, others see something completely different.
You need a gutsy player somewhere in the order with a brain who can read the game. Foakes seems to still be seen as weakening the batting when he is picked.
It’s absolutely baffling….
I'd keep Foakes personally, but if it was a straight shoot out between Bairstow and Foakes, purely as a batsman, you can't surely rate Foakes higher?
I'm not saying I'd drop him, but Bairstow is a better batter imo
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Forget the keeping for a moment.
What Root and Foakes provide is balance to all the stroke players. You can't pick 7 one dimensional batters.
Bairstow is clearly a class player and I suspect the approach will be pick the best keeper and best batsman and somehow work out the batting order from that.
Crawley will likely score runs in the second innings here too...
Agree with all of the above #Buzzball
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Think people are just presumably Barstow after all this time out will come back in and scores hundreds from the off. Even Root has had a lean spell until last game. We all need to enjoy the ride, I for one can remember the dark days of us the worst team in the world!
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Classic CBF
I am sorry - I couldn't help it.
Looking forward to tonight. Hope Brook gets 200.
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I'd keep Foakes personally, but if it was a straight shoot out between Bairstow and Foakes, purely as a batsman, you can't surely rate Foakes higher?
I'm not saying I'd drop him, but Bairstow is a better batter imo
If it’s purely as a batsman Bairstow is the better player. I cannot see JB taking the gloves again as it’s not the position he last played in and has had a broken leg or ankle.
I don’t see the comparison as they are not playing for one place.
When Bairstow comes back and he’s been in great form until the injury he has to displace a batsman.
Difficult I can see exactly who unless there is a shuffling of the order but they will have to so he plays. Foakes is the keeper batsman.
If I was to guess I’d say Pope could move up
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Nighthawk to open the batting, get your bets placed now.
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Have to say that’s one of the most enjoyable things about the new positive play. Broad is perfect as well as he cannot survive defensively but he can hit and he takes on the short ball.
Just occasionally and I do mean occasionally he reminds me of his Dad thru the offside.
Good batsman his Dad was too
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Gutted for Brook, that's a phenomenal grab.
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If Leach was an alpha-male or idk had the attitude of Swann/Warne etc, nobody would question his place in the side.
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Wouldn't be the hero he is without his glasses polishing though!
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If it’s purely as a batsman Bairstow is the better player. I cannot see JB taking the gloves again as it’s not the position he last played in and has had a broken leg or ankle.
I don’t see the comparison as they are not playing for one place.
When Bairstow comes back and he’s been in great form until the injury he has to displace a batsman.
Difficult I can see exactly who unless there is a shuffling of the order but they will have to so he plays. Foakes is the keeper batsman.
If I was to guess I’d say Pope could move up
It would appear somewhat baffling to me to find it odd to suggest picking a man who had played 49 tests as a wicket keeper to keep wicket but then suggest moving a guy who hasn't opened the batting in professional cricket to open in a test match
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Think you have to look at why Bairstow has had the success and the likely impact of such a severe injury on a guy who isn't a spring chicken any more though. He was destroying teams playing as a pure batsman so ideally you'd stick with that winning formula.
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That Pope catch. Impressive.
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Have to say that’s one of the most enjoyable things about the new positive play. Broad is perfect as well as he cannot survive defensively but he can hit and he takes on the short ball.
Just occasionally and I do mean occasionally he reminds me of his Dad thru the offside.
Good batsman his Dad was too
I think people forget nowadays that for the first six or seven years of his test career he was seen as someone with serious potential to develop into a Test match all rounder - not of the Flintoff/Stokes mould but certainly in the vein of Pollock, Hadlee or in more recent years a Bresnan or Woakes, someone who could bat at seven or eight and reliably average high 20s with some significant contributions. Then he got collared by that short ball and developed a fear of the ball!
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Think you have to look at why Bairstow has had the success and the likely impact of such a severe injury on a guy who isn't a spring chicken any more though. He was destroying teams playing as a pure batsman so ideally you'd stick with that winning formula.
He was only ever a functional keeper, and as a tall guy it will be wrecking his knees. The injury was a serious one, and he was prone to carrying a bit of timber pre-injury (his natural speed probably hid how much). Yes, he is a better batsman than Foakes, but I reckon the maths of additional runs scored vs the ones cost behind the sticks probably has Ben in front.
And its not like there are not batsmen who could be dropped instead.
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The Goat playing cricket during a rain break.
https://twitter.com/sparknzsport/status/1629205574788481024?t=UCJrS1ZmGTG8EVJAUbffKw&s=19
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Excellent 5fer for Leach
That Bracewell run-out, however...
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Said before the positive mindset of the new management is not so beneficial for the naturally aggressive players, it’s how those who do not overly have that confidence can improve
Leach is one of those and seems to be now thriving. There always have been players not as confident in themselves it’s how they are trusted backed and managed
It’s quite amazing the turn around in our test cricket and huge credit to Stokes and everyone else in the management team
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One thing that concerns me…What’s up with Stokes’ chronically troublesome knee? Is this something he will just have to deal with until he retires- or is surgery an option potentially post-Ashes?
I know many professionals have to deal with niggles and they talk about never being 100% fit, but Stokes looks so uncomfortable much of the time!
Crawley was frenetic from what I saw- that near-run out was a Nasser Hussain “he has a scrambled brain” if ever I saw one!Will they finally lose patience with him?
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I think Stokes has played thru pain and if you read anything about his training programme is almost impossible to result in a lengthy career.
I could be he does move up the order a bit and bowl even less. There’s Potts Overton Mahmood possibly Stone backing up the test side and Wood of course-so plenty of seam bowling.
Crawley has a contract but there must come a time when he has had all his chances.
Remember Bairstow will come back so the batting order might get shuffled for this summer
Duckett has done ok better than I thought he would
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Sigh
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Root lost the head there, very daft.
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There’s Bazball but that doesn’t mean tip and run!
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What an absolutely phenomenal game of cricket. Still not sure how England contrived to lose that one but you won't see a better advert for test cricket.
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Wow, that came out of nowhere
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There’s Bazball but that doesn’t mean tip and run!
You win the internet today. Gold!
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Probably one that got away there. But given the luck we have had since Stokes took over you have to accept it.
Loosing Brook before he had faced a ball was a huge moment.
I just wish Stokes would go and get his knee fixed rather than going to the IPL.
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Love.Test.Cricket
If only SENA countries learnt how to bat on spinning tracks then we would have more of such thrillers.
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Eng should have not make them follow on, should have batted and out the match out of Nzl reach. This would've also allowed rest for bowlers.
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Eng should have not make them follow on, should have batted and out the match out of Nzl reach. This would've also allowed rest for bowlers.
Brook should not have run himself out. This would have allowed him to score the 2 runs required.
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Terrific cricket match, not even upset that we lost. Games like this are so good for Cricket as a whole.