Print

[Aussie In England]

the idea to send Rashid to Australia too was a masterstroke we all moaned about it but in hindsight which maybe the management had (ie not much game time for Rashid in SA) it all come good for a challenging environment.

Gonna be some right contests for places over the next few series in all formats

TBH Rashid is all too similar to Imran Tahir. He'll be excellent in ODI/T20 cricket for England but in Test matches the better players will just pick him off as he bowls to much filth.

[procricket]

TBH Rashid is all too similar to Imran Tahir. He'll be excellent in ODI/T20 cricket for England but in Test matches the better players will just pick him off as he bowls to much filth.

Maybe that is so but i leave it to better qualified people than me and you to make that judgement looks good for England even your "legends" where calling his quality if you can't read it you can't read it!!!!

Just all bode well for English cricket

[ppccopener]

You all go on about Ballance being "found out" at Test level but how much of a flaw has really been found in his technique?

In effect, Boult, Johnson and Starc exposed a flaw against world class 90mph left arm away swing when the ball was pitched very full.  He didn't have the same problems against right armers, nor against even slightly lower standard lefties.  It follows that this is not really the basis for a complete overhaul of a technique and temprament that had seen him average 48 in Tests - especially given he made a gutsy 61 in the first innings at Cardiff almost immediately before he was dropped. 

I do though think that England need to think more about how to help players coming into the side.  Compton is a good example of this - he looks so much better at three than he did opening - and Ballance should be given a chance to bat as he does for Yorkshire at five or six.  That's his natural spot...

Yes well said.....bAllance has scored runs as he is...he's also got a strong mind to not go changing things-it's either mentally tough or stubborn-time will tell I suppose no one knows how he will go back in the team.
The problem with your theory thou...ideal as it is... Not everyone can bat in their county positions-sometimes the slots available are not the normal ones....some of them have to take what's available.ballance jumped 3 positions to play for England.
He will either have to sit and wait for a gap at 5 or 6,or..... If hales does not work out Compton moves up to create a spot in the middle,then who bats 3? Does ballance get that again because that's all that is available?

Tricky to fit in I would suggest-at the moment.
And we are presuming Ian bell has played his last test also...
It's not that easy

[Aussie In England]

You all go on about Ballance being "found out" at Test level but how much of a flaw has really been found in his technique?

In effect, Boult, Johnson and Starc exposed a flaw against world class 90mph left arm away swing when the ball was pitched very full.  He didn't have the same problems against right armers, nor against even slightly lower standard lefties.  It follows that this is not really the basis for a complete overhaul of a technique and temprament that had seen him average 48 in Tests - especially given he made a gutsy 61 in the first innings at Cardiff almost immediately before he was dropped. 

I do though think that England need to think more about how to help players coming into the side.  Compton is a good example of this - he looks so much better at three than he did opening - and Ballance should be given a chance to bat as he does for Yorkshire at five or six.  That's his natural spot...

So Ballance hasn't been found out but the bowlers where world class?

Therefore he only succeeded because he faced the inept bowling attacks of Sri Lanka and India in conditions not suited to their bowling attacks. And the West Indies who's attack is worst than the other two.

[Aussie In England]

Maybe that is so but i leave it to better qualified people than me and you to make that judgement looks good for England even your "legends" where calling his quality if you can't read it you can't read it!!!!

Just all bode well for English cricket

Australians can't play spin mate!

[procricket]

of course he has been found out but your telling me not many have not of course he should it called test cricket for a reason.

It's how he comes back which will determine his quality.

[procricket]

Australians can't play spin mate!

you bore me you look for a raise,  all i know is England are doing ok and the playing spin is not limited to just Australia.

I notice there a few who do not like England doing well makes it sweet!!!

Australia now South Africa have fallen to the sword

[Aussie In England]

you bore me you look for a raise all i know is England are doing ok and the playing spin is not limited to just Australia.

Not sure why you're throwing a hissy TBH. I gave you a fact. We've been whitewashed by India and Pakistan in the recent past.

[procricket]

No hissy pal just first Jeet then Gez you seem to be the third instalment.

You cant play decent seam either by the looks but hey i guess your only as good as your last game...

sorry i'm very patriotic win or lose maybe a tad harsh !!!!

[ppccopener]

Aussie if your saying a test average of 48 is only good enough against low quality opposition and by definition not good enough more than half of your team s batsmen would be thrown out,more than half of ours as well

That's a very very high standard you are setting...

[roco]

Troll lol lol lol lalala

[Manormanic]

Yes well said.....bAllance has scored runs as he is...he's also got a strong mind to not go changing things-it's either mentally tough or stubborn-time will tell I suppose no one knows how he will go back in the team.
The problem with your theory thou...ideal as it is... Not everyone can bat in their county positions-sometimes the slots available are not the normal ones....some of them have to take what's available.ballance jumped 3 positions to play for England.
He will either have to sit and wait for a gap at 5 or 6,or..... If hales does not work out Compton moves up to create a spot in the middle,then who bats 3? Does ballance get that again because that's all that is available?

Tricky to fit in I would suggest-at the moment.
And we are presuming Ian bell has played his last test also...
It's not that easy

Well Taylor bats at three for Notts?

Though he should be batting seven for England.

[mcgill123]

There a group of very good players if Ballance wants to play again and do well he will have/still have to adapt however his mentality for me can not be questioned and if he wants it i expect him to be back when given a chance.

(These are all my uneducated observations.
I think you are bang on about him having the temperament, but I feel he needs to improve his approach technically if he is going to be consistent against top class test bowling).

Another is Rashid who always had talent but left you feeling underwhelmed but he done something or become more consistant or i have watched him more than i normally do.

(I've watched every ball Rashid has bowled in the big bash and he has been absolutely brilliant, maybe the bowler of the tournament to date).

All i know is there seems a good core of players and there some very good waiting in the wings in all formats.

(Also spot on here Dave, so much to be positive about but if we want to be the best the players in contention need keep improving as individuals).

I get the feeling anybody is pickable now which can only be good for English cricket we have alot to cheer about at minute .

Nobody can be discarded if they do well hopefully they will be given a go Bairstow is repaying that now in my eyes was talking to a first class umpire the other day who says he is unstoppable when on form and i see his point.

(Bairstow is a great example of a player getting dropped then going back to his county and working hard on the areas where he was week, he's come on leaps  and bounds since his exclusion and long may it continue).

And no i'm not a Yorkie womble

I don't know how to highlight my points, sorry.
I've tried to make it more readable but it's still a mess, apologies.

[procricket]

Some very good points made i think it easy to be negative then to look at positives by so many agree with your points pal i was talking to a first class umpire the other day who was umpiring Bairstow at Scarborough and said best he has seen for a couple of years in any form of cricket.

competition is key for places keeps people on there toes and also improves the quality. But i get a feel good factor where players are told to go out there and perform a selecting in instead of the old feeling selecting out policy.

very positive.

Look at some of the players who could we seem to be moving forward after a few years of uncertainty.

[mcgill123]

Barstow has been a breath of fresh air.
Another point I'd like to make is the contribution of Farbrace, every time I've seen him interviewed he comes across as a top bloke, talks so much sense in a calm and rational manner and a great foil to the media shy Bayliss who seems to have had a huge impact behind the scenes.
Things are looking up from a fans perspective.