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[SOULMAN1012]

DBD and Hameed for me at the top of the order when Cook calls it a day, DBD is a proven opener that can do the role for years and is class Hameed showed his worth before injury, the amount of openers we have tried is embarrassing.
Broad and Ali have to go, bring very little to the side over the past 13months, Broad has his 400th wicket and deserved to be given the chance to achieve such a great milestone but time for centiments is done. Overton has proved his skills in Aus before injury and to a degree again today, spinner wise is a massive problem but Crane and Leach look like the answers at present but we need to play them.
YJB I think should keep the gloves and bat 6

[Buzz]

Crane is not the answer. He needs to bowl about 600 first class overs.

[rickjames]

The weather looks awful today lads, we're saved. Major pluses out of this trip so far are the coffee and McDonalds doing an all day breakfast menu

[potzy248]

The weather looks awful today lads, we're saved. Major pluses out of this trip so far are the coffee and McDonalds doing an all day breakfast menu

Fine now. Should start on time. Come on Kane get another 100.

[Over Gully]

The problem with England is, they think they're a good cricket team...

[ppccopener]

The problem with England is, they think they're a good cricket team...

That's as maybe but a lot of us die hard supporters know we are declining as a test team while the limited overs side improves dramatically.

So we don't think we are that good, our test record away from home is poor.

How to fix it is the issue, I'm not convinced myself the management know how to do that

Pace, a specialist spinner,specialist keeper and maybe a old style attritional batter should be being looked at for the five day game

NZ are a good side and a solid line up, Williamson is near the very top of the tree

[six and out]

So i am getting a bit fed up of talking about how bad we are currently so now need to talk about the future. It is time for the powers that be to hopefully wake up and smell the rubbish!

I hate using the old enemy as an example but I would like to take you back to Hobart 2016 AUS vs SA.

AUS after losing quite a few on the bounce were rolled for 85. Scorecard below.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/10615/scorecard/1000853/Australia-vs-South-Africa-2nd-Test-sa-tour-of-australia-2016-17/

Then this happened... Lehman sent everyone back to Shield Cricket (apart from Smith, Warner, Starc, Hazelwood) and said you are playing for your place.

https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/news/only-four-safe-in-shattered-australian-test-team-darren-lehmann-1312123.html

Then this.... they started the 3rd test with 3 debutants and dropped 5 players! And won the test.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/10615/scorecard/1000855/Australia-vs-South-Africa-3rd-Test-south-africa-in-australia-test-series

I really hope we can be this ruthless because something needs to change.

[procricket]

Shame Renshaw can't come home to the motherland!.

For me there a too big disconnect with central contracts. The issue is exlusivity which i do not like i think players should play when they can and earn there rests.

People look at our breeding grounds but the step up from good to excerllant is auto blocked by central contracts and all these Lions tours and programs.

It one thing identifying talent but it another lettig it grow natuarally not a force feed system.

If i was a young kid now i would learn to whack the ball a mile and bowl as quick as i could, if i did not have the fibres to bowl quick i would learn variation and bowl spin because to me the money is in the white stuff.

Specialist are really hard to find now it a bit like football and the universal players they try to produce more and more to fit sytems of play instead of letting it emerge.

The issue is not just aimed at England either look around the world there lots of average itsy bitsy players knocking around (i give you Colin De Gridholme (sp).

For me realising your potential is by doing the hard yards and doing it in matches not wrapped away in some bubble at a Centre of Exerllance.

We need to look beyond the elite counties as well more and more.

[stevat]

Hameed is quality, love the stoic and pragmatic approach he has to his batting.  Stoneman plays the moving ball well, think he's got the technique to turn it round with a bit of luck and maybe a slight change in approach.

[InternalTraining]

Test cricket is here to stay.

T-20 and ODI won't "test" a batsman like the Test cricket and thanks to T-20 and ODI, batsmen no longer have the technique to play Test cricket which make it all the fun to watch!

Good job Kiwis. Keep up the good work.

[Manormanic]

Well, I think we can all agree that today was our best day of the series so far!

[ProCricketer1982]

Hameed is quality, love the stoic and pragmatic approach he has to his batting.  Stoneman plays the moving ball well, think he's got the technique to turn it round with a bit of luck and maybe a slight change in approach.

Stoneman does not have a good technique...

[stevat]

Stoneman does not have a good technique...

Never said that it was, just think his technique isn't prohibitive to a decent test career.  He's not exactly the most aesthetically pleasing to watch bat, but he's compact and certainly seems watchful in county cricket at least.  You think test cricket is a step too far? 

[Mister Le Chiffre]

How nice is the rain...joking aside hopefully the batsmen use the nets wisely over the past two days

[golders]

Obviously day one was very disappointing for an England fan like me.
Really pleased with how we have performed on days two and three though-lots to feel more positive about!