I've read this thread through a few times and managed to stop myself from commenting...until now.
I think all of us as England fans need a bit of reality check, please let me explain.
1. We have a (just one) world class opener. Cook is the best we have. He is not as consistent as he once was but is still capable of big hundreds.
2. Root is world class. Would we sometimes like him to be as consistent as Kohil, Smith and Williamson? Yes we would like him to convert more 50's into 100's but let's just be happy we have him and appreciate him.
3. YJB is very, very good.
4. We don't have another opener to really partner Cook. Nobody is smashing down the selectors door to be picked. Choose Jennings, choose Stoneman, choose Gubbins, Choose Life or choose Robson. Nobody is showing outstanding First Class form to be picked.
5. We don't have a number 4. Malan has showed glimpses of class but isn't consistent yet.
6. Stokes is very, very good.
7. Butler could be an option at number 7. But should probably keep and free up YJB.
8. We don't have a world class spinner. We have to throw someone the ball and hope they are up to Test Match standard.
9. Broad is no longer Test class but who do we replace him with? Is Woakes good enough? Do you just pick the best bowler in the first class game? Do you identify 5 bowlers under 25 and say we will work with you and the bowler/bowlers that produce the best performances in the First Class game will get a test match call.
10. Anderson is very good.
11. See Broad above.
So in summary with the exception of Root, YJB, Stokes and on occasion Cook and Anderson England are pretty average. What can be done to change things? In years gone by we had some very strong First Class performers who were regularly scoring runs and taking wickets. How many batsman now regularly average 50+ in a first class season for more than just one season?
Let's completely review the professional cricket in England. Too much meaningless cricket is played. The 50 over competition is poorly attended. We only need 1 T20 competition. Why not make the 50 over competition a knockout completion? The England players should have been able to play 4 or 5 first class matches before the test match series begins. Let's have more quality cricket and less volume of cricket. The first class season should be Anderson Vs Cook, Root Vs Porter, Stoneman Vs Overton etc. We need the best test match qualified players facing each other, as regularly as possible.
APRIL/MAY/JUNE should be first class cricket with a bit of 50 over county cricket.
JULY/AUGUST should be T20. Plenty of test cricket/ODI's for those that are of international quality.
SEPT Final first class cricket play off games. Bit of test match cricket and ODI's.
I don't want this to come across as a England bashing rant. Something is wrong though and needs some fixing. We are an average test match side but on a positive front we are a very good ODI side. We have a few fundamental issues to address:
1. How do we develop test match/longer format batsman capable of playing in all conditions?
2. How do we develop test match spinners?
3. How do we develop/nurture pace bowlers?
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Topic: England Test Series vs Pakistan (Read 60461 times)