Topic: Eng/ NZ (Read 3869 times)

jonny77 · « **Reply #15 on:** December 01, 2024, 12:21:26 PM »

Solid win. England are still in transition after Broad and Anderson, so a long way to go, but good to see some news players doing well.

Would have been interesting to see how the test would take gone had NZ taken their catches tho and we still have the odd blow up in us batting wise I feel. So could make for an entertaining few tests to come.

Manormanic · « **Reply #16 on:** December 02, 2024, 05:35:46 PM »

Quote from: Jimbo on November 29, 2024, 07:38:08 AM

Ollie Pope looks a much better bat when he's not at 3, shock me more 😂 back on board the Stokes at 3 train.

Slightly leftfield this but...Smith at three and give Pope the gloves? I mean, if Pope is staying in the side come what may, I don't think he is an appreciably less solid keeper (accepting that neither is a Test class specialist keeper by a long chalk), Smith has the technique to bat with more time to play with and Pope did look a lot less frenetic responding to the match situation rather than fretting about trying to shape it.

Jimbo · « **Reply #17 on:** December 02, 2024, 10:19:18 PM »

I think Smith is probably going to be good enough to bat top 5, but not convinced he is a future 3 or that Pope is in the same class as a keeper.

FattusCattus · « **Reply #18 on:** December 17, 2024, 09:44:34 AM »

ZAK CRAWLEY - DISCUSS!!

I actually enjoy watching Crawley bat, the free flowing fast scoring is very exciting and Duckett seems to (mostly) have become more consistent so he is a perfect foil.

'However' - is it unfair to say I wish he would adapt his game a little more? The thrilling innings seem a lot less frequent between runs of low scores and early dismissals.

I think what I mean is, could he bat a little more for the situation and conditions - I watched him face up to Matt Henry a few times and he just looked like a walking wicket - even nutters like Hayden, Sehwag and Gayle reined it in a bit occasionally when the situation dictated it.

He seems to have been given a license, but doesn't seem to have any other gears, possibly to the detriment of the team?

Or am I just being boring?

Warneymonster · « **Reply #19 on:** December 17, 2024, 11:23:25 AM »

i think the free license policy with englands batting has maybe gone too far with some. I like that Crawley and others can go out to bat - even on a very lean patch - knowing their place is safe, this must take off some of the pressure though. Stokes seems to have almost completely lost the ability to defend with the bat and is less and less looking like the match winner he was a few years ago, someone needs to have a quick word and get him to balance it out a bit.

Crawley could just be one of those guys who cant buy a run out of form but when he's in is unstoppable.

its good to see Root batting how he used to, he balances out everyone else and gives the calm head we need.

i would prefer us to be slightly more boring and make bowlers work harder and longer against us, we are too easy to bowl out in a day - even if we did score 400 in the process. possibly giving the oppo more chance to get back in the game by progressing it too quickly.

Thor Odin�s Son · « **Reply #20 on:** December 17, 2024, 11:25:36 AM »

Quote from: Warneymonster on December 17, 2024, 11:23:25 AM

i think the free license policy with englands batting has maybe gone too far with some. I like that Crawley and others can go out to bat - even on a very lean patch - knowing their place is safe, this must take off some of the pressure though. Stokes seems to have almost completely lost the ability to defend with the bat and is less and less looking like the match winner he was a few years ago, someone needs to have a quick word and get him to balance it out a bit.

Crawley could just be one of those guys who cant buy a run out of form but when he's in is unstoppable.

its good to see Root batting how he used to, he balances out everyone else and gives the calm head we need.

i would prefer us to be slightly more boring and make bowlers work harder and longer against us, we are too easy to bowl out in a day - even if we did score 400 in the process. possibly giving the oppo more chance to get back in the game by progressing it too quickly.

Crawley with a low thirties average in both first cricket and test cricket is merely being exposed as very mediocre. He doesn�t have the requisite skills of said �nutters� Hayden, Sehwag and Gayle - and let�s be honest Crawley has zero chance of ever being in that group.

Kulli · « **Reply #21 on:** December 17, 2024, 11:46:42 AM »

Agree with the above, just unsure who the candidates to replace him with would be.

Bats_Entertainment · « **Reply #22 on:** December 17, 2024, 11:48:19 AM »

The worst batsman ever to play fifty times for England?

Thor Odin�s Son · « **Reply #23 on:** December 17, 2024, 11:51:10 AM »

Quote from: Bats_Entertainment on December 17, 2024, 11:48:19 AM

The worst batsman ever to play fifty times for England?

Ramprakash most definitely is the �worse�.
His first class average was nearly 60 yet test average was in the 20s.

Jimbo · « **Reply #24 on:** December 17, 2024, 04:50:37 PM »

Bethell has a more solid technique from what I've seen of him so far. Early days but he doesn't leave as big a gap between bat and pad as Crawley does, nor does he play with as hard hands. Not a terrible option if they're married to the idea of Pope going back to 3.

Personally I'd be tempted to try Bethell opening (he's done it at junior level), Smith to 3 (better temperament for it than Pope), and Pope to 6 with the gloves, but I cannot see that happening, even against Zimbabwe.

ch1p · « **Reply #25 on:** December 17, 2024, 06:52:20 PM »

Smith is tidier with the gloves (although still not my first pick. Won�t get that one started though)

Bethell well and truly deserves his place. I think they made Pope VC a bit early.

SOULMAN1012 · « **Reply #26 on:** December 17, 2024, 10:34:42 PM »

Crawley is and will be Englands opener come the summer and overall in this style of play deserves to be, not a lot of individual tons but so many times he and Duckett give England the start and platform they want. The final dismal in the 2nd innings wasn�t a great call from the umpire and was out on umpires call when a lot of other times who knows.

His first really poor series for some time

Jimbo · « **Reply #27 on:** December 17, 2024, 11:20:44 PM »

Think I'd probably argue he was poor in Pakistan (though he wasn't alone). 78 on an absolute highway, followed by 61 in 4 innings where he looked horribly out of his depth against spin.

Warneymonster · « **Reply #28 on:** December 18, 2024, 09:23:25 AM »

stokes latest injury couldnt have come at a better time for Pope, got a feeling he was losing his place to Smith.

Purist90 · « **Reply #29 on:** December 18, 2024, 10:23:51 AM »

Yes, lets have a chat about Crawley. Feels like hes been in the team forever.
But he is still only 26. Most Test players dont really get going until 30s. Most arent picked until late 20s traditionally down the years.
Hes currently averaging 30. And 36 at home.
2025 feels like it could be a big year for Crawley with India and the Ashes.
He is still on the progressive curve upwards. Can we get another 10-15 runs added to that average next year, against the worlds best? Mainly against quicks on seamer friendly pitches rather than spin you would think. I think he can manage it. Certainly at home against India. His pal Duckett (age 30) will be another year older and experienced, so that must help Crawley stick around longer on that green Lords pitch.
I agree his spin play needs big improvement, but maybe by the time he is 30 he will have conquered it.
And I agree that the whole team need to bat the situation alot more. It�s almost as if you want the batters to be selfish and drop Bazball and just stick it out to get to the end of sessions. Just get the single and give the 5 per over problem to the other guy.
They are all guilty of it when they collapse and it is a wind up.
I have much the same attitude towards Bashir. Another youngster gaining huge experience and improvement year on year. And taking wickets and figures not far off the typical English spinner down the years. I just hope if there is a 4 year plan for the England team they stick with it and give the players that experience & support. I can accept closely losing series by �the barest of margins�. It�s the daftness and lack of concentration that ruins the potential. 🤦‍♂️
I feel relieved about the bowling after Broad & Anderson depart. Hopefully 2025 will be the year all the batters sing too. 😅

Author Topic: Eng/ NZ (Read 3869 times)

jonny77

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Manormanic

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Jimbo

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FattusCattus

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Warneymonster

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Thor Odin�s Son

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Kulli

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Bats_Entertainment

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Thor Odin�s Son

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Jimbo

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ch1p

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SOULMAN1012

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Jimbo

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Warneymonster

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Purist90

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