Fantastic performance and Bairstow grabbed his chance with both gloves. It's not been easy for him and I'm sure that his Dad looking down would be very proud of him.
Where this puts Sam Billings I really don't know. Expected him to keep in Buttler's absence and to bat at six but that didn't happen and as things turned out he may now go one down in the pecking order.
Wow, I avoided the score and have just been watching the highlights on C5, brilliant performance by Bairstow, who on that showing was unlucky not to be in the original ODI squad as a batsman. He also seemed to keep pretty well
well that was some performance but at 45-5, I was cursing and cussing england as the biggest bunch of wankers on the planet, particularly morgans dismissal!
but a tremendous fightback by bairstow and billings. shame billings didn't make 50 but I think he improved in each game.
the one negative is our poor catching, new zealand held there's bar the bairstow dropped catch. had we taken those that we missed throughout the series we may have won more comfortably.
nevertheless refreshing and encouraging performances from england, well done lads.
terrific win and a good series .. England lose their inhibitions and achieve success .. some new 'discoveries' .. Billings, Bairstow and Finn are now worthy of test consideration as is Wood, Rashid is good on slow green pitches but not on flat dry tracks, Roy needs more time to develop .. and of course Root is the best English batsman since I don't know when, Buttler is improving all the time, Morgan is inspirational leading from the front and Stokes is (on his day) a terrific all-rounder
terrific win and a good series .. England lose their inhibitions and achieve success .. some new 'discoveries' .. Billings, Bairstow and Finn are now worthy of test consideration as is Wood, Rashid is good on slow green pitches but not on flat dry tracks, Roy needs more time to develop .. and of course Root is the best English batsman since I don't know when, Buttler is improving all the time, Morgan is inspirational leading from the front and Stokes is (on his day) a terrific all-rounder
B.... hell Lincs - you taken one of 'those' tablets this morning?.
terrific win and a good series .. England lose their inhibitions and achieve success .. some new 'discoveries' .. Billings, Bairstow and Finn are now worthy of test consideration as is Wood, Rashid is good on slow green pitches but not on flat dry tracks, Roy needs more time to develop .. and of course Root is the best English batsman since I don't know when, Buttler is improving all the time, Morgan is inspirational leading from the front and Stokes is (on his day) a terrific all-rounder
B.... hell Lincs - you taken one of 'those' tablets this morning?.
that's the one day team sorted, all that's needed now is to get the test team in the same frame of mind .. after a few personnel changes
terrific win and a good series .. England lose their inhibitions and achieve success .. some new 'discoveries' .. Billings, Bairstow and Finn are now worthy of test consideration as is Wood, Rashid is good on slow green pitches but not on flat dry tracks, Roy needs more time to develop .. and of course Root is the best English batsman since I don't know when, Buttler is improving all the time, Morgan is inspirational leading from the front and Stokes is (on his day) a terrific all-rounder
B.... hell Lincs - you taken one of 'those' tablets this morning?.
that's the one day team sorted, all that's needed now is to get the test team in the same frame of mind .. after a few personnel changes
What do you think the team will be for 1st Test? Let me start...
Cook Lyth Root Bell Ballance Stokes Buttler (Bairstow as backup) Wood Jimmy Broad Plus one from Rashid/Ali/Finn/Willey/Footitt depending on pitch/weather etc.
terrific win and a good series .. England lose their inhibitions and achieve success .. some new 'discoveries' .. Billings, Bairstow and Finn are now worthy of test consideration as is Wood, Rashid is good on slow green pitches but not on flat dry tracks, Roy needs more time to develop .. and of course Root is the best English batsman since I don't know when, Buttler is improving all the time, Morgan is inspirational leading from the front and Stokes is (on his day) a terrific all-rounder
B.... hell Lincs - you taken one of 'those' tablets this morning?.
that's the one day team sorted, all that's needed now is to get the test team in the same frame of mind .. after a few personnel changes
What do you think the team will be for 1st Test? Let me start...
Cook Lyth Root Bell Ballance Stokes Buttler (Bairstow as backup) Wood Jimmy Broad Plus one from Rashid/Ali/Finn/Willey/Footitt depending on pitch/weather etc.
I think these 10 plus Ali. Root and ballance swapping places. Not giving Rashid a try against west Indies was a mistake.
given the squad taken to Spain (or is it Portugal ?) for 'training', you're pretty near the mark. I have two teams .. what I think it will be and what I think it should be:
Cook Lyth Root Bell Ballance Stokes Buttler (Bairstow as backup) Wood Jimmy Broad Plus one from Rashid/Ali/Finn/Willey/Footitt depending on pitch/weather etc.
Should be: (depending (as you also think) on the Cardiff pitch etc)
Cook Lyth Root Morgan Stokes Buttler Ali Wood Plunkett (if fit) Anderson Finn .....
with Ballance, Broad, Rashid, Willey, Hales or Bairstow on 'the bench' .. as I wrote above, England has missed a trick in having 4 outta 5 tests in the south .. we should get the Aussies on a nice green Old T, H'Ly or Chester L S pitch, thus making Rashid a viable selection. There is no point picking him on dry flat tracks, he'll get mullered. Morgan (with reservations) deserves another shot as Ballance has been sussed by the Antipodeans as a back foot fudger. Ali needs to settle back into 5 day mode, I am hoping that he can. Broad is still a decent player but we need the raw pace of Finn, Plunkett and Wood .. seven batsmen including Buttler is enough to score some runs .. I am a bit concerned with the 'length of my tail ' lol but as I just wrote, seven 'professional batsmen' ought to be enough, especially on a decent pitch. Let the batsmen bat and let the bowlers bowl
I had to go out for dinner with friends when we were 5 down. I was gobsmacked when I came back in the pub to be informed we had won. Utterly brilliant series of games, and to win 3-2 was the icing on the cake.
I hope Northants can keep hold of Willey. (No jokes please...).
I had to go out for dinner with friends when we were 5 down. I was gobsmacked when I came back in the pub to be informed we had won. Utterly brilliant series of games, and to win 3-2 was the icing on the cake.
I hope Northants can keep hold of Willey. (No jokes please...).
All it needs is Lillee and Dilley(RIP),with a bit of Holding and you would be well away !
Prefer your "Should be" team with Morgan in for Bell, Lincs.
Maybe the latter has tolled for the last time ?
Good player but not so hot when the chips are down .. he looks shell shocked .. needs a rest, he'll still have his central contract so won't lose out financially, which I am sure is a big consideration amongst this band of good mates
Just back from a charity match at Grimsby Cricket Club .. they had an 'all stars' night last Monday which I did not know about beforehand .. the main guest players for the all stars were Aussie Glen Maxwell and Jonny Bairstow opposing the Lincolnshire Cavaliers ..
the club is quite naturally taking credit for getting Bairstow nice and relaxed and in form before his fantastic innings yesterday .. and as a bit of a sideshow, Maxwell supposedly took the best catch ever witnessed in the fair county of Lincolnshire .. reportedly there is a YouTube film of the catch somewhere .. I'll try to track it down
Rashid is not in the Test squad, neither is Willey. neither is KP, thank God. It is a pity Ballance is there. Playing with him in the Team is like playing with ten men.
Here we go - last game of a thoroughly entertaining series.
For all those saying why dont we have any Test matches north of Nottingham ? - i think if you look at the crowd tonight, then that may answer your question.
Comments
Where this puts Sam Billings I really don't know. Expected him to keep in Buttler's absence and to bat at six but that didn't happen and as things turned out he may now go one down in the pecking order.
England's loss would be Kent's gain ;-)
but a tremendous fightback by bairstow and billings. shame billings didn't make 50 but I think he improved in each game.
the one negative is our poor catching, new zealand held there's bar the bairstow dropped catch. had we taken those that we missed throughout the series we may have won more comfortably.
nevertheless refreshing and encouraging performances from england, well done lads.
Let me start...
Cook
Lyth
Root
Bell
Ballance
Stokes
Buttler (Bairstow as backup)
Wood
Jimmy
Broad
Plus one from Rashid/Ali/Finn/Willey/Footitt depending on pitch/weather etc.
I have two teams .. what I think it will be and what I think it should be:
Cook
Lyth
Root
Bell
Ballance
Stokes
Buttler (Bairstow as backup)
Wood
Jimmy
Broad
Plus one from Rashid/Ali/Finn/Willey/Footitt depending on pitch/weather etc.
Should be: (depending (as you also think) on the Cardiff pitch etc)
Cook
Lyth
Root
Morgan
Stokes
Buttler
Ali
Wood
Plunkett (if fit)
Anderson
Finn .....
with Ballance, Broad, Rashid, Willey, Hales or Bairstow on 'the bench' ..
as I wrote above, England has missed a trick in having 4 outta 5 tests in the south .. we should get the Aussies on a nice green Old T, H'Ly or Chester L S pitch, thus making Rashid a viable selection. There is no point picking him on dry flat tracks, he'll get mullered. Morgan (with reservations) deserves another shot as Ballance has been sussed by the Antipodeans as a back foot fudger. Ali needs to settle back into 5 day mode, I am hoping that he can.
Broad is still a decent player but we need the raw pace of Finn, Plunkett and Wood .. seven batsmen including Buttler is enough to score some runs .. I am a bit concerned with the 'length of my tail ' lol but as I just wrote, seven 'professional batsmen' ought to be enough, especially on a decent pitch. Let the batsmen bat and let the bowlers bowl
I hope Northants can keep hold of Willey. (No jokes please...).
Maybe the latter has tolled for the last time ?
Cook
Lyth
Root
KP
Bell
Stokes
Buttler
Rashid
Wood
Broad
Anderson
the club is quite naturally taking credit for getting Bairstow nice and relaxed and in form before his fantastic innings yesterday .. and as a bit of a sideshow, Maxwell supposedly took the best catch ever witnessed in the fair county of Lincolnshire .. reportedly there is a YouTube film of the catch somewhere .. I'll try to track it down
The team for the opening Test will be.
Lyth
Cook.
Snail,
Bell,
Root,
Stokes,
Butler,
Ali,
Broad,
Wood,
Anderson
England win toss & bat first. England keep the same team.
For all those saying why dont we have any Test matches north of Nottingham ? - i think if you look at the crowd tonight, then that may answer your question.
Didnt pay off.
He'll be our ABDV for the next 10 years.