All too often in the last Ashes, we were 40-3 and were being saved by the likes of Root and Stokes futher down the order.
Roobish!!! As Sir Geoffery would say. We were more often than not 30-3! Same in 2013 when Bell saved us. We have won some big series over the past few years but we still have serious issues. We need another opener, still, and soon we'll need two. We need a No.3, a No.5 and a spinner. Root should bat 3, your best batsmen bats three and he should step up. Of course no country has the divine right to have 11 world class players in all the key positions and very few ever do. Overall England are pretty good and I really expect a good showing in the up and coming T20 WC.
Interesting fact from cricinfo... "Hales is a strange case - There can't be many batsmen who have opened in all 3 international formats and have higher scores the less overs they play. Test - 60, ODI - 109, T20I - 116*" A spotter's badge is winging its way towards you "
5th Bowler(s) costing SA dear here . Behardien already gone for 32 off 3, and Duminy isn't doing much better. That's where the real value of Ben Stokes comes to the fore.
A shame Topley couldn't have got a single off the 2 balls he faced!
I thought the days of a no. 11 were well and truly over. Clearly not with Topley. That's 6 runs off 33 balls in ODIs now. Sits nicely with his career First Class average of 2.8 and a career total in all forms of the game of 115 runs from 58 innings for 27 times out.
A shame Topley couldn't have got a single off the 2 balls he faced!
I thought the days of a no. 11 were well and truly over. Clearly not with Topley. That's 6 runs off 33 balls in ODIs now. Sits nicely with his career First Class average of 2.8 and a career total in all forms of the game of 115 runs from 58 innings for 27 times out.
Comments
Looking forward to this. Really enjoyed watching England in limited overs cricket for the past 12 months
I thought you were a Test-only heretic?
134-2 off 18
Going nicely - ready for the Stokes explosion - that'll be the kiss of death then.
"Hales is a strange case - There can't be many batsmen who have opened in all 3 international formats and have higher scores the less overs they play. Test - 60, ODI - 109, T20I - 116*" A spotter's badge is winging its way towards you "
Buttler coming in at 4 - that's different !
Buttler 105 out
SA won toss and bat
currently 85-2 off 18
Amla bowled by Topley - good ball
De Kock lbw Stokes
England keeping ABDV quiet is 43 off 62
incrediblevery good catch in the deep !