Hope you are right, though word on the street is that he has refused to do much to alter his 'back in the crease' technique that has caused him so many problems against left arm quicks.
Amir is exactly the sort of bowler whom has caused him big problems in the past, so he will get an early test of his technique.
Agree on the mental toughness thing, and not being influenced too much by County runs, but Scotty Borthwick must be cursing the timing of his runs!
The snail will be found out by the Pakistan bowlers. I will say now that he will not get a score over 50 in the whole series. A poor decision by the selectors, as was Compton. I would much rather Westley or Borthwick given a chance.
The snail will be found out by the Pakistan bowlers. I will say now that he will not get a score over 50 in the whole series. A poor decision by the selectors, as was Compton. I would much rather Westley or Borthwick given a chance.
You're on Dick - i'll bring this back up when he does 50+ in first Test (if he plays !).
I don't personally think Borthwick or Westley have 'it' at this level - I know some people mature at different times in their lives, but I cant see Borthwick , just because he has had one good season, being the person to fill a very tough role. If he did, then why wasn't this spotted earlier in his career? Westley is a slightly different case - havnt seen a great deal of him, but of what I have seen, I've pigeon-holed him as a very good county player rather than Test level.
Broad has taken the responsibility on very well recently when Anderson has not played.
Also interested to see the reaction to Amir bowling. Still find it hard to accept a cheat being allowed back even though he has served time etc etc...
I'm not so sure with Amir, felt a bit sorry for him as I think he was a naive 18 year old kid from a poor village being led astray by his team captain (just bowl a couple of no balls that won't affect the game and I'll give you more money than you've ever had before etc) and he made a very poor choice.
Glad Butt and Asif's bans were severe enough (though still to short for me) that we are unlikely to see them again (Butt maybe I guess, hope not) as they knew better and got greedy, but given the mitigation in Amir's case I think the ban was about right.
I'd just like to point out that Balance has a Test batting average of 47.76 over 15 matches played against the likes of... Oz,SL,India,NZ and Windies.
#justsaying
How did he do against Australia? Pakistan have a good bowling attack, the snail will be found out, just like Compton was found out.
Also don't forget that Balance will be batting at 5 instead of 3 - so, hopefully, Joe Root will have taken the steam out of their attack by the time he's in - and he's not a bad player of spin.
I like Ballance, and really hope that he does well.
There is no doubt that he has a rather idiosyncratic technique, but then other players have overcome technical flaws to reach the top.
Look at Steve Smith for the Aussie's, his batting is as ugly as hell but it works for him. Same as Phil Hughes (RIP), a truly strange technical game, yet he achieved success internationally.
GB is going to need to show some real guts to come through the test, but I hope he does as I think he could go on to score a lot of test runs.
Comments
Amir is exactly the sort of bowler whom has caused him big problems in the past, so he will get an early test of his technique.
Agree on the mental toughness thing, and not being influenced too much by County runs, but Scotty Borthwick must be cursing the timing of his runs!
I don't personally think Borthwick or Westley have 'it' at this level - I know some people mature at different times in their lives, but I cant see Borthwick , just because he has had one good season, being the person to fill a very tough role. If he did, then why wasn't this spotted earlier in his career?
Westley is a slightly different case - havnt seen a great deal of him, but of what I have seen, I've pigeon-holed him as a very good county player rather than Test level.
bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/36783009
Broad has taken the responsibility on very well recently when Anderson has not played.
Also interested to see the reaction to Amir bowling. Still find it hard to accept a cheat being allowed back even though he has served time etc etc...
Glad Butt and Asif's bans were severe enough (though still to short for me) that we are unlikely to see them again (Butt maybe I guess, hope not) as they knew better and got greedy, but given the mitigation in Amir's case I think the ban was about right.
Terrific bowler by the way, could be a star.
Oz,SL,India,NZ and Windies.
#justsaying
There is no doubt that he has a rather idiosyncratic technique, but then other players have overcome technical flaws to reach the top.
Look at Steve Smith for the Aussie's, his batting is as ugly as hell but it works for him. Same as Phil Hughes (RIP), a truly strange technical game, yet he achieved success internationally.
GB is going to need to show some real guts to come through the test, but I hope he does as I think he could go on to score a lot of test runs.
Bollocks.
Ball's second delivery - given not out on the field and we review.
He looks very good from his first two balls!!
Long lost twins!
Tough chance - 0.634 second reaction time from bat to hand.
14/0 from 6.3 overs.
32/0 from 10.
Woakes into the attack, replacing Broad.
Massood c Bairstow b Woakes 7 (29)
38/1 from 12.1
42/1 from 14 overs.
2 for Woakes.
So happy to be proved wrong.
He has really done the business since he's come into the side.