Am i right in saying that if Mitchell Marsh gets a hundred then Australia would have got more centuries in this innings(3) than England in the whole Ashes series(2) ?
Crane might become a top international bowler, but is desperately raw, and surely called up too early. England have a habit of picking spinners then dumping them (Kerragan, Borthwick), Australia did the same the same thing between Warne and Lyon
Root was England's best spinner today, no idea why he took himself off, as he was a genuine threat and economical too (8 overs going for only 21)
It was a good job Australia picked Steve Smith too early.
It's only too early if selectors get muddled and dump players afterwards.
Fact is, all the time Moeen Ali plays, then a second spinner will only play occasionally. If Stokes returns then maybe Crane will get more chances.
Smith was picked as a leg spinner though, not a batsman. It was at the time when they were desperately looking for the new Shane Warne!
By picking Crane for this tour, the selectors made it incredibly hard to drop Moeen as picking a 20 year old as your sole spinner would be incredibly risky.
I remember Smith getting picked as a leg spinner who batted 8. What I meant was good job they did pick him because they stumbled across a bloke who has become the best batsman in Australia (and lots of other places too).
What other spinners could play instead of Ali or Crane? I like the look of Leach and Bess at Somerset but they've often benifitted from doctored wickets at Taunton. The spinners don't get much of a look in in The County Championship these days. Games are packed into April and May or September to accommodate T20. Why bother with two spinners when four seamers can bowl most sides out on helpful pitches in about 55 overs?
Summed up when one Director of Cricket (Angus Fraser) said to me....."it's seamers who win you a County Championship" As an wisened ex-seamer he's bound to be biased but maybe he's right when referring to the present day?
Boycott came up with a good point - maybe its time to drop the Duke and use the Kookaburra ball in County games as a start?
How about punishments for bowling too slow in the county game. At least 4 balls an over have to be 85 mph+ or there's a penalty. Include the spinners too for a laugh.
That was a superb 4 over spell by Anderson, he caused the Marshes all sorts of problems whereas the other England bowlers have been smacked around with ease
Anderson has bowled superbly this tour aged 35 in less than ideal conditions. Just a shame he’s had no support bar a coupe of spells from Overton early on and then Broad in Melbourne.
As for Ali, looks like Bayliss was right after all - not a frontline test spinner
As soon a Lyon came on you could see the difference in control and variation between him and Moeen, such a hard job for our left handers batting against him
England as a whole are AWFUL away at the moment, the stats are damning. Conceding 600 runs used to be a real rarity, but recently it's become an everyday occurrence
I have to question not conceding over 600 from 1955-2003 as I’m sure the Windies scored 600 + against us in the 90s. In fact, I think both sides scored the same in their first innings - 640ish ? Stand to be corrected though.
I have to question not conceding over 600 from 1955-2003 as I’m sure the Windies scored 600 + against us in the 90s. In fact, I think both sides scored the same in their first innings - 640ish ? Stand to be corrected though.
In the Lara 375 match in 1994, they declared on 593-5! So below 600, if a bit "luckily" for England
I have to question not conceding over 600 from 1955-2003 as I’m sure the Windies scored 600 + against us in the 90s. In fact, I think both sides scored the same in their first innings - 640ish ? Stand to be corrected though.
In the Lara 375 match in 1994, they declared on 593-5! So below 600, if a bit "luckily" for England
Boycott came up with a good point - maybe its time to drop the Duke and use the Kookaburra ball in County games as a start?
How about punishments for bowling too slow in the county game. At least 4 balls an over have to be 85 mph+ or there's a penalty. Include the spinners too for a laugh.
Derek Underwood would've only have had to bowl slightly quicker and he'd be ok for your new laws.
I have to question not conceding over 600 from 1955-2003 as I’m sure the Windies scored 600 + against us in the 90s. In fact, I think both sides scored the same in their first innings - 640ish ? Stand to be corrected though.
LOL, one of the first test matches I watched on Telly was v Pakistan in 1974, they declared on 600-7. One more leg bye and they could have shattered that record!
Comments
Bairstow
Cook
cant sleep
Chemical Ali and Frasier Crane couldn’t have done much worse.
I had a very good sleep though.
What other spinners could play instead of Ali or Crane? I like the look of Leach and Bess at Somerset but they've often benifitted from doctored wickets at Taunton. The spinners don't get much of a look in in The County Championship these days. Games are packed into April and May or September to accommodate T20. Why bother with two spinners when four seamers can bowl most sides out on helpful pitches in about 55 overs?
Summed up when one Director of Cricket (Angus Fraser) said to me....."it's seamers who win you a County Championship" As an wisened ex-seamer he's bound to be biased but maybe he's right when referring to the present day?
As for Ali, looks like Bayliss was right after all - not a frontline test spinner
Stand to be corrected though.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/16362/scorecard/63641/west-indies-vs-england-5th-test-england-tour-of-west-indies-1993-94/
Checking the Lara 400 match in 2004, they declared on 751/5!
http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/15068/scorecard/64080/west-indies-vs-england-4th-test-england-tour-of-west-indies-2003-04/
How many did they get in first innings ?
Bayliss should go in my opinion.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/42595640
Anybody remember the Lord SOmeone report after another drubbing in Oz? - that worked didnt it?