Problem with Mitchell is he is 34, 1 year older than Cook, he's right handed and the talk is they want a right and left hand opening partnership, which would rule out Burns, I like Vince he always looks good when I have seen him, until he plays test cricket, he starts well then gets himself out, the top 4 for England has been a problem, for a number of years.
Pope to me looks like another Vince, loose outside the off stump so will score a few runs then and snick off against Test bowling
Pope will be brilliant I am sure of it. He Is young and will continue to improve. He's had a taster of test cricket now and I'm sure he knows exactly what he needs to do to develop his game to cope at the highest level. There is no shame on him going back to county cricket and working on his game before returning to test cricket. Its both too early for him and too high up the order. He deserves a chance to bed in at 6 before moving up the order.
The problem for English cricket is that we seem to be going through an endless cycle
Call player up Drop them after technical flaws are exposed Recall them after a couple of years Find that the flaws are still there etc
Depends on the player. Bairstow went away and worked on his game scored loads of runs and has never looked back. Balance on the other hand famously didn't adapt his technique - rather chose to stick to what had worked for him in the past. He too scored loads of runs in county cricket but struggled to make anything of his return to internationals due to the same technical flaws being exposed. Pope is much younger than both were when they made their debuts. I'm certain he will want his place in the side for a long time. He will I'm sure continue to improve.
Yeah it's not like Yorkshire's pace attack comprised a former Ashes winner, an ODI regular, an England Lions bowler and a guy who almost made the recent Test squad. Oh wait
This. I'm a little fed up of people talking down the quality of county cricket. I think its just a wrong argument created by those who wish to discredit county cricket in order to work their own ends.
I would concede that the gap between the first and second division is growing but the quality of the first division is good. Every side has had some quality overseas players. Twice this year we have had Morkel against Steyn, current test players like Elgar and Finch who is about to get a test recall, former greats that have still got it like Fidel Edwards. Kohli was even due a spell in the championship. Current test players like Pujara have struggled for runs so the quality must be reasonable. Yes the big names aren't often here for the whole summer anymore but that is the nature of modern sport.
With a splattering of experienced pros, England lions and young up and coming players the quality really is decent.
Not sure if going back to Ali is a good idea either, he has had more than his fair share of test matches, and like many of the others averages mid 30’s with the bat, and over 40 with the ball.
I know that he scored a big ton for Worcester and took eight wickets, but I still have vivid memories of the Aussies clobbering his bowling, and then bouncing the shit out of him when he batted, which seemed to reduce him to something of a nervous wreck.
Read in the Guardian that Jamie Vince is very likely come into the squad for Bairstow, and on his home ground he may yet make the break through. Such a frustrating player as I saw him in the Brisbane test last year bat really well for 83 (I think), only to nick off needlessly late in the day.
Up to that point he had played beautifully, and had looked totally at home against a seriously testing attack on home soil.
However he then spent the remainder of the series looking totally at home in terms of technique and temperament, but kept finding ways of getting out when well set.
There is definitely a player in there, but if he is recalled then he must know that it is not so much the last chance saloon that he is drinking in, but the last chance crematorium and he needs a ton to prolong his test career!
A player with natural talent, who looks really good out in the middle for England but fail to turn his talent to big scores, who gets getting dropped and recalled...
But enough about Mark Ramprakash the batting coach
Ali in Australia was bowling with a cut spinning finger. He batted well but was done in by Lyon for the first few innings and thereafter showed some weakness against the short ball, like all the other players. It was a bad tour for him but he is in prime form now.
Ali in Australia was bowling with a cut spinning finger. He batted well but was done in by Lyon for the first few innings and thereafter showed some weakness against the short ball, like all the other players. It was a bad tour for him but he is in prime form now.
This is exactly where I am with Moeen Ali. He didn't once moan or complain, granted his form suffered but he soldiered on. He is such a good all round cricketer, he could open the batting and I see him as a batsmen before a spinner. His fielding is quality, like Collingwood levels of good and he can be a threat turning the ball. It's not his fault he's had to be both batsman and our only spinner (apart from when Root has a go) because for whatever reason we haven't produced a test quality spinner since Swann and Panesar.
Bairstow is a batsmen, he's another one who has done a job when he's been asked under difficult circumstances. Now we have specialist Keepers in the squad he can go back to being everyone's favourite England player and getting some big scores in the middle order.
Ali in Australia was bowling with a cut spinning finger. He batted well but was done in by Lyon for the first few innings and thereafter showed some weakness against the short ball, like all the other players. It was a bad tour for him but he is in prime form now.
This is exactly where I am with Moeen Ali. He didn't once moan or complain, granted his form suffered but he soldiered on. He is such a good all round cricketer, he could open the batting and I see him as a batsmen before a spinner. His fielding is quality, like Collingwood levels of good and he can be a threat turning the ball. It's not his fault he's had to be both batsman and our only spinner (apart from when Root has a go) because for whatever reason we haven't produced a test quality spinner since Swann and Panesar.
Bairstow is a batsmen, he's another one who has done a job when he's been asked under difficult circumstances. Now we have specialist Keepers in the squad he can go back to being everyone's favourite England player and getting some big scores in the middle order.
Am completely unconvinced by Rashid at Test level. If he hadn't taken a couple of wickets in the slog before India declared his series average wouldn't be much good. Sure, Ishant is his bunny and Kohli has got himself out to him twice but India see him come on and think 'runs'. Not that Ali would be any different but at least he's bowling really well
I really don't get this thing about dropping Rashid. He's taken 7 wickets at 26.71 which is very respectable in conditions that haven't suited spinners - including the prize wicket of Kohli. By comparison, India's main man, Ashwin, has taken 8 wickets at 29.5. I keep hearing how the Indians were going to take him apart but they haven't.
It is the seamers that have won the three Tests but you still need a front line spinner to get that vital wicket. Rashid has got Kohli four times in Tests now and who can forget the delivery that got him out in the ODI in July?
If the selectors think that Moeen is batting well enough to earn a recall then fine. But let's not compromise, yet again, on both disciplines to get him in.
Ali suffers because people conflate the need for an all rounder with the need for a batsman.
He has been slated and dropped in the past more because his bowling has not been up to the job than his batting.
In my opinion Ali is not an all rounder. He is a batsman who bowls, sometimes very well, but his bowling is an extra not a staple.
In the present dire circumstances we could certainly do worse than select Moeen purely as a batsman.
As I've said elsewhere and higher up the thread I'd like to see how an experienced, seasoned in form county pro does. I mentioned Hildreth myself but other names like Burns etc fall into the same category. Last season I'd have suggested Sam Northeast but he is only averaging 24 odd this year with Hampshire.
Am completely unconvinced by Rashid at Test level. If he hadn't taken a couple of wickets in the slog before India declared his series average wouldn't be much good. Sure, Ishant is his bunny and Kohli has got himself out to him twice but India see him come on and think 'runs'. Not that Ali would be any different but at least he's bowling really well
Really don't know how you can be so dismissive of that - getting Ishant out in the First Test was as a factor in winning it as we only won by 31 runs. The whole point about Rahid's spin bowling is that you actually want the key batsmen to have a go and for them to make a mistake. What you don't want is batsmen milking the spinner, at no risk, for for or five singles an over.
And I repeat - conditions haven't suited spinners. How else would you explain that Ashwin only has 8 wickets himself?
Am completely unconvinced by Rashid at Test level. If he hadn't taken a couple of wickets in the slog before India declared his series average wouldn't be much good. Sure, Ishant is his bunny and Kohli has got himself out to him twice but India see him come on and think 'runs'. Not that Ali would be any different but at least he's bowling really well
Really don't know how you can be so dismissive of that - getting Ishant out in the First Test was as a factor in winning it as we only won by 31 runs. The whole point about Rahid's spin bowling is that you actually want the key batsmen to have a go and for them to make a mistake. What you don't want is batsmen milking the spinner, at no risk, for for or five singles an over.
And I repeat - conditions haven't suited spinners. How else would you explain that Ashwin only has 8 wickets himself?
Reason being that Rashid is a front-line bowler yet rarely gets front-line batsmen out unless they are slogging or in their hundreds. To compare him with Ashwin is a little unfair on Ashwin, especially as he was struggling with a hip injury all this Test and dindt bowl in second innings at Lords (there wasnt one). So, really Aswin has had 3 innings to get his 8 in comparison to Rashids 6 innings to get his 7?. Also a previous comparison with Stokes is also unfair because Stokes hasnt played in 1 test. Imo, Rashid is a luxury that we can do without in the position we find ourselves in- and should be replaced, maybe with Ali,preferably with Sam.
Am completely unconvinced by Rashid at Test level. If he hadn't taken a couple of wickets in the slog before India declared his series average wouldn't be much good. Sure, Ishant is his bunny and Kohli has got himself out to him twice but India see him come on and think 'runs'. Not that Ali would be any different but at least he's bowling really well
Really don't know how you can be so dismissive of that - getting Ishant out in the First Test was as a factor in winning it as we only won by 31 runs. The whole point about Rahid's spin bowling is that you actually want the key batsmen to have a go and for them to make a mistake. What you don't want is batsmen milking the spinner, at no risk, for for or five singles an over.
And I repeat - conditions haven't suited spinners. How else would you explain that Ashwin only has 8 wickets himself?
Reason being that Rashid is a front-line bowler yet rarely gets front-line batsmen out unless they are slogging or in their hundreds. To compare him with Ashwin is a little unfair on Ashwin, especially as he was struggling with a hip injury all this Test and dindt bowl in second innings at Lords (there wasnt one). So, really Aswin has had 3 innings to get his 8 in comparison to Rashids 6 innings to get his 7?. Also a previous comparison with Stokes is also unfair because Stokes hasnt played in 1 test. Imo, Rashid is a luxury that we can do without in the position we find ourselves in- and should be replaced, maybe with Ali,preferably with Sam.
Rashid only bowled in 4 innings. He wasn't required to bowl in the Lord's win. And it's still 7 wickets at less than 27 whatever way you look at it including the best batsmen in the world twice.
Annoyingly Jennings played well tonight in the T20.
He needed that as well. Hussein kept it real and reminded everyone Sharma and Bumrah won't be doing quite what Kent were but he needed a confidence booster and I hope it gets his mind right
For goodness sake there is much wrong with our Test cricket; top order, fast bowling, management and coaches, captain even but Adil Rashid is certainly not a problem!
For goodness sake there is much wrong with our Test cricket; top order, fast bowling, management and coaches, captain even but Adil Rashid is certainly not a problem!
Add to that the colour of the cable knit, which is lighter than the cream coloured shirts and trousers, yuk!
For goodness sake there is much wrong with our Test cricket; top order, fast bowling, management and coaches, captain even but Adil Rashid is certainly not a problem!
Add to that the colour of the cable knit, which is lighter than the cream coloured shirts and trousers, yuk!
For goodness sake there is much wrong with our Test cricket; top order, fast bowling, management and coaches, captain even but Adil Rashid is certainly not a problem!
Add to that the colour of the cable knit, which is lighter than the cream coloured shirts and trousers, yuk!
Not all of them. Jimmy wears an old cream one.
Cook had a different one as well. It's as if the older players rummaged in their wardrobes to find kit from 10 years ago to wear, which is a bit bizarre!
Comments
I would concede that the gap between the first and second division is growing but the quality of the first division is good. Every side has had some quality overseas players. Twice this year we have had Morkel against Steyn, current test players like Elgar and Finch who is about to get a test recall, former greats that have still got it like Fidel Edwards. Kohli was even due a spell in the championship. Current test players like Pujara have struggled for runs so the quality must be reasonable. Yes the big names aren't often here for the whole summer anymore but that is the nature of modern sport.
With a splattering of experienced pros, England lions and young up and coming players the quality really is decent.
Willie has a first class bowling average of over 30
Bresnan is only 33 but injuries have taken there toll first class average of 31.
Fisher, great prospect, played 8 first class games with an average of 36.
Poysdon is 27 and only played 13 first class matches, average of 33 BTW.
Lyth has taken 32 wickets at 46 in his career.
Hardly a world class attack is it?
But enough about Mark Ramprakash the batting coach
Bairstow is a batsmen, he's another one who has done a job when he's been asked under difficult circumstances. Now we have specialist Keepers in the squad he can go back to being everyone's favourite England player and getting some big scores in the middle order.
(The bowling averages are after the batting) .. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/county-championship-division-one/averages
Cook
Burns
Root
Pope
Butler
Foakes (Bairstow if fit)
Stokes
Moeen/Rashid
Woakes
Broad
Anderson
It is the seamers that have won the three Tests but you still need a front line spinner to get that vital wicket. Rashid has got Kohli four times in Tests now and who can forget the delivery that got him out in the ODI in July?
If the selectors think that Moeen is batting well enough to earn a recall then fine. But let's not compromise, yet again, on both disciplines to get him in.
He has been slated and dropped in the past more because his bowling has not been up to the job than his batting.
In my opinion Ali is not an all rounder. He is a batsman who bowls, sometimes very well, but his bowling is an extra not a staple.
In the present dire circumstances we could certainly do worse than select Moeen purely as a batsman.
As I've said elsewhere and higher up the thread I'd like to see how an experienced, seasoned in form county pro does. I mentioned Hildreth myself but other names like Burns etc fall into the same category. Last season I'd have suggested Sam Northeast but he is only averaging 24 odd this year with Hampshire.
And I repeat - conditions haven't suited spinners. How else would you explain that Ashwin only has 8 wickets himself?
To compare him with Ashwin is a little unfair on Ashwin, especially as he was struggling with a hip injury all this Test and dindt bowl in second innings at Lords (there wasnt one). So, really Aswin has had 3 innings to get his 8 in comparison to Rashids 6 innings to get his 7?. Also a previous comparison with Stokes is also unfair because Stokes hasnt played in 1 test.
Imo, Rashid is a luxury that we can do without in the position we find ourselves in- and should be replaced, maybe with Ali,preferably with Sam.