Moeen filled a gap at all levels. He was picked for the test team because he wasn’t a bad spinner when we didn’t have anyone good enough to play as a specialist bowler. To be honest still not convinced we do and it’s an area we lack in. Rashid has proven his worth in limited overs and I don’t think we should play 2 spinners just for balance. We’re better going 5 bowlers with Root as a 6th choice for 1/2 overs.
England bowled pretty poorly too much short stuff too predictable and Pak cashed in Pak made a couple too many mistakes batting which all went to hand English batting had good fortune specially Morgan’s umpire’s call lbw impact outside the line couple of airy shots fell safe But the artistry and coolness of Captain and Malan kept the target in reach throughout Clinical finish by Sam Job well done Moeen Ali surely finished as an international
Not a great fan of 20/20; prefer 50 overs or two innings a side, But I watched every ball yesterday and can see the 360 degree skill set needed by the batsmen. Tough gig being a bowler in 20/20 but the LBW not given against Morgan when the Pakistan bowler had already claimed Bairstow and Banton was critical as the Captain got his eye in and was sublime until he was out just short of another six.
Moeen filled a gap at all levels. He was picked for the test team because he wasn’t a bad spinner when we didn’t have anyone good enough to play as a specialist bowler. To be honest still not convinced we do and it’s an area we lack in. Rashid has proven his worth in limited overs and I don’t think we should play 2 spinners just for balance. We’re better going 5 bowlers with Root as a 6th choice for 1/2 overs.
Leach and Bess are good enough imo, if we really wanted a talismanic spinner like Swann was then rashid is our best bet. But I’m not convinced he’s a good enough red ball bowler. During the test series warne basically said spinners have to have opposite bowling tactics in test cricket than the white ball game.
England bowled pretty poorly too much short stuff too predictable and Pak cashed in Pak made a couple too many mistakes batting which all went to hand English batting had good fortune specially Morgan’s umpire’s call lbw impact outside the line couple of airy shots fell safe But the artistry and coolness of Captain and Malan kept the target in reach throughout Clinical finish by Sam Job well done Moeen Ali surely finished as an international
Like Buttler, moeen I think is really popular in the dressing room and especially amongst the two captains. He’ll be given some more opportunities I think.
Moeen filled a gap at all levels. He was picked for the test team because he wasn’t a bad spinner when we didn’t have anyone good enough to play as a specialist bowler. To be honest still not convinced we do and it’s an area we lack in. Rashid has proven his worth in limited overs and I don’t think we should play 2 spinners just for balance. We’re better going 5 bowlers with Root as a 6th choice for 1/2 overs.
Leach and Bess are good enough imo, if we really wanted a talismanic spinner like Swann was then rashid is our best bet. But I’m not convinced he’s a good enough red ball bowler. During the test series warne basically said spinners have to have opposite bowling tactics in test cricket than the white ball game.
Not sure I agree, haven’t seen enough from Leach or Bess to suggest either can be top class test match spinners. I think both can do a job but if we want to become one of the best teams it’s an area we are weak in.
Dom Bess signing premanently for Yorkshire in a 4 year deal is a good move - Somerset, despite Taunton being spin friendly, were rarely going to play both him and Leach be that in red or white ball matches
I certainly don't think he'll be England's spinner for all of that time so they'll get good use of him.
I do however think that unless England unearth a gamechanger he'll always be the one they go back to when the flashier revvier latest model fails.
Virdi and Qadri are the two I'm particularly curious about, and there's always Parkinson and Crane lurking somewhere in the deep dark hearts of any selector
All the spinners I just named are #11 bats though, so Bess will always be in ahead of them unless they become consistently lethal at county level. I guess in both of those senses Leach is still his closest competition, being a Test #9 or #10 and with heavy wicket-taking pedigree
Puzzled why they played Bess ahead of Leach all summer, when neither the Windies nor Pakistan have lots of left handers. And Leach is decent with the bat anyway
Puzzled why they played Bess ahead of Leach all summer, when neither the Windies nor Pakistan have lots of left handers. And Leach is decent with the bat anyway
To a degree I think it's about the man in possession. Leach has also had his injury and illness issues and those haven't helped either especially in the Covid environment we find our selves in
Comments
too much short stuff too predictable and Pak cashed in
Pak made a couple too many mistakes batting which all went to hand
English batting had good fortune specially Morgan’s umpire’s call lbw impact outside the line
couple of airy shots fell safe
But the artistry and coolness of Captain and Malan kept the target in reach throughout Clinical finish by Sam Job well done
Moeen Ali surely finished as an international
Tough gig being a bowler in 20/20 but the LBW not given against Morgan when the Pakistan bowler had already claimed Bairstow and Banton was critical as the Captain got his eye in and was sublime until he was out just short of another six.
Moeen on 49 from 24
Think they've played some terrific cricket.
I do however think that unless England unearth a gamechanger he'll always be the one they go back to when the flashier revvier latest model fails.
Virdi and Qadri are the two I'm particularly curious about, and there's always Parkinson and Crane lurking somewhere in the deep dark hearts of any selector
RIP
Come on England prove me wrong .
"Where are the Kent players?"