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England Cricket 2021 (excluding Ashes)

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  • I guess, but then that average is from what, 4 matches?
    if we start picking players on their averages again like we did in the 90s, dont act shocked if we end up playing the like we did in the 90s.
  • I guess, but then that average is from what, 4 matches?
    3 Test matches and 6 innings
    6 County Championship matches and 10 innings this season

    Hameed was 19 when he made his Test debut. His selection was more on the back of what coaches saw rather than what he had achieved during his career. Similarly the likes of Gower and Vaughan had bang ordinary stats in the County Championship but proved that they could step up in the Test arena. And Zac Crawley has a First Class average of 32.54 but was picked for the same reasons albeit from a very promising start he has struggled of late for England. Why shouldn't Hameed be given another go if the top 3 go through a bad patch?


    Don't get me wrong, im happy for him and hope he does well, I'm just worried that if it's too early, it could set him back again.
  • Cant help feel sorry for Foakes. He just can't catch a break (which is weird coz he catches absolutely everything else). Feel he really deserved a couple of tests at home. Massive shame. 

    Good to see Billings in the squad though. He's the only keeper in my view that gets close to Foakes behind the stumps. I'd be very tempted to play him for that reason and because he suits batting 6 or 7 better than Bracey does. 

    Bracey is there if Sibley doesn't make it through his injury recovery in time.
  • So 18,000 will be allowed into Edgbaston for the New Zealand test. I have 2 tickets from the capacity of 26,000 so good chance I will get to go. Excited as being back to almost normal, but is a little scary thought as well. Having hardly been around anyone for 14 months and now close to 18,000! 
  • Cant help feel sorry for Foakes. He just can't catch a break (which is weird coz he catches absolutely everything else). Feel he really deserved a couple of tests at home. Massive shame. 

    Good to see Billings in the squad though. He's the only keeper in my view that gets close to Foakes behind the stumps. I'd be very tempted to play him for that reason and because he suits batting 6 or 7 better than Bracey does. 

    Bracey is there if Sibley doesn't make it through his injury recovery in time.
    Billings is a fine outfielder, but it's always puzzled me that when he plays in the England white ball sides, it's always as a specialised batsman, with Buttler or Bairstow with the gloves, when he's the best keeper out of them.

    It's also a bit puzzling that Bairstow and Buttler were left out because they've just come back from India, as Billings has been out there too!
  • Cant help feel sorry for Foakes. He just can't catch a break (which is weird coz he catches absolutely everything else). Feel he really deserved a couple of tests at home. Massive shame. 

    Good to see Billings in the squad though. He's the only keeper in my view that gets close to Foakes behind the stumps. I'd be very tempted to play him for that reason and because he suits batting 6 or 7 better than Bracey does. 

    Bracey is there if Sibley doesn't make it through his injury recovery in time.
    Billings is a fine outfielder, but it's always puzzled me that when he plays in the England white ball sides, it's always as a specialised batsman, with Buttler or Bairstow with the gloves, when he's the best keeper out of them.

    It's also a bit puzzling that Bairstow and Buttler were left out because they've just come back from India, as Billings has been out there too!
    I agree that Billings is better than Buttler and Bairstow behind the stumps. I guess their reasoning is thay they don't see Billings getting in the limited overs side as a keeper batsman but they want to see if he can be used as a backup finisher. If he did get a slot in the side long term then that would be a question worth asking.

    Did Billings not come back from India before others? I believe he played for Kent in the last match? The Currans and Roy came back with Buttler and Bairstow and the ECB aren't even allowing them to play for Surrey today avenue though they have been out of quarantine for over a week now. Which is a bit of a blow given we have lost Burns Foakes and Pope (and Roach) this week.
  • Cant help feel sorry for Foakes. He just can't catch a break (which is weird coz he catches absolutely everything else). Feel he really deserved a couple of tests at home. Massive shame. 

    Good to see Billings in the squad though. He's the only keeper in my view that gets close to Foakes behind the stumps. I'd be very tempted to play him for that reason and because he suits batting 6 or 7 better than Bracey does. 

    Bracey is there if Sibley doesn't make it through his injury recovery in time.
    Billings is a fine outfielder, but it's always puzzled me that when he plays in the England white ball sides, it's always as a specialised batsman, with Buttler or Bairstow with the gloves, when he's the best keeper out of them.

    It's also a bit puzzling that Bairstow and Buttler were left out because they've just come back from India, as Billings has been out there too!
    billings is lightening quick accross the outfield - so is bairstow, buttler isn't. For that reason i think that's why buttler is behind the stumps, as bairstow and billings can patrol the ropes.
  • Geoff Boycott rates Hameed. England lacks a decent batsman that digs in and stays there.
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  • I’m off to Lords tomorrow - sitting in Upper Mound Stand - must not forget my hat and suntan lotion - hamper ordered - cant wait
    Enjoy ! I have to confess to being pretty envious . 
  • wmcf123 said:
    I’m off to Lords tomorrow - sitting in Upper Mound Stand - must not forget my hat and suntan lotion - hamper ordered - cant wait
    Enjoy ! I have to confess to being pretty envious . 
    me too  >:)B) .. enjoy it

  • I’m off to Lords tomorrow - sitting in Upper Mound Stand - must not forget my hat and suntan lotion - hamper ordered - cant wait
    Enjoy!

    For once the weather has played ball. It was all set up that the first international in he UK with crowds watching since 2019 would be drowned out by rain  ;)
  • Originally had tickets for day 1 and 4 when they first went on sale but got refunded months ago due to covid restrictions. Today we managed to get 2 for Saturday just a few seats away from where we’re originally got them. Just hope it lasts till Saturday. At least it’ll allow yesterday’s sunburn to fade a bit. 
  • Upper grandstand for me and eldest son day one and two.
    scared of all day boozing and meeting alcoholic mates for brekkie at 8.30 
  • Now that's what I call style  ;)


  • NZ win toss and bat, picture perfect batting conditions. Gonna see a lot of Ollie Robinson today I reckon. 
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  • Hope those there have a good day and see 10 wickets this morning!

    Very jealous!!
  • Feels like this could be a long old day in the field.
  • Robinson gets his first test wicket .. let's hope the first of many over the years .. Anderson and Broad can't go on for ever , or can they ???  :)
  • Kent's Ollie Robinson making a very good impression  with his second wicket. 

    114-3
  • Margate's finest!  Keep it up Ollie!
  • Ollie is bowling really well. 

    This seems a good moment to mention that at this time last week I found myself bowling in tandem with Ollie Robinson's dad (for the Forty Club). Not quite as quick or slim, which is understandable, and bowls with the other arm. Nice guy and super excited, in his understated way, at being invited to Lord's to see his son's Test debut.  
  • Anderson must love bowling to Kane Williamson. Mind you he's been bowling so long he must have got everyone out at some point!
  • AshBurton said:
    Ollie is bowling really well. 

    This seems a good moment to mention that at this time last week I found myself bowling in tandem with Ollie Robinson's dad (for the Forty Club). Not quite as quick or slim, which is understandable, and bowls with the other arm. Nice guy and super excited, in his understated way, at being invited to Lord's to see his son's Test debut.  
    Great for him that crowds are allowed in, and he can see his son's debut live. 
  • I was trying to find stats of bowlers who had taken the wickets of the most different batsmen. Only found batsman dismissed the most by the same bowler. Three of the top four were Mike Atherton, out to McGrath (19 times!) Ambrose and Walsh. Did he just play against Australia and West Indies? Fair enough we are talking about three of the most prolific ever fast bowlers
  • McBobbin said:
    I was trying to find stats of bowlers who had taken the wickets of the most different batsmen. Only found batsman dismissed the most by the same bowler. Three of the top four were Mike Atherton, out to McGrath (19 times!) Ambrose and Walsh. Did he just play against Australia and West Indies? Fair enough we are talking about three of the most prolific ever fast bowlers
    from memory atherton would either get out fairly early or not at all. 
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