Now, before anyone thinks I'm mad (well more than those do already) there is a player who I think would actually do better than most on these slow low wickets (and he's a reserve) and that is James Vince. The "step and hit" merchants are clearly going to struggle most of the time and it will be the technically sound batsmen that do well. The last time Vince played in the UAE was against Pakistan when he scored 41, 38 and 46.
Now, before anyone thinks I'm mad (well more than those do already) there is a player who I think would actually do better than most on these slow low wickets (and he's a reserve) and that is James Vince. The "step and hit" merchants are clearly going to struggle most of the time and it will be the technically sound batsmen that do well. The last time Vince played in the UAE was against Pakistan when he scored 41, 38 and 46.
Yes, these might not be the conditions for "flat track bullies"
One Turkish batsman got 12 of them, another was 4 not out and there were 4 extras meaning that nine batsmen managed a single between them. In fact, eight batsmen being out for a duck must be some sort of record in itself
Bangladesh are now through and Scotland might go out despite beating them previously. It all comes down to the Oman v Scotland game coming up at 3.00pm where the winners of that game will join Bangladesh
I doubt that this will be the team for Saturday's first game but it is the one I would pick:
Roy Buttler Moeen Ali Bairstow Livingstone Morgan Billings Willey Adil Rashid Wood Mills
This leaves out Malan, Tom Curran, Jordan and Woakes
Like your side but agree it wont happen.
I'm a fan of Willey and think he is a useful player to have in the squad but would I have him in the first 11? nah.
He's a budget Sam Curran, only good in the first 4 overs of the game - once the ball stops swinging he has nothing. Mills provides the left arm variation we have plenty of spin options and Wood/Mills with genuine pace. I think Jordan has to play. He is the best death bowler in the county by a mile. No world where he doesn't play.
I doubt that this will be the team for Saturday's first game but it is the one I would pick:
Roy Buttler Moeen Ali Bairstow Livingstone Morgan Billings Willey Adil Rashid Wood Mills
This leaves out Malan, Tom Curran, Jordan and Woakes
Like your side but agree it wont happen.
I'm a fan of Willey and think he is a useful player to have in the squad but would I have him in the first 11? nah.
He's a budget Sam Curran, only good in the first 4 overs of the game - once the ball stops swinging he has nothing. Mills provides the left arm variation we have plenty of spin options and Wood/Mills with genuine pace. I think Jordan has to play. He is the best death bowler in the county by a mile. No world where he doesn't play.
Willey is a better bowler than Curran, and a good ball striker too. But yes, I'd be surprised if they don't pick Jordan
Having just one player like Wiese in their team turns Namibia from no-hopers to a team that'll dispatch fellow Associates. The most one-man show I've seen in a while
I doubt that this will be the team for Saturday's first game but it is the one I would pick:
Roy Buttler Moeen Ali Bairstow Livingstone Morgan Billings Willey Adil Rashid Wood Mills
This leaves out Malan, Tom Curran, Jordan and Woakes
Like your side but agree it wont happen.
I'm a fan of Willey and think he is a useful player to have in the squad but would I have him in the first 11? nah.
He's a budget Sam Curran, only good in the first 4 overs of the game - once the ball stops swinging he has nothing. Mills provides the left arm variation we have plenty of spin options and Wood/Mills with genuine pace. I think Jordan has to play. He is the best death bowler in the county by a mile. No world where he doesn't play.
I've been a big advocate of Jordan but left him out because he didn't bowl very well in these two games. In fact, his recent T20 international form has been poor particularly from the perspective that, as a death bowler, one would expect him to pick up his fair share of wickets late on. His returns in the last year have been (in chronological order working back):
So overall this reads 54.5-2-477-9 so that's an economy rate of 8.70 and just nine wickets. However, when one leaves out SL who were a very poor side when we met them in June (scores of 129, 111 & 96) his stats then read 42.5-1-404-7. That's an economy rate of 9.44 and has only taken seven wickets and he's bowling predominantly when wickets fall late on.
The other thing that confused me a bit was that he only played in one IPL game in the UAE. These wickets really should suit his style of bowling and I just wonder whether the Indians believe that they've worked him out. Those five games against India during which time he's returned 21.5-1-233-4 (ER 10.70) suggests that they might have done.
Agree about Willey potentially only being able to bowl at the start but his opening spell against India in the Power Play only went for 10 in two overs. He then came back and bowled the 18th over and only went for six runs and took the wicket of Surayakumar too. Could it be that on this surface he doesn't need swing so much as pace off cutters are what works best?
I certainly wouldn't initially raise an eyebrow if Jordan is picked because he is in situ. I just wonder though if, in playing so much franchise cricket, Jordan's familiarity has bred contempt. I hope not especially as he is a major asset in the field.
I doubt that this will be the team for Saturday's first game but it is the one I would pick:
Roy Buttler Moeen Ali Bairstow Livingstone Morgan Billings Willey Adil Rashid Wood Mills
This leaves out Malan, Tom Curran, Jordan and Woakes
Like your side but agree it wont happen.
I'm a fan of Willey and think he is a useful player to have in the squad but would I have him in the first 11? nah.
He's a budget Sam Curran, only good in the first 4 overs of the game - once the ball stops swinging he has nothing. Mills provides the left arm variation we have plenty of spin options and Wood/Mills with genuine pace. I think Jordan has to play. He is the best death bowler in the county by a mile. No world where he doesn't play.
Willey is a better bowler than Curran, and a good ball striker too. But yes, I'd be surprised if they don't pick Jordan
They're much of a muchness for me. They both have the same strengths (new ball, left arm angle, useful lower order runs) but same weaknesses (no good after the shine has gone off the ball).
Comments
Czech Rep 278
Turkey 21
One Turkish batsman got 12 of them, another was 4 not out and there were 4 extras meaning that nine batsmen managed a single between them. In fact, eight batsmen being out for a duck must be some sort of record in itself
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/continental-cup-2019-1197819/czech-republic-vs-turkey-6th-match-1197846/full-scorecard
Reminiscent of the 1978 football World Cup where they lost to Peru, drew against Iran then beat an excellent Holland side
(They apparently only need 121 due to NRR)
Well done , lads !
I'm a fan of Willey and think he is a useful player to have in the squad but would I have him in the first 11? nah.
He's a budget Sam Curran, only good in the first 4 overs of the game - once the ball stops swinging he has nothing. Mills provides the left arm variation we have plenty of spin options and Wood/Mills with genuine pace. I think Jordan has to play. He is the best death bowler in the county by a mile. No world where he doesn't play.
2-0-18-0 (NZ)
3-0-35-0 (Ind)
4-0-30-0 (Pak)
1-0-12-0 (Pak)
4-1-13-1 (SL)
4-0-31-0 (SL)
4-0-29-1 (SL)
4-0-57-0 (Ind)
4-0-41-0 (Ind)
4-1-35-2 (Ind)
2.5-0-38-1 (Ind)
4-0-27-1 (Ind)
4-0-42-1 (SA)
4-0-29-1 (SA)
4-0-40-1 (SA)
So overall this reads 54.5-2-477-9 so that's an economy rate of 8.70 and just nine wickets. However, when one leaves out SL who were a very poor side when we met them in June (scores of 129, 111 & 96) his stats then read 42.5-1-404-7. That's an economy rate of 9.44 and has only taken seven wickets and he's bowling predominantly when wickets fall late on.
The other thing that confused me a bit was that he only played in one IPL game in the UAE. These wickets really should suit his style of bowling and I just wonder whether the Indians believe that they've worked him out. Those five games against India during which time he's returned 21.5-1-233-4 (ER 10.70) suggests that they might have done.
Agree about Willey potentially only being able to bowl at the start but his opening spell against India in the Power Play only went for 10 in two overs. He then came back and bowled the 18th over and only went for six runs and took the wicket of Surayakumar too. Could it be that on this surface he doesn't need swing so much as pace off cutters are what works best?
I certainly wouldn't initially raise an eyebrow if Jordan is picked because he is in situ. I just wonder though if, in playing so much franchise cricket, Jordan's familiarity has bred contempt. I hope not especially as he is a major asset in the field.
19-1 to 44 all out in 10 overs is an epic achievement!