Interesting stat I heard on Talksport earlier from Steve Harmison...
In 6 days of Ashes cricket...
No Balls: Eng 19, Aus 0 Dropped Catches: Eng 10, Aus 0 Wickets off No Balls: Eng 2, Aus 0
Its a huge gulf in class.
Is it class? I'm not sure about that. It's basics.
There's no excuse for it though. And it is one of the differences between the 2 teams.
I agree the selectors and management take a lot of the blame but what are coaches doing if they can't catch? For a series of this importance it's unforgivable.
Sure, Burns will be dropped if he doesn't make runs 2nd innings, but let's not forget he earned his place in the side by scoring a lot of First Class runs and a few centuries for England. It's all very well saying "he's rubbish", but he is the best we have! But like so many English batsmen when they go Down Under, they find they're not up to the pace in Australia. We don't have any great openers and haven't had for a while now. At least, I guess, Crawley is pretty unflappable.
I'm equally concerned about the bowling decisions. We had Leach on a wicket that was no help and now for the 2nd Test we have 4 x fast-mediums and a part-time spinner. How is that going to frighten the Aussies? We desperately need Wood. Would like to see Bess. Would be happy to see Bairstow but would prefer him at No.5 than opening.
Think we've missed the major point about the Burns' dismissal. The Aussies took a catch in the slips.
Yeah cheating sneaky convicts, catching the ball, bastards! In Burns's defense, figuratively speaking, he got an absolute jaffer and did well to get that much bat on it He'll need a monster 2nd innings to keep his place cos his all around game has been pony, he can't catch or throw straight either. Openers get out cheaply, that's an occupational hazard but he's costing us runs and wickets in the field all the time, there has to be an option.
Crawley and Bairstow to open in Melbourne
I agree about Bairstow but Crawley is no better than Burns.
we are in a tiny minority advocating Bairstow lol .. as regards Burns/Crawley, I think Burns' confidence is shot, his catching and fielding as well as his batting indicate that he is totally out of sync, though the ball that got him today was a peach .. Lord Cook says he should haver left it ? .. complete Bollocks, that ball would have done for 99% of left handers .. anyway, good ball, bad ball, another low score has surely got him in a state of dismay .. IF Crawley is no better, he is no worse and unless Burns is considered 'mentally fit and raring to go' for Boxing Day, Crawley should come in .. Buttler to open ? .. a demon in 1 day cricket, a probable liability in the 'red ball' game .. another possibility is Malan opening with Pope at three (Root just will not bat at 3), Buttler six and Foakes at 7
That average for Pope is poor as well, considering he's playing in the lower middle order, and generally up against an old ball and more tired bowlers
I imagine if Burns, Hameed or Crawley came in at number 6, they'd score more runs
I really do rate Pope and he "should" do well in Australian conditions again because his technique is solid and he has played out there a number of times. Whether it's because of his stop/start career or not, his overall average from 36 innings is 31.37 but the fact is that he's averaged 42.20 from his first 18 innings but just 21.82 from his last 18. By comparison, Hameed has a lifetime average of 32.10 from 14 innings and hasn't been hiding at 6.
Hameed and Crawley look like they just need something to "click" and they'll be absolutely class test batsmen, burns and sibley by comparison never really have. Burns turned up and ground out some ugly runs and found a niche doing so, until now the runs have dried up and he looks... ugly. in 5 years time i'm sure hameed and crawley will be our test openers.
That average for Pope is poor as well, considering he's playing in the lower middle order, and generally up against an old ball and more tired bowlers
I imagine if Burns, Hameed or Crawley came in at number 6, they'd score more runs
I really do rate Pope and he "should" do well in Australian conditions again because his technique is solid and he has played out there a number of times. Whether it's because of his stop/start career or not, his overall average from 36 innings is 31.37 but the fact is that he's averaged 42.20 from his first 18 innings but just 21.82 from his last 18. By comparison, Hameed has a lifetime average of 32.10 from 14 innings and hasn't been hiding at 6.
One century in 21 matches is pretty underwhelming, especially when you consider the runs he's churned out for Surrey, and the fact that he's been given an easy place in the batting order, coming in AFTER Root.
Indeed an average of 31.37 is barely any better than Joe Denly's 29.53 when he was dropped, and Denly at least was able to protect Root and Stokes a bit by hanging around to soften the ball
One good thing.....at least I'll be able to cancel my BT subscription before the month is up (I signed up on the day of the 1st Test) as I don't think the 5th Test will mean anything by then.
I won't be getting up early tomorrow. I'm happy to get up just before 9 to watch the final session. When England should be bowling again...
If we survive through two and a bit sessions, it wouldn't shock me if the Aussies put us back in and have us 2 or 3 down before stumps with still 200 runs to make up.
I won't be getting up early tomorrow. I'm happy to get up just before 9 to watch the final session. When England should be bowling again...
If we survive through two and a bit sessions, it wouldn't shock me if the Aussies put us back in and have us 2 or 3 down before stumps with still 200 runs to make up.
Teams often don't enforce the follow on these days, but you're right. With the advantage of bowling under the lights AND the cooler conditions, it's a perfect time to enforce the follow on
Think we've missed the major point about the Burns' dismissal. The Aussies took a catch in the slips.
Yeah cheating sneaky convicts, catching the ball, bastards! In Burns's defense, figuratively speaking, he got an absolute jaffer and did well to get that much bat on it He'll need a monster 2nd innings to keep his place cos his all around game has been pony, he can't catch or throw straight either. Openers get out cheaply, that's an occupational hazard but he's costing us runs and wickets in the field all the time, there has to be an option.
Crawley and Bairstow to open in Melbourne
I agree about Bairstow but Crawley is no better than Burns.
we are in a tiny minority advocating Bairstow lol .. as regards Burns/Crawley, I think Burns' confidence is shot, his catching and fielding as well as his batting indicate that he is totally out of sync, though the ball that got him today was a peach .. Lord Cook says he should haver left it ? .. complete Bollocks, that ball would have done for 99% of left handers .. anyway, good ball, bad ball, another low score has surely got him in a state of dismay .. IF Crawley is no better, he is no worse and unless Burns is considered 'mentally fit and raring to go' for Boxing Day, Crawley should come in .. Buttler to open ? .. a demon in 1 day cricket, a probable liability in the 'red ball' game .. another possibility is Malan opening with Pope at three (Root just will not bat at 3), Buttler six and Foakes at 7
Cook was spot on.
Because you can trust the bounce more in Australia, you can leave the ball on length. Burns should not have played at that ball. It was clearing the stumps by more than a foot.
And what was he going to gain by playing it? Nothing. No run. All risk, no gain.
This is where our batsmen's technique lets them down. Conditioned by the one-day game where dot balls are to be avoided, our batsmen forget that Test cricket is a five-day game ... and it's the ability to leave a ball which means that you survive a potentially tricky period and cash in later when the bowlers are tired and the ball is doing less.
We have no batsman other than Root who can think about a long innings. It's a dark period for English cricket.
Still, our bowlers are OK. Broad and Anderson are doing the business and can be relied upon for a few years yet.
These Oz commentators just love sticking the knife in don’t they. Talking about the bowlers getting ready for the next time they have to bowl which will be “sooner rather than later”. AT 28-2. I know we can collapse at any point but it’s not like we’re 8 down… Coming to the end of my working week, 4 hours to go. With the Chargers blowing up and England getting demolished I’m a little cranky.
Comments
There's no excuse for it though. And it is one of the differences between the 2 teams.
I agree the selectors and management take a lot of the blame but what are coaches doing if they can't catch? For a series of this importance it's unforgivable.
Sure, Burns will be dropped if he doesn't make runs 2nd innings, but let's not forget he earned his place in the side by scoring a lot of First Class runs and a few centuries for England. It's all very well saying "he's rubbish", but he is the best we have! But like so many English batsmen when they go Down Under, they find they're not up to the pace in Australia. We don't have any great openers and haven't had for a while now. At least, I guess, Crawley is pretty unflappable.
I'm equally concerned about the bowling decisions. We had Leach on a wicket that was no help and now for the 2nd Test we have 4 x fast-mediums and a part-time spinner. How is that going to frighten the Aussies? We desperately need Wood. Would like to see Bess. Would be happy to see Bairstow but would prefer him at No.5 than opening.
Buttler to open ? .. a demon in 1 day cricket, a probable liability in the 'red ball' game ..
another possibility is Malan opening with Pope at three (Root just will not bat at 3), Buttler six and Foakes at 7
I imagine if Burns, Hameed or Crawley came in at number 6, they'd score more runs
Indeed an average of 31.37 is barely any better than Joe Denly's 29.53 when he was dropped, and Denly at least was able to protect Root and Stokes a bit by hanging around to soften the ball
74
67
48
185
162
143
63
215
47
48
91
108
74
102
1,428 runs at an average of 102
Cook was spot on.
Because you can trust the bounce more in Australia, you can leave the ball on length. Burns should not have played at that ball. It was clearing the stumps by more than a foot.
And what was he going to gain by playing it? Nothing. No run. All risk, no gain.
This is where our batsmen's technique lets them down. Conditioned by the one-day game where dot balls are to be avoided, our batsmen forget that Test cricket is a five-day game ... and it's the ability to leave a ball which means that you survive a potentially tricky period and cash in later when the bowlers are tired and the ball is doing less.
We have no batsman other than Root who can think about a long innings. It's a dark period for English cricket.
Still, our bowlers are OK. Broad and Anderson are doing the business and can be relied upon for a few years yet.
Coming to the end of my working week, 4 hours to go. With the Chargers blowing up and England getting demolished I’m a little cranky.
I approve of the aggressive running but let's not be stupid. Root almost run out bringing up the 50.
84-2.
Malan 43 (74)
Root 28 (53)
97-2
112-2.
Malan 59 (98)
Root 40 (80)
133-2
Malan 67 (116)
Root 52 (91)