Always a fan of PDC. Both a very good white ball player and captain and also known for some serious efforts in tests as Brigadier Block. A real fighter who got every little bit out of his talent and gave his all to every situation.
I certainly want him around the England setup going forwards but I think they need to split the red and white ball roles so not sure in which capacity to use him.
I have no problem with him sticking up for the players after the ashes. Some things are excusable (the amount of time in bubbles, the terrible preparation, the sheer amount of cricket they've played without a break etc.) What isn't is the selection and decision making. He never defended those.
I admire Langer both for his career as a hard nosed, gritty batsman and as a hard nosed and gritty coach .. however, I doubt that many English 'test class' players would respond to him, too many memories of Ashes massacres plotted by Langer. Give Collingwood a good go.
England Women won the toss and elected to bat. At 30-2 off 14 overs, I fear no one informed our batters that, whilst this is part of the Ashes, this is actually a 50 over game! Tammy Beaumont is 11* off 43 balls!
Really not sure what England and specifically Beaumont is doing here - she is currently on 15 off 58 balls out of 51-2 off 20 overs. Sciver is 23 off 36.
I remember talking to some knowledgeable Durham supporters a few years ago. They certainly admired his gritty attitude but thought he was a poor communicator, somewhat aloof and not good with the younger players. If true, I hope he has improved his skills since retiring from playing.
Appreciate that Foakes deserves his chance but it seems a bit harsh that Billings has been totally left out of the squad - he's gone from carrying the drinks for years to answering an SOS with a 12 hour trek across Australia to being totally dumped. Also a bit surprised that Malan has been omitted but I suppose that we are looking to the future and good to see us trying a few new faces rather than constantly recalling the same old ones.
I love Woakes but its a waste of a selection for me. Proved himself too ineffective away from Home too many times. I hope Parkinson actually plays this series
Comments
I certainly want him around the England setup going forwards but I think they need to split the red and white ball roles so not sure in which capacity to use him.
I have no problem with him sticking up for the players after the ashes. Some things are excusable (the amount of time in bubbles, the terrible preparation, the sheer amount of cricket they've played without a break etc.) What isn't is the selection and decision making. He never defended those.
Give Collingwood a good go.
Our catching isn't good enough, while our ratio of hitting the stumps with a direct hit (to run someone out) is pathetic
He was one of the two assistant coaches for the Ashes. Thorpe was mainly responsible for the batting and Collingwood for the fielding.
Lees and Crawley the only openers, and either Root or Bairstow will have to play number 3
If Pope and Lawrence score runs, does that make them better suited than Burns, Hameed or Malan next time we play a high profile series?
BT I believe