Good to see Stone and Potts back. A little surprised to see Lawrence back in but I guess we need a backup batsman having not taken Jennings.
A little surprised Will Jacks is there but I guess we need a back up spinner. Previous tours of NZ we haven't bothered using one at all but I guess then he becomes an option at 7 or 8 who can bowl a few overs.
Harry Brook to Sunrisers Hyderrabad for £1.3m Sam Curran to the Punjab Kings for £1.9m Ben Stokes to Chenai Super Kings for £1.7m
This does beg the question as to how much worth as a handcuff an England central contract (typically a ceiling of £700K for all bar the captain) will have even before the franchises get going in the various other T20 comps
Most expensive player in IPL history.
After the t20 World cup that's pretty justified. Especially as he bats in the top 3 in the ipl. Batting top 3 and bowling the death overs is worth big money
Will Jacks on unhelpful NZ pitches with small boundaries will be blasted to hell. If there's one thing I don't like about the leadership atm it's their seeming insistence on him as second spinner. There's a bit of talent there but he's honestly no better than Lawrence and it's clear who's the classier bat
Jennings left out of the NZ squad, so I'm not sure who will cover for the openers Zak and Duckett
Sure he was a horses for courses pick for Asia. I would guess they would just shunt everyone up one in an emergency. They could probably fly someone else out if it was early enough
Will Jacks on unhelpful NZ pitches with small boundaries will be blasted to hell. If there's one thing I don't like about the leadership atm it's their seeming insistence on him as second spinner. There's a bit of talent there but he's honestly no better than Lawrence and it's clear who's the classier bat
Try being a Surrey fan being told that he's our "premier spinner" when we have Virdi and Moriarty sat doing fuck all.
I can see why they like him as a batting option and in this side I would happily have him in thr lower middle order coming in and going at 150sr. He's probably better at that role than Lawrence - not that Lawrence isn't suited to Bazball.
I forgot about Lawrence's bowling. As you say I would use his bowling before Jacks. I suspect Lawrence is back up opener given he went to Windoes last time with that role.
Such is the esteem that Brook is held in is evidenced by the fact that the £1.3m paid for him in the IPL is that it is the highest ever amount price for a batsman who does not have a second discipline. The overseas players that are really sought and that command top dollar are the specialist quicks/spinners or the bowling/keeping all rounders. This is a guy who is only 23 and has only played 20 T20Is and just bats.
So the fees paid are all straight to the player ? Nice work if you can get it
Less agents' cuts. And you only get the full whack if your team plays every week of the tournament: if you're knocked out early (or you decide to go home) you get a pro-rata weekly amount.
Interesting to see how many English players went unsold and those that were sold what they went for compared to their base price:
NR 2 crore: Ben Stokes(16.25Cr), Sam Curran (18.50Cr), Phil Salt 2.00Cr), Tom Banton (Unsold), Chris Jordan (Unsold), Adil Rashid (2.00Cr), Jamie Overton (Unsold), Craig Overton (Unsold), Tymal Mills (Unsold).
INR 1.5 crore: Harry Brook (13.25Cr), Will Jacks (3.20Cr), Dawid Malan (Unsold), Jason Roy (Unsold).
INR 1 crore: Joe Root (1.00Cr), Luke Wood (Unsold).
INR 75 lakh: Reece Topley (1.90Cr), Tom Curran (Unsold), David Payne (Unsold).
INR 50 lakh: Richard Gleeson (Unsold), George Garton (Unsold).
INR 40 lakh: Tom Helm (Unsold), James Fuller (Unsold), Benny Howell (Unsold), Jordan Thompson (Unsold), Rehan Ahmed (Unsold), Will Smeed (Unsold).
INR 20 lakh: Chris Benjamin (Unsold).
Retained players - David Willey (2.00Cr), Liam Livingstone (11.50Cr), Jonny Bairstow (6.75Cr), Moeen Ali (8.00Cr), Jos Buttler (10.00Cr), Mark Wood (7.50Cr), Jofra Archer (8.00Cr)
The 15 highlighted as being sold aren't too far off what the make up of the 50 over World Cup squad could be - it's possibly one batsman too heavy and one seamer light
Interesting to see how many English players went unsold and those that were sold what they went for compared to their base price:
NR 2 crore: Ben Stokes(16.25Cr), Sam Curran (18.50Cr), Phil Salt 2.00Cr), Tom Banton (Unsold), Chris Jordan (Unsold), Adil Rashid (2.00Cr), Jamie Overton (Unsold), Craig Overton (Unsold), Tymal Mills (Unsold).
INR 1.5 crore: Harry Brook (13.25Cr), Will Jacks (3.20Cr), Dawid Malan (Unsold), Jason Roy (Unsold).
INR 1 crore: Joe Root (1.00Cr), Luke Wood (Unsold).
INR 75 lakh: Reece Topley (1.90Cr), Tom Curran (Unsold), David Payne (Unsold).
INR 50 lakh: Richard Gleeson (Unsold), George Garton (Unsold).
INR 40 lakh: Tom Helm (Unsold), James Fuller (Unsold), Benny Howell (Unsold), Jordan Thompson (Unsold), Rehan Ahmed (Unsold), Will Smeed (Unsold).
INR 20 lakh: Chris Benjamin (Unsold).
Retained players - David Willey (2.00Cr), Liam Livingstone (11.50Cr), Jonny Bairstow (6.75Cr), Moeen Ali (8.00Cr), Jos Buttler (10.00Cr), Mark Wood (7.50Cr), Jofra Archer (8.00Cr)
The Overtons seemed way overpriced IF they were serious about getting an IPL gig. The likes of Roy and Tom Curran being unsold shows how important recent form is
Only two of the 15 sold aren't centrally contracted in some shape or form - Jacks and Salt. Of the others that put themselves up for auction but weren't sold, four are centrally contracted - the two Overtons, Malan and Roy
The player that really has gone backwards is Tom Banton. He really has lost his way, so much so that despite that fantastic start to his career, he now averages 23.04 (T20), 29.90 (List A) and 25.95 (First Class). Valuing himself at 2 Crore was, in hindsight, a bit ambitious. He's never really been a red ball batsman but I suspect that the reason his white ball scores have diminished to such a degree is because he is a "step and hit" batsman and pitches in recent seasons have been a lot more two paced. But that is the difference between a Banton and a Brook. One has the fundamental technique to adapt to whatever conditions are thrown at him and the other is more what I would call a bowling machine batsman.
Test and ODI squads have been announced for the England Lions tour of Sri Lanka:
Test Squad
Tom Abell (Somerset), Josh Bohannon (Lancashire), Jack Carson (Sussex), Sam Cook (Essex), Matt Fisher (Yorkshire), Nathan Gilchrist (Kent), Tom Haines (Sussex), Haseeb Hameed (Nottinghamshire), Tom Hartley (Lancashire), Jack Haynes (Worcestershire), Lyndon James (Nottinghamshire), Alex Lees (Durham), Liam Patterson-White (Nottinghamshire), Ollie Robinson (Durham), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Josh Tongue (Worcestershire).
ODI Squad
Tom Abell (Somerset), Tom Banton (Somerset), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Sam Cook (Essex), Jordan Cox (Kent), Mason Crane (Hampshire), Matt Critchley (Essex), Matt Fisher (Yorkshire), Sam Hain (Warwickshire), Tom Hartley (Lancashire), Tom Lammonby (Somerset), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Tom Prest (Hampshire), James Rew (Somerset), Luke Wood (Lancashire
My old bugbear again......bad light stopping play when there are still scheduled overs left to play.
And yes, the ultimate stupidity happened today in Pakistan (who would have thunked that). Final day & Pakistan chasing 321 to win were 9 down with just 3 overs left of the MANDATORY last 15 overs.......and needed just 15 more to win. All 4 results were possible, and with 9 men around the bat & the spinner bowling the umpires called time.
What is the point of having a minimum 15 overs in the last hour of play if you don't actually have to bowl 15 overs. It wasn't dangerous (spinners bowling) it wasn't dark (floodlights fgs ) but because the light meter reading was at the point where it was on the first days play then play was abandoned.
3 overs !! With a spinner bowling that would be no more than 10 mins. Probably less. Common sense needs to prevail & the "we went off with the light meter reading at x on the first day so we have to stick with that" moronic approach needs sorting ASAP
My old bugbear again......bad light stopping play when there are still scheduled overs left to play.
And yes, the ultimate stupidity happened today in Pakistan (who would have thunked that). Final day & Pakistan chasing 321 to win were 9 down with just 3 overs left of the MANDATORY last 15 overs.......and needed just 15 more to win. All 4 results were possible, and with 9 men around the bat & the spinner bowling the umpires called time.
What is the point of having a minimum 15 overs in the last hour of play if you don't actually have to bowl 15 overs. It wasn't dangerous (spinners bowling) it wasn't dark (floodlights fgs ) but because the light meter reading was at the point where it was on the first days play then play was abandoned.
3 overs !! With a spinner bowling that would be no more than 10 mins. Probably less. Common sense needs to prevail & the "we went off with the light meter reading at x on the first day so we have to stick with that" moronic approach needs sorting ASAP
The batsmen had caps on, not helmets, therefore not dangerous.
My old bugbear again......bad light stopping play when there are still scheduled overs left to play.
And yes, the ultimate stupidity happened today in Pakistan (who would have thunked that). Final day & Pakistan chasing 321 to win were 9 down with just 3 overs left of the MANDATORY last 15 overs.......and needed just 15 more to win. All 4 results were possible, and with 9 men around the bat & the spinner bowling the umpires called time.
What is the point of having a minimum 15 overs in the last hour of play if you don't actually have to bowl 15 overs. It wasn't dangerous (spinners bowling) it wasn't dark (floodlights fgs ) but because the light meter reading was at the point where it was on the first days play then play was abandoned.
3 overs !! With a spinner bowling that would be no more than 10 mins. Probably less. Common sense needs to prevail & the "we went off with the light meter reading at x on the first day so we have to stick with that" moronic approach needs sorting ASAP
Unfortunately the circumstances of the end of play weren't that straightforward.
NZ, who were told by the Umpires what the reading was, could have, effectively, called a halt to proceedings had Pakistan looked like getting close be it with one or two overs to go by bringing back their quicks. Both spinners being on from the 86th over was because the Umpires informed NZ that they could not bowl their quicks in that light (and the reason why Southee and Henry were taken off just after they both took wickets in the 82nd and 85th overs respectively). NZ could not lose in those circumstances.
Floodlights might be the answer but they would probably have to change the ball to a pink one. Then you have the issue of finding a pink ball of a similar to the condition of the red one that was in use at the time. Facing a ball being bowled at 90mph in less than decent light, especially when numbers 10 & 11 at the crease, is a recipe for "duty of care" disaster. If one of them gets hit then it wouldn't just be the batsman in trouble. It would be the Umpires too.
That said, there has to be a way of speeding up proceedings during the day and more punitive penalties for slow play even if that takes the form of penalty runs, in addition to the other sanctions, being imposed.
My old bugbear again......bad light stopping play when there are still scheduled overs left to play.
And yes, the ultimate stupidity happened today in Pakistan (who would have thunked that). Final day & Pakistan chasing 321 to win were 9 down with just 3 overs left of the MANDATORY last 15 overs.......and needed just 15 more to win. All 4 results were possible, and with 9 men around the bat & the spinner bowling the umpires called time.
What is the point of having a minimum 15 overs in the last hour of play if you don't actually have to bowl 15 overs. It wasn't dangerous (spinners bowling) it wasn't dark (floodlights fgs ) but because the light meter reading was at the point where it was on the first days play then play was abandoned.
3 overs !! With a spinner bowling that would be no more than 10 mins. Probably less. Common sense needs to prevail & the "we went off with the light meter reading at x on the first day so we have to stick with that" moronic approach needs sorting ASAP
Unfortunately the circumstances of the end of play weren't that straightforward.
NZ, who were told by the Umpires what the reading was, could have, effectively, called a halt to proceedings had Pakistan looked like getting close be it with one or two overs to go by bringing back their quicks. Both spinners being on from the 86th over was because the Umpires informed NZ that they could not bowl their quicks in that light (and the reason why Southee and Henry were taken off just after they both took wickets in the 82nd and 85th overs respectively). NZ could not lose in those circumstances.
Floodlights might be the answer but they would probably have to change the ball to a pink one. Then you have the issue of finding a pink ball of a similar to the condition of the red one that was in use at the time. Facing a ball being bowled at 90mph in less than decent light, especially when numbers 10 & 11 at the crease, is a recipe for "duty of care" disaster. If one of them gets hit then it wouldn't just be the batsman in trouble. It would be the Umpires too.
That said, there has to be a way of speeding up proceedings during the day and more punitive penalties for slow play even if that takes the form of penalty runs, in addition to the other sanctions, being imposed.
Or just start the Test match 30 mins earlier so that "bad light" doesn't play a part.
It was only "bazball" that allowed England to win the 3 Tests in Pakistan last month. All 3 Tests were halted by "bad light" with very few days having the allotted 90 overs bowled. In the first Test every day was ended with just over 80 overs being bowled. NZ were averaging no more than 3.5 runs per over in the 2 Tests they played, meaning when it got to the 4th day they werent that far ahead to be able to declare early enough. You shouldn't have to go at 5 runs an over just so you can get 350 -400 in a days play.
Comments
A little surprised Will Jacks is there but I guess we need a back up spinner. Previous tours of NZ we haven't bothered using one at all but I guess then he becomes an option at 7 or 8 who can bowl a few overs.
After the t20 World cup that's pretty justified. Especially as he bats in the top 3 in the ipl. Batting top 3 and bowling the death overs is worth big money
I can see why they like him as a batting option and in this side I would happily have him in thr lower middle order coming in and going at 150sr. He's probably better at that role than Lawrence - not that Lawrence isn't suited to Bazball.
I forgot about Lawrence's bowling. As you say I would use his bowling before Jacks. I suspect Lawrence is back up opener given he went to Windoes last time with that role.
Retained players - David Willey (2.00Cr), Liam Livingstone (11.50Cr), Jonny Bairstow (6.75Cr), Moeen Ali (8.00Cr), Jos Buttler (10.00Cr), Mark Wood (7.50Cr), Jofra Archer (8.00Cr)
The player that really has gone backwards is Tom Banton. He really has lost his way, so much so that despite that fantastic start to his career, he now averages 23.04 (T20), 29.90 (List A) and 25.95 (First Class). Valuing himself at 2 Crore was, in hindsight, a bit ambitious. He's never really been a red ball batsman but I suspect that the reason his white ball scores have diminished to such a degree is because he is a "step and hit" batsman and pitches in recent seasons have been a lot more two paced. But that is the difference between a Banton and a Brook. One has the fundamental technique to adapt to whatever conditions are thrown at him and the other is more what I would call a bowling machine batsman.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/64124242
Test Squad
Tom Abell (Somerset), Josh Bohannon (Lancashire), Jack Carson (Sussex), Sam Cook (Essex), Matt Fisher (Yorkshire), Nathan Gilchrist (Kent), Tom Haines (Sussex), Haseeb Hameed (Nottinghamshire), Tom Hartley (Lancashire), Jack Haynes (Worcestershire), Lyndon James (Nottinghamshire), Alex Lees (Durham), Liam Patterson-White (Nottinghamshire), Ollie Robinson (Durham), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Josh Tongue (Worcestershire).
ODI Squad
Tom Abell (Somerset), Tom Banton (Somerset), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Sam Cook (Essex), Jordan Cox (Kent), Mason Crane (Hampshire), Matt Critchley (Essex), Matt Fisher (Yorkshire), Sam Hain (Warwickshire), Tom Hartley (Lancashire), Tom Lammonby (Somerset), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Tom Prest (Hampshire), James Rew (Somerset), Luke Wood (Lancashire
https://www.bbc.com/sport/africa/64165461
Hope he has a quick recovery, cricket is far better for players like him.
And yes, the ultimate stupidity happened today in Pakistan (who would have thunked that). Final day & Pakistan chasing 321 to win were 9 down with just 3 overs left of the MANDATORY last 15 overs.......and needed just 15 more to win. All 4 results were possible, and with 9 men around the bat & the spinner bowling the umpires called time.
What is the point of having a minimum 15 overs in the last hour of play if you don't actually have to bowl 15 overs. It wasn't dangerous (spinners bowling) it wasn't dark (floodlights fgs ) but because the light meter reading was at the point where it was on the first days play then play was abandoned.
3 overs !! With a spinner bowling that would be no more than 10 mins. Probably less. Common sense needs to prevail & the "we went off with the light meter reading at x on the first day so we have to stick with that" moronic approach needs sorting ASAP
NZ, who were told by the Umpires what the reading was, could have, effectively, called a halt to proceedings had Pakistan looked like getting close be it with one or two overs to go by bringing back their quicks. Both spinners being on from the 86th over was because the Umpires informed NZ that they could not bowl their quicks in that light (and the reason why Southee and Henry were taken off just after they both took wickets in the 82nd and 85th overs respectively). NZ could not lose in those circumstances.
Floodlights might be the answer but they would probably have to change the ball to a pink one. Then you have the issue of finding a pink ball of a similar to the condition of the red one that was in use at the time. Facing a ball being bowled at 90mph in less than decent light, especially when numbers 10 & 11 at the crease, is a recipe for "duty of care" disaster. If one of them gets hit then it wouldn't just be the batsman in trouble. It would be the Umpires too.
That said, there has to be a way of speeding up proceedings during the day and more punitive penalties for slow play even if that takes the form of penalty runs, in addition to the other sanctions, being imposed.
It was only "bazball" that allowed England to win the 3 Tests in Pakistan last month. All 3 Tests were halted by "bad light" with very few days having the allotted 90 overs bowled. In the first Test every day was ended with just over 80 overs being bowled. NZ were averaging no more than 3.5 runs per over in the 2 Tests they played, meaning when it got to the 4th day they werent that far ahead to be able to declare early enough. You shouldn't have to go at 5 runs an over just so you can get 350 -400 in a days play.