Dont understand how despite central contracts and fast bowling programmes and the rest we are so much worse than other countries at protecting out quicks.
Dont understand how despite central contracts and fast bowling programmes and the rest we are so much worse than other countries at protecting out quicks.
I think we have to go back to how bowlers build up their ability to bowl long spells. In club cricket in Australia they play all day matches of up to 96 overs duration over consecutive Saturdays. Many fast bowlers will bowl 25 overs plus in a day. Here, most club competitions limit their bowlers to 10 overs so an 18 or 19 year will only build a body capable of bowling long spells at county 2s level. And there aren't enough of those games for them to do so given that white ball plays such a massive part in the programme.
In the old days we didn't have anywhere near the number of injuries to fast bowlers we have now and I am convinced that's because their bodies weren't constantly being let down, so far as overs are concerned and then having to bowl long spells when the body wasn't ready for it. Anderson and Broad are the exceptions but then they come from a different era too compared to those currently coming through the system and have probably learnt over time what they need to do to allow their bodies to perform at their best.
On that subject, take a look of the stamp of someone like Wes Agar - he is built like the proverbial brick sxxx house. His current game for Kent is his 43rd match in the last nine months. This lad knows how to party but when it comes to train and play he gives his absolute all. There must have times when he has had a niggle or two too and whether we have become too cautionary I don't know but unless you build and maintain that strength and muscle memory to bowl long spells it must render you more liable to injury. If we want an example of someone who finds himself trapped in that vicious circle then we need look no further than our very own Chuks Aneke who seems to struggle to attain match fitness through fear of injury and then breaks down because of that.
In non-Ashes related news, the schedule for the 2023 World Cup was released earlier today. A group stage of 10 teams playing every other team once, with top four advancing to the semi final stage.
England all pace attack = 10 wickets in the match for their spinner
If we don't win the toss and Australia are allowed to dictate the pace of the game by batting first and for a long time too, we might well find that Lyon comes into his own on the fifth day.
can see khawaja and labuschagne going on a block-a-thon and one or two of our quicks will pick up injuries. We'll also be treated to 20 overs of root and brook bowling in tandem.
can see khawaja and labuschagne going on a block-a-thon and one or two of our quicks will pick up injuries. We'll also be treated to 20 overs of root and brook bowling in tandem.
Isn't this though the whole ethos of Bazball? You give yourself the best chance of winning the game, even if it means its more likely you can lose?
I have found a lot of the selections and tactics quite challenging, wtf have you done that for type stuff because it flies in the face of everything we have been told is the right way to do it.
It's gone from win if you can, draw if you must but don't lose. Now it's win if you can, even if you risk losing.
In non-Ashes related news, the schedule for the 2023 World Cup was released earlier today. A group stage of 10 teams playing every other team once, with top four advancing to the semi final stage.
New Zealand @ Ahmedabad, 5/10 Bangladesh @ Dharamshala, 10/10 Afghanistan @ Delhi, 14/10 South Africa @ Mumbai, 21/10 Qualifier 2 @ Bengaluru, 26/10 India @ Lucknow, 29/10 Australia @ Ahmedabad, 4/11 Qualifier 1 @ Pune, 8/11 Pakistan @ Kolkata, 12/11
Semi Final 1 (1st v 4th) @ Mumbai, 15/11 Semi Final 2 (2nd v 3rd) @ Kolkata, 16/11
Final @ Ahmedabad, 19/11
The qualifying tournament is currently ongoing at the Super Six stage… they carry over their results from the first stage and each have three further games to play.
The top two qualify to the World Cup… it’s not looking healthy for West Indies.
Sri Lanka PL2 W2 NRR+2.70 Zimbabwe PL2 W2 NRR+0.98 - Scotland PL2 W1 L1 NRR-0.06 Netherlands PL2 W1 L1 NRR-0.74 West Indies PL2 L2 NRR-0.35 Oman PL2 L2 NRR-3.04
In non-Ashes related news, the schedule for the 2023 World Cup was released earlier today. A group stage of 10 teams playing every other team once, with top four advancing to the semi final stage.
New Zealand @ Ahmedabad, 5/10 Bangladesh @ Dharamshala, 10/10 Afghanistan @ Delhi, 14/10 South Africa @ Mumbai, 21/10 Qualifier 2 @ Bengaluru, 26/10 India @ Lucknow, 29/10 Australia @ Ahmedabad, 4/11 Qualifier 1 @ Pune, 8/11 Pakistan @ Kolkata, 12/11
Semi Final 1 (1st v 4th) @ Mumbai, 15/11 Semi Final 2 (2nd v 3rd) @ Kolkata, 16/11
Final @ Ahmedabad, 19/11
The qualifying tournament is currently ongoing at the Super Six stage… they carry over their results from the first stage and each have three further games to play.
The top two qualify to the World Cup… it’s not looking healthy for West Indies.
Sri Lanka PL2 W2 NRR+2.70 Zimbabwe PL2 W2 NRR+0.98 - Scotland PL2 W1 L1 NRR-0.06 Netherlands PL2 W1 L1 NRR-0.74 West Indies PL2 L2 NRR-0.35 Oman PL2 L2 NRR-3.04
How is it decided on who automatically qualifies and who has to go through the qualifiers?
im surprised to see Sri Lanka in the qualifiers and Afghanistan and Bangladesh already through
In non-Ashes related news, the schedule for the 2023 World Cup was released earlier today. A group stage of 10 teams playing every other team once, with top four advancing to the semi final stage.
New Zealand @ Ahmedabad, 5/10 Bangladesh @ Dharamshala, 10/10 Afghanistan @ Delhi, 14/10 South Africa @ Mumbai, 21/10 Qualifier 2 @ Bengaluru, 26/10 India @ Lucknow, 29/10 Australia @ Ahmedabad, 4/11 Qualifier 1 @ Pune, 8/11 Pakistan @ Kolkata, 12/11
Semi Final 1 (1st v 4th) @ Mumbai, 15/11 Semi Final 2 (2nd v 3rd) @ Kolkata, 16/11
Final @ Ahmedabad, 19/11
The qualifying tournament is currently ongoing at the Super Six stage… they carry over their results from the first stage and each have three further games to play.
The top two qualify to the World Cup… it’s not looking healthy for West Indies.
Sri Lanka PL2 W2 NRR+2.70 Zimbabwe PL2 W2 NRR+0.98 - Scotland PL2 W1 L1 NRR-0.06 Netherlands PL2 W1 L1 NRR-0.74 West Indies PL2 L2 NRR-0.35 Oman PL2 L2 NRR-3.04
How is it decided on who automatically qualifies and who has to go through the qualifiers?
im surprised to see Sri Lanka in the qualifiers and Afghanistan and Bangladesh already through
My own experience following my loose return to league cricket was way different to when I aged as a kid. When I was younger our club had one black kid who funnily enough hated the game but loved his dad to bits and his dad would bring him, coach us, got really involved in everything and the boy just wanted to spend time with his dad who must have been a really good player in his day, he was from Antigua and I wouldn't have been surprised if someone had told me he had represented Antigua or the West indies at some level. Anyway
Fast forward many years and the club I then went to had a diverse selection of players, mainly in the mens teams as opposed to the colts. The theme seemed to be people would move to Kent from Zimbabwe, India, less so the west indies, Australia and South Africa, immediately look to find somewhere to play cricket and rock up at my club. The club would welcome them with open arms as all of them were playing below themselves but wanted a club that would accept them. They were always loyal as well, I'd always hear players from other sides tapping them up and they would always politely decline. We played a side that were all exclusively sub-continetal in origin, some amazingly good players, some less so and all inspired by Virat Kohlis India, the appeals would be awesome and the cynic in me thought that their team.was formed so the lads all had somewhere welcoming to play the game, I could be hugely wrong, like I say, its the cynic in me.
What I found in terms of players of ethnic diversity at my club is I think it was more the case the club was very open about wanting as many teams (and paying members) as possible and genuinely they were welcomed, it would upset some of the posh boys as they got nudged out of the first team or shown up as not as good as they thought they were but these poshos were used to only seeing black people on the TV and Indian people when they were in a Indian restaurant, me and the lads from the more organic working class roots got on fine with our ethically diverse players as doing a construction job, you find you meet people from all corners of the world and rightl or wrong you have to integrate and by working together you get to learn about one another natrually. Thats not something a posh, privately educated kid/man who works in the family business or up town in an old school firm where recruitment is done mainly via nepotism will ever understand or appreciate
Presumably Robinson bats at 8 because Tongue bats at 10 for his county? Whoever it is, in losing Moeen, we do have a bit of a tail. By comparison, if Starc comes in, given he averages 28 against England here, then that will probably mean Cummins batting at 9. Small margins and all that but possibly enough to make the difference as Cummins proved in the last Test.
Looking forward to this after a belter of a first Test. Hoping we (England) get a result this time around given the amount of grief I've been getting in the office.
Far too many of the Aussies chirping away.
Fair play to them, I'd be dishing it out if we had won the first test. Hoping we can draw level as I want to avoid the same overall outcome as 2001!
No surprise really, cricket has completely ignored state schools for years, and then shock horror, kids from state schools aren't interested when cricket comes to the school.
Counties and clubs have been quite happy milking the line of nice mainly white kids from public/grammar schools to produce mediocre players in the main, and not take the risk elsewhere.
I've been saying this for a decade on here. There are more kids now coming from the ethnic minorities now but they still do tend to be the ones that attend those private schools. When I've pointed out how many of our England squad have come from those schools, the argument has been that a lot of them didn't start there and received scholarships - but that is rather missing the point. That is the pathway whether the parents have money or not because the coaches at those school have a direct in to the county pathway and they have the best coaches and facilities too. How many have been missed that weren't offered a scholarship? In Seb's first four years at Kent he was one of only four non privately educated boys (albeit went to a grammar school that played cricket) in the 15 man county age group squad and they did not have a single lad of asian or black heritage.
@oohaahmortimer is so right about the cost too. In addition to the cost of kit, parents of kids at Kent actually have to pay for the privilege of trialling. If they make the squad then parents have to pay for the coaching that they get during the course of winter/summer at the County and they have to pay for their playing gear too. Imagine having to do that at a pro football club! So, the question is this - does the ECB actually earmark money that goes to the counties specifically for this and if so what happens to it? If it does I'm not sure that it has ever been passed on in its totality to the parents. If at all. This has been picked up in the report with the appropriate recommendations:
1.5.24 We strongly believe that participation in the talent pathway should be made entirely free of direct costs, so
that as of the 2024-25 pathway no player trialling for or participating in the talent pathway needs to pay to
participate.
This will also serve to level the playing field:
1.5.25 We believe that selection for representative, inter-County cricket should begin at the Under 14 level and not
before. This recommendation will mean that the widely documented challenges associated with talent
ID in younger children are removed for the first three years of a typical pathway programme. Placing less
emphasis on selection and deselection from Under 10 age groups onwards mitigates the very significant
structural advantages that private school children have over their state school counterparts. Coaches,
children and parents will be relieved of the pressures and liabilities associated with the current system.
Importantly, indirect costs such as travel and parental time will be further reduced, enabling more children to
play a high standard of cricket locally, lowering the barriers to participation.
It's not just a question of opportunity. It's about affordability too and the ability to make those that don't come from a privileged background part of the group and for them to feel accepted in that environment.
I have just taken a look at Sussex home grown products - Garton, Carson, Haines, Foreman, Ibrahim (Hurstpierpont), Atkins, Carter (Eastbourne), Clark (Ardingly), Coles (Magdalen), Rawlins, Crocombe, Hudson-Prentice, Orr, Lenham (Bede's), Currie (Millfield), Tear (Seaford) and Ward (St Edward's)
That's 17/17 privately educated. All the other 12 in their 29 man squad are either overseas or signed from another county. So not one of their home grown talent graduated from a State School.
One of Seb's good friends who he has spent the last two winters in Australia with went to a State school. He was offered a scholarship (not a full one) but as his father was reliant on overtime to pay the bills they did not feel that they could commit to going to the private school in question. The boy was dropped from the county system that year. The head coach of that boy's county age group was also the head of cricket at that private school and the one that offered him a scholarship. Out of sight, out of mind. In an extremely competitive market, county products increase value of private school. State pupils do not.
Heavily overcast, warm and muggy with a very slight breeze in Central London today. Surely its bowl first conditions, especially with Stokes saying it had a green top yesterday.
No surprise really, cricket has completely ignored state schools for years, and then shock horror, kids from state schools aren't interested when cricket comes to the school.
Counties and clubs have been quite happy milking the line of nice mainly white kids from public/grammar schools to produce mediocre players in the main, and not take the risk elsewhere.
I've been saying this for a decade on here. There are more kids now coming from the ethnic minorities now but they still do tend to be the ones that attend those private schools. When I've pointed out how many of our England squad have come from those schools, the argument has been that a lot of them didn't start there and received scholarships - but that is rather missing the point. That is the pathway whether the parents have money or not because the coaches at those school have a direct in to the county pathway and they have the best coaches and facilities too. How many have been missed that weren't offered a scholarship? In Seb's first four years at Kent he was one of only four non privately educated boys (albeit went to a grammar school that played cricket) in the 15 man county age group squad and they did not have a single lad of asian or black heritage.
@oohaahmortimer is so right about the cost too. In addition to the cost of kit, parents of kids at Kent actually have to pay for the privilege of trialling. If they make the squad then parents have to pay for the coaching that they get during the course of winter/summer at the County and they have to pay for their playing gear too. Imagine having to do that at a pro football club! So, the question is this - does the ECB actually earmark money that goes to the counties specifically for this and if so what happens to it? If it does I'm not sure that it has ever been passed on in its totality to the parents. If at all. This has been picked up in the report with the appropriate recommendations:
1.5.24 We strongly believe that participation in the talent pathway should be made entirely free of direct costs, so
that as of the 2024-25 pathway no player trialling for or participating in the talent pathway needs to pay to
participate.
This will also serve to level the playing field:
1.5.25 We believe that selection for representative, inter-County cricket should begin at the Under 14 level and not
before. This recommendation will mean that the widely documented challenges associated with talent
ID in younger children are removed for the first three years of a typical pathway programme. Placing less
emphasis on selection and deselection from Under 10 age groups onwards mitigates the very significant
structural advantages that private school children have over their state school counterparts. Coaches,
children and parents will be relieved of the pressures and liabilities associated with the current system.
Importantly, indirect costs such as travel and parental time will be further reduced, enabling more children to
play a high standard of cricket locally, lowering the barriers to participation.
It's not just a question of opportunity. It's about affordability too and the ability to make those that don't come from a privileged background part of the group and for them to feel accepted in that environment.
I have just taken a look at Sussex home grown products - Garton, Carson, Haines, Foreman, Ibrahim (Hurstpierpont), Atkins, Carter (Eastbourne), Clark (Ardingly), Coles (Magdalen), Rawlins, Crocombe, Hudson-Prentice, Orr, Lenham (Bede's), Currie (Millfield), Tear (Seaford) and Ward (St Edward's)
That's 17/17 privately educated. All the other 12 in their 29 man squad are either overseas or signed from another county. So not one of their home grown talent graduated from a State School.
One of Seb's good friends who he has spent the last two winters in Australia with went to a State school. He was offered a scholarship (not a full one) but as his father was reliant on overtime to pay the bills they did not feel that they could commit to going to the private school in question. The boy was dropped from the county system that year. The head coach of that boy's county age group was also the head of cricket at that private school and the one that offered him a scholarship. Out of sight, out of mind. In an extremely competitive market, county products increase value of private school. State pupils do not.
did a similar review for Essex, insofar as cricinfo has that information. seems a lot more mixed in terms of people from comprehensive secondary school, and quite a few asian cricketers. I also know that Essex has been fined and reviewed for racism as well as the corruption/Danish Kaneria scandal a few years ago, so hardly a beacon of virtue.
No surprise really, cricket has completely ignored state schools for years, and then shock horror, kids from state schools aren't interested when cricket comes to the school.
Counties and clubs have been quite happy milking the line of nice mainly white kids from public/grammar schools to produce mediocre players in the main, and not take the risk elsewhere.
I've been saying this for a decade on here. There are more kids now coming from the ethnic minorities now but they still do tend to be the ones that attend those private schools. When I've pointed out how many of our England squad have come from those schools, the argument has been that a lot of them didn't start there and received scholarships - but that is rather missing the point. That is the pathway whether the parents have money or not because the coaches at those school have a direct in to the county pathway and they have the best coaches and facilities too. How many have been missed that weren't offered a scholarship? In Seb's first four years at Kent he was one of only four non privately educated boys (albeit went to a grammar school that played cricket) in the 15 man county age group squad and they did not have a single lad of asian or black heritage.
@oohaahmortimer is so right about the cost too. In addition to the cost of kit, parents of kids at Kent actually have to pay for the privilege of trialling. If they make the squad then parents have to pay for the coaching that they get during the course of winter/summer at the County and they have to pay for their playing gear too. Imagine having to do that at a pro football club! So, the question is this - does the ECB actually earmark money that goes to the counties specifically for this and if so what happens to it? If it does I'm not sure that it has ever been passed on in its totality to the parents. If at all. This has been picked up in the report with the appropriate recommendations:
1.5.24 We strongly believe that participation in the talent pathway should be made entirely free of direct costs, so
that as of the 2024-25 pathway no player trialling for or participating in the talent pathway needs to pay to
participate.
This will also serve to level the playing field:
1.5.25 We believe that selection for representative, inter-County cricket should begin at the Under 14 level and not
before. This recommendation will mean that the widely documented challenges associated with talent
ID in younger children are removed for the first three years of a typical pathway programme. Placing less
emphasis on selection and deselection from Under 10 age groups onwards mitigates the very significant
structural advantages that private school children have over their state school counterparts. Coaches,
children and parents will be relieved of the pressures and liabilities associated with the current system.
Importantly, indirect costs such as travel and parental time will be further reduced, enabling more children to
play a high standard of cricket locally, lowering the barriers to participation.
It's not just a question of opportunity. It's about affordability too and the ability to make those that don't come from a privileged background part of the group and for them to feel accepted in that environment.
I have just taken a look at Sussex home grown products - Garton, Carson, Haines, Foreman, Ibrahim (Hurstpierpont), Atkins, Carter (Eastbourne), Clark (Ardingly), Coles (Magdalen), Rawlins, Crocombe, Hudson-Prentice, Orr, Lenham (Bede's), Currie (Millfield), Tear (Seaford) and Ward (St Edward's)
That's 17/17 privately educated. All the other 12 in their 29 man squad are either overseas or signed from another county. So not one of their home grown talent graduated from a State School.
One of Seb's good friends who he has spent the last two winters in Australia with went to a State school. He was offered a scholarship (not a full one) but as his father was reliant on overtime to pay the bills they did not feel that they could commit to going to the private school in question. The boy was dropped from the county system that year. The head coach of that boy's county age group was also the head of cricket at that private school and the one that offered him a scholarship. Out of sight, out of mind. In an extremely competitive market, county products increase value of private school. State pupils do not.
did a similar review for Essex, insofar as cricinfo has that information. seems a lot more mixed in terms of people from comprehensive secondary school, and quite a few asian cricketers. I also know that Essex has been fined and reviewed for racism as well as the corruption/Danish Kaneria scandal a few years ago, so hardly a beacon of virtue.
The Asian community is a thriving one for cricket in Essex and Middlesex and that usually stems from the father's love of the game. I have been at indoor nets with Seb in the winter and virtually every other net is filled with those from an ethnic background. That is the pool that counties need to tap into.
Wood not fit enough. Probably fit enough to bowl three or four over stints but without a front line spinner and the doubts about Stokes' ability to bowl they went for Tongue. He is quicker than the other seamers and probably the reason we didn't pick Woakes. That said, I do wonder if Woakes is capable of bowling long spells too at the moment because I probably would have brought him in for one of the other three given his record here and the fact that he would be a massive improvement at 8 to our batting line up.
Selection screams a little of panic and muddled thinking. All the talk of rotating quick bowlers and needing a pack has gone out the window with the injuries and losing the first game. We are gonna work these quicks into the ground.
No surprise really, cricket has completely ignored state schools for years, and then shock horror, kids from state schools aren't interested when cricket comes to the school.
Counties and clubs have been quite happy milking the line of nice mainly white kids from public/grammar schools to produce mediocre players in the main, and not take the risk elsewhere.
I've been saying this for a decade on here. There are more kids now coming from the ethnic minorities now but they still do tend to be the ones that attend those private schools. When I've pointed out how many of our England squad have come from those schools, the argument has been that a lot of them didn't start there and received scholarships - but that is rather missing the point. That is the pathway whether the parents have money or not because the coaches at those school have a direct in to the county pathway and they have the best coaches and facilities too. How many have been missed that weren't offered a scholarship? In Seb's first four years at Kent he was one of only four non privately educated boys (albeit went to a grammar school that played cricket) in the 15 man county age group squad and they did not have a single lad of asian or black heritage.
@oohaahmortimer is so right about the cost too. In addition to the cost of kit, parents of kids at Kent actually have to pay for the privilege of trialling. If they make the squad then parents have to pay for the coaching that they get during the course of winter/summer at the County and they have to pay for their playing gear too. Imagine having to do that at a pro football club! So, the question is this - does the ECB actually earmark money that goes to the counties specifically for this and if so what happens to it? If it does I'm not sure that it has ever been passed on in its totality to the parents. If at all. This has been picked up in the report with the appropriate recommendations:
1.5.24 We strongly believe that participation in the talent pathway should be made entirely free of direct costs, so
that as of the 2024-25 pathway no player trialling for or participating in the talent pathway needs to pay to
participate.
This will also serve to level the playing field:
1.5.25 We believe that selection for representative, inter-County cricket should begin at the Under 14 level and not
before. This recommendation will mean that the widely documented challenges associated with talent
ID in younger children are removed for the first three years of a typical pathway programme. Placing less
emphasis on selection and deselection from Under 10 age groups onwards mitigates the very significant
structural advantages that private school children have over their state school counterparts. Coaches,
children and parents will be relieved of the pressures and liabilities associated with the current system.
Importantly, indirect costs such as travel and parental time will be further reduced, enabling more children to
play a high standard of cricket locally, lowering the barriers to participation.
It's not just a question of opportunity. It's about affordability too and the ability to make those that don't come from a privileged background part of the group and for them to feel accepted in that environment.
I have just taken a look at Sussex home grown products - Garton, Carson, Haines, Foreman, Ibrahim (Hurstpierpont), Atkins, Carter (Eastbourne), Clark (Ardingly), Coles (Magdalen), Rawlins, Crocombe, Hudson-Prentice, Orr, Lenham (Bede's), Currie (Millfield), Tear (Seaford) and Ward (St Edward's)
That's 17/17 privately educated. All the other 12 in their 29 man squad are either overseas or signed from another county. So not one of their home grown talent graduated from a State School.
One of Seb's good friends who he has spent the last two winters in Australia with went to a State school. He was offered a scholarship (not a full one) but as his father was reliant on overtime to pay the bills they did not feel that they could commit to going to the private school in question. The boy was dropped from the county system that year. The head coach of that boy's county age group was also the head of cricket at that private school and the one that offered him a scholarship. Out of sight, out of mind. In an extremely competitive market, county products increase value of private school. State pupils do not.
did a similar review for Essex, insofar as cricinfo has that information. seems a lot more mixed in terms of people from comprehensive secondary school, and quite a few asian cricketers. I also know that Essex has been fined and reviewed for racism as well as the corruption/Danish Kaneria scandal a few years ago, so hardly a beacon of virtue.
The Asian community is a thriving one for cricket in Essex and Middlesex and that usually stems from the father's love of the game. I have been at indoor nets with Seb in the winter and virtually every other net is filled with those from an ethnic background. That is the pool that counties need to tap into.
I've seen quite a lot of all-asian games in Chelmsford and Fairlop (near the inlaws) and now see that there is a "south asian cricket academy" that works with Essex CCC. Any pool of talent that is passionate about cricket needs tapping into, and I hope Essex have got their act together in terms of integration, for want of a better word.
Selection screams a little of panic and muddled thinking. All the talk of rotating quick bowlers and needing a pack has gone out the window with the injuries and losing the first game. We are gonna work these quicks into the ground.
No spinner is a risk.
At face value it is but I do wonder if the worries about the ability of Wood and Woakes ability to bowl long spells, Stokes possible inability to bowl at all, the concern that Moeen's finger injury would open again, the concern that Rehan Ahmed would be smashed out of the attack, lack of wickets taken by spinners at Lord's and the green top all served to force their hand. There is no doubt that we will make at least two changes in the bowling attack in the next match and possibly three.
Comments
I have found a lot of the selections and tactics quite challenging, wtf have you done that for type stuff because it flies in the face of everything we have been told is the right way to do it.
It's gone from win if you can, draw if you must but don't lose. Now it's win if you can, even if you risk losing.
Sri Lanka PL2 W2 NRR+2.70
Zimbabwe PL2 W2 NRR+0.98
-
Scotland PL2 W1 L1 NRR-0.06
Netherlands PL2 W1 L1 NRR-0.74
West Indies PL2 L2 NRR-0.35
Oman PL2 L2 NRR-3.04
Devon Malcom was quicker than Glenn McGrath....
im surprised to see Sri Lanka in the qualifiers and Afghanistan and Bangladesh already through
Essentially the top 8 teams (hosts and top 7 but worked out the same) from one dayers played since the 2019 tournament.
Fast forward many years and the club I then went to had a diverse selection of players, mainly in the mens teams as opposed to the colts. The theme seemed to be people would move to Kent from Zimbabwe, India, less so the west indies, Australia and South Africa, immediately look to find somewhere to play cricket and rock up at my club. The club would welcome them with open arms as all of them were playing below themselves but wanted a club that would accept them. They were always loyal as well, I'd always hear players from other sides tapping them up and they would always politely decline. We played a side that were all exclusively sub-continetal in origin, some amazingly good players, some less so and all inspired by Virat Kohlis India, the appeals would be awesome and the cynic in me thought that their team.was formed so the lads all had somewhere welcoming to play the game, I could be hugely wrong, like I say, its the cynic in me.
What I found in terms of players of ethnic diversity at my club is I think it was more the case the club was very open about wanting as many teams (and paying members) as possible and genuinely they were welcomed, it would upset some of the posh boys as they got nudged out of the first team or shown up as not as good as they thought they were but these poshos were used to only seeing black people on the TV and Indian people when they were in a Indian restaurant, me and the lads from the more organic working class roots got on fine with our ethically diverse players as doing a construction job, you find you meet people from all corners of the world and rightl or wrong you have to integrate and by working together you get to learn about one another natrually. Thats not something a posh, privately educated kid/man who works in the family business or up town in an old school firm where recruitment is done mainly via nepotism will ever understand or appreciate
Far too many of the Aussies chirping away.
Fair play to them, I'd be dishing it out if we had won the first test. Hoping we can draw level as I want to avoid the same overall outcome as 2001!
That's 17/17 privately educated. All the other 12 in their 29 man squad are either overseas or signed from another county. So not one of their home grown talent graduated from a State School.
One of Seb's good friends who he has spent the last two winters in Australia with went to a State school. He was offered a scholarship (not a full one) but as his father was reliant on overtime to pay the bills they did not feel that they could commit to going to the private school in question. The boy was dropped from the county system that year. The head coach of that boy's county age group was also the head of cricket at that private school and the one that offered him a scholarship. Out of sight, out of mind. In an extremely competitive market, county products increase value of private school. State pupils do not.
Surely its bowl first conditions, especially with Stokes saying it had a green top yesterday.
(Cue Australia winning the toss!)
No spinner is a risk.