From a source close to the England camp, I've just been sent Jos Buttler's post match speech. It's been written for him by Brendan McCullum:
"What a game that was. Congratulations to Afghanistan and their South African coach but that was a match that neither team deserved to lose. The boys gave it absolutely everything and I am so proud of their efforts especially as we pushed the best white ball side in the world all the way. Our preparation was absolutely first class and you just can't legislate for losing the toss, even if we would have bowled anyway, or those countless injuries. One thing I have to say that the outfield was incredibly bumpy and I wouldn't have wanted any of the boys diving on that surface trying to stop a boundary or take a catch. That's too risky and it's not as if the ECB guarantee us an income should we have to take six months or so off, is it?
Anyway, I'm one million percent certain that, if we carry on playing the way we want to, then we'll win another massive game of this importance one day. In fact, I'm equally certain we'll win a game of any description soon. In the meantime, we're really looking forward to our dead rubber against South Africa on Saturday as we can now bin the need for training and get a cheeky half a dozen rounds of golf in before then instead. Now, where's the beers and can you tell me when the IPL starts?"
Is anyone else sick of Brendons relaxed attitude? Seeing him scratching himself whenever the camera has him in shot whilst he puts his feet up. Guess that's Bazball.Â
Buttler has just, more or less, indicated that he is going to step down as captain. His words were that "all possibilities have to be considered".Â
Good. Considering the players we have we are underperforming. Congratulations to the Afghans. Whether we should be playing them is a moral argument for another time.
England batted poorly at the start. Then Root gives us hope, Ducket and Buttler started well enough but one of them had to go on and get a big 50. The tail did as well as you could hope. Salt and Pope have flopped.
England batted poorly at the start. Then Root gives us hope, Ducket and Buttler started well enough but one of them had to go on and get a big 50. The tail did as well as you could hope. Salt and Pope have flopped.
The problem is the lack of obvious replacements for Buttler as replacement. And as the white ball captain, he'll have to be a guaranteed pick in both 20 and 50 over cricket.
Personally I don't think there was anything wrong his his captaincy, other than it affecting his own game. It's not his fault our batting and bowling balance is wrong.
Buttler needs to go as Skipper , Salt isn't the answer in 50 over cricket , Livingstone isn't the answer either as a finisher, Brook looks out of nick.Â
Needs to be some wholesale changes , I wonder if this is the last of Adil Rashid at a major tournament too?Â
England batted poorly at the start. Then Root gives us hope, Ducket and Buttler started well enough but one of them had to go on and get a big 50. The tail did as well as you could hope. Salt and Pope have flopped.
Apart from the batting, the bowling balance is wrong, with the emphasis too much on right arm fast bowlers.Â
They've deliberately gone down this path, they went to India and played a squad of fast bowlers there, it didn't work there, and it hasn't worked here.
Yes he's not been in the best of form, but it still baffles me that Sam Curran isn't a 1st choice player in this format.
The problem is the lack of obvious replacements for Buttler as replacement. And as the white ball captain, he'll have to be a guaranteed pick in both 20 and 50 over cricket.
Personally I don't think there was anything wrong his his captaincy, other than it affecting his own game. It's not his fault our batting and bowling balance is wrong.
Honestly I'm struggling to put together a future 50 Over side. This complete failure should be a huge wake-up call for the ECB that domestic 50 over cricket needs to have a priority but they're probably too busy counting all the money they've just got from The Hundred "franchise" sales to be bothered.Â
Honestly I'm struggling to put together a future 50 Over side. This complete failure should be a huge wake-up call for the ECB that domestic 50 over cricket needs to have a priority but they're probably too busy counting all the money they've just got from The Hundred "franchise" sales to be bothered.Â
Key has some serious questions to answer.Â
There are other issues, but The Hundred is the biggest one - a pointless competition taking place in the height of summer meaning other competitions can't. Â
That and T20 being so prevalent now - we've got a load of big hitters but very few with the guile to build an ODI innings.
We really don't have shit players but for some reason in recent times shite for brains has taken over. There are some really bad decisions being made by talented cricketers like Brook, Smith, Buttler,etc in the white ball game. Salt goes hell for leather in 20 and 50 over matches and he is being found out. Limited overs is always a game of Jeopardy but Smith going after the 1st ball of a new spinners spell seems thick. Overton was doing a fine cameo before being caught in two minds as well as by the fielder with a half shot and Brook 🤦🏻‍♂️ was another brain freeze.
Afghanistan didn't panic after being 89/3 after 20 overs and increased the run rate against the erratic bowling of England.
Back to the drawing board for the white ball team.
The situation with females in Afghanistan is shocking and would anything change if the men's cricket team were banned ? probably not but the brilliant South African team were banned because of Apartheid.
In the Taliban's Afghanistan, we have female Apartheid and this so much bigger than just the sport of cricket.
Comments
"What a game that was. Congratulations to Afghanistan and their South African coach but that was a match that neither team deserved to lose. The boys gave it absolutely everything and I am so proud of their efforts especially as we pushed the best white ball side in the world all the way. Our preparation was absolutely first class and you just can't legislate for losing the toss, even if we would have bowled anyway, or those countless injuries. One thing I have to say that the outfield was incredibly bumpy and I wouldn't have wanted any of the boys diving on that surface trying to stop a boundary or take a catch. That's too risky and it's not as if the ECB guarantee us an income should we have to take six months or so off, is it?
Anyway, I'm one million percent certain that, if we carry on playing the way we want to, then we'll win another massive game of this importance one day. In fact, I'm equally certain we'll win a game of any description soon. In the meantime, we're really looking forward to our dead rubber against South Africa on Saturday as we can now bin the need for training and get a cheeky half a dozen rounds of golf in before then instead. Now, where's the beers and can you tell me when the IPL starts?"
Is anyone else sick of Brendons relaxed attitude? Seeing him scratching himself whenever the camera has him in shot whilst he puts his feet up. Guess that's Bazball.Â
He's no captain imo. Madness we've persisted with him for so long.
Salt and Pope have flopped.
Personally I don't think there was anything wrong his his captaincy, other than it affecting his own game. It's not his fault our batting and bowling balance is wrong.
Needs to be some wholesale changes , I wonder if this is the last of Adil Rashid at a major tournament too?Â
Small win.Â
They've deliberately gone down this path, they went to India and played a squad of fast bowlers there, it didn't work there, and it hasn't worked here.
Yes he's not been in the best of form, but it still baffles me that Sam Curran isn't a 1st choice player in this format.
"Twats"
I think it will be Brook.
He might be the suggested successor, but is in poor form so not ideal timing. And to me hasn't come over as an obvious leader either.Â
Key has some serious questions to answer.Â
We don’t seem to have any identity out there.Â
That and T20 being so prevalent now - we've got a load of big hitters but very few with the guile to build an ODI innings.
We really don't have shit players but for some reason in recent times shite for brains has taken over. There are some really bad decisions being made by talented cricketers like Brook, Smith, Buttler,etc in the white ball game. Salt goes hell for leather in 20 and 50 over matches and he is being found out.
Limited overs is always a game of Jeopardy but Smith going after the 1st ball of a new spinners spell seems thick.
Overton was doing a fine cameo before being caught in two minds as well as by the fielder with a half shot and Brook 🤦🏻‍♂️ was another brain freeze.
Afghanistan didn't panic after being 89/3 after 20 overs and increased the run rate against the erratic bowling of England.
Back to the drawing board for the white ball team.
The situation with females in Afghanistan is shocking and would anything change if the men's cricket team were banned ? probably not but the brilliant South African team were banned because of Apartheid.
In the Taliban's Afghanistan, we have female Apartheid
and this so much bigger than just the sport of cricket.