Why do most of our batsmen play spinners from the crease? Use your feet when the time is right, hit through the line and those close fielders will soon scatter.
Broad has shown that it is possible to do just that.
37-4
We should have stuck Broad in at 3 and said get us a quick 30 to 40. Field spread and game over then.
What a terrible decision by Billy Bowden - but lucky for us. It was so obviously a clean take. And we wonder about refs giving decisions in the heat of a game played at a much faster rate and without the benefit of hotspot or a 4th official who has the time to watch a reply from many angles and in slow motion.
Morgan really is not a Test cricketer but I just feel that Bopara is not good enough either so maybe that should give that James Taylor or one of the other Lions batsmen a go ...
Oh dear. Strauss plays a good shot for a boundary then gets trapped on the back foot. And now we have Trott who plays slowly at the best of times. That will just increase the pressure on Prior to score the runs.
71 for 8. This is a disaster. Even if we limp home, which is unlikely, we need to ask questions of the batsmen. I love Ravi but don't think he's the answer, and Taylor has been struggling with the lions... Thing is bell pieterson etc have the class
This was like going back to the 90's - in those days if you bought a ticket for the third day of a test you usually ended up arranging a game of golf or shopping instead. At least it has given Sir Geoffrey a chance to do what he does best "If Eoin Morgan is a test player I'll eat that famous hat" and so on...
The award for possibly the most stupid comment by a pro-sportsman ever goes to Andrew Strauss, for his words when asked in the aftermath of today's defeat what team changes England need to make for the third Test: ''Now's not the time to think about that.''
Given that he only decided England's man-of-the-match Monty P. should play in this Test shortly before the toss, presumably he and Flower will begin discussing team changes over breakfast next Friday.
The award for possibly the most stupid comment by a pro-sportsman ever goes to Andrew Strauss, for his words when asked in the aftermath of today's defeat what team changes England need to make for the third Test: ''Now's not the time to think about that.''
Given that he only decided England's man-of-the-match Monty P. should play in this Test shortly before the toss, presumably he and Flower will begin discussing team changes over breakfast next Friday.
the trouble is that the England 11 are all 'mates' and being dropped from the team would cost a player a LOT of money .. it's hard to deprieve your mates .. also, Strauss's place must be in danger and lastly .. the bowling is OK as always, but where are the batsman lining up to replace Pieteresen, Bell or Morgan ?.. Bopara? Taylor?, I don't think so ...
. Not this time Lincs. The collapse started with the openers (Strauss was out way before he finally got given), carried on in magnificent fashion by the middle order and, bless 'em, the tailenders decided not to embarrass their colleagues by troubling the guy whose job it is to count beyond single figures. Thankfully efforts in the West Country were far better.
When I parked my car England had just lost the 6th wicket. Not long later, when I was in a shop, I asked what the score was - to be told the game had finished. I'm in Pakistan! I felt a bit foolish and wished I hadn't asked. But to give them their due, considering how cricket-centric they are, the way he answered was quite matter of fact and not arrogant or gloating
If you play every ball with the sole intention of keeping it out all you do is create pressure for yourself. When Pakistan opened the bowling with a spinner they had just a slip and a short leg. A matter of a dozen overs later they had four or five round the bat.
No attempt whatsoever was made to use the feet and hit over the top or to work the ball for singles and until we learn to do that we are always going to be intimated on wickets that turn.
And Brearley Strauss will keep his place all the time we are winning and ironically whilst we have another two or three consistent failures with the bat in the team.
We can take some pleasure from the morning session.......however it's going to take a while for us all to get over the recent nightmare. When I see the players out there today, I'm afraid I'm still seeing the same team that was totally embarrassed just a few days back.
Comments
We should have stuck Broad in at 3 and said get us a quick 30 to 40. Field spread and game over then.
Given that he only decided England's man-of-the-match Monty P. should play in this Test shortly before the toss, presumably he and Flower will begin discussing team changes over breakfast next Friday.
Thankfully efforts in the West Country were far better.
No attempt whatsoever was made to use the feet and hit over the top or to work the ball for singles and until we learn to do that we are always going to be intimated on wickets that turn.
And
BrearleyStrauss will keep his place all the time we are winning and ironically whilst we have another two or three consistent failures with the bat in the team.Pakistan win toss and bat.
21-3 (9.2 overs).
http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan-v-england-2012/engine/current/match/531630.html
Broad 3, Anderson 2.
Excellent performance but we do still have to bat and it's not the bowling that's been our problem ;-(
When I see the players out there today, I'm afraid I'm still seeing the same team that was totally embarrassed just a few days back.