The pitch is doing nothing - Archer’s banging it into the pitch and getting nothing. Leach isn’t getting any turn. Expecting this to barely reach a fourth innings.
I'm sure England will find a way to have a batting collapse 2nd innings. I still expect NZ to be chasing down something after tea on day 5.
More optimism. Dont think NZ will bat again. We'll lose by an innings & a handful of runs.
Please don't tell me that Sibley is the answer to our opening woes. Took NZ about 30 balls to work him out. No better that Robson, Compton, Jennings etc.
Please don't tell me that Sibley is the answer to our opening woes. Took NZ about 30 balls to work him out. No better that Robson, Compton, Jennings etc.
Please allow me to clarify. From what I've seen, Jennings is a better player than Sibley. I've only seen Sibley bat twice, which is more than enough evidence for me to draw this conclusion.
Given that Root bowled 18 overs himself why wasn't the ball ever thrown to Denly for something a bit different?
Extremely disappointed Len to learn that you do not read every word I bother to write on CL. In your defence, I would suggest that you have, at least, come to the same conclusion as myself. And in that respect you are no different from every other poster in ignoring most of my gems of wisdom!
Decent county player by the looks of it, but test seamers will bowl 4th/5th stump line to him. Other good judges say he is ordinary against spin. Can't see him making it at this level, but I hope he proves me wrong.
Please don't tell me that Sibley is the answer to our opening woes. Took NZ about 30 balls to work him out. No better that Robson, Compton, Jennings etc.
Given that Root bowled 18 overs himself why wasn't the ball ever thrown to Denly for something a bit different?
Extremely disappointed Len to learn that you do not read every word I bother to write on CL. In your defence, I would suggest that you have, at least, come to the same conclusion as myself. And in that respect you are no different from every other poster in ignoring most of my gems of wisdom!
PS I don't know the answer to your question
I'm afraid I did the classic PWR which so irritates our mutual friend @Riviera but did read it subsequently.
Please don't tell me that Sibley is the answer to our opening woes. Took NZ about 30 balls to work him out. No better that Robson, Compton, Jennings etc.
Yeah, let's bin him, he's had his chance. Who would you open with in the 2nd Test ?
I'm stating my opinion, which is based on what I have seen in this test match. He'll get the next match and SA series.
Sibley looked OK all the time their quicks were bowling at the stumps - he scores almost 70% of his runs through the leg side and mostly through mid wicket. Once they changed their line to 7th/8th stump he struggled.
That said, I have rarely seen a more disappointing attempt from an England player at playing spin. It is probably a symptom of our county championship in that, apart from Harmer, we do not have any quality spinners - and even then they rarely get thrown the ball because conditions are not suitable for them. Leach looks ordinary with the ball and he's meant to be our best.
We have very few technically sound players. Even Alec Stewart admitted that the challenges (and although he didn't mention it, the rewards too) of T20 mean that age group cricketers are encouraged to hit the ball first whereas in the old days they learned how to build an innings based on a sound technique.
That said, I do believe that Ollie Pope will be the exception and that he will in a couple of years time be out number 3. But he is an exception.
Atherton summed it up really, if you are in the mindset to score runs Root would have guided straight over gulley for 4. Pressure mounts, two minds and played it down...
Day 5 test cricket is in your head...., us village cricketers can just about hit the ball ( every now and again)
Thats why Test cricket is always the ultimate battle for me (old school).
If there was an obvious replacement, then i'd be in favour of taking the captaincy from Root as he's not scoring the runs he should be scoring in Test cricket.
Root is an awful Test captain. Has no imagination in the field & is about 10 mins behind play by way of what he should be doing. Should be dropped immediately so he can concentrate on his batting & someone with a bit of tactical nous be brought in.
Comments
Took NZ about 30 balls to work him out.
No better that Robson, Compton, Jennings etc.
I've only seen Sibley bat twice, which is more than enough evidence for me to draw this conclusion.
Addick Addict said:
Given that Root bowled 18 overs himself why wasn't the ball ever thrown to Denly for something a bit different?
Extremely disappointed Len to learn that you do not read every word I bother to write on CL. In your defence, I would suggest that you have, at least, come to the same conclusion as myself. And in that respect you are no different from every other poster in ignoring most of my gems of wisdom!
PS I don't know the answer to your question
Other good judges say he is ordinary against spin.
Can't see him making it at this level, but I hope he proves me wrong.
Who would you open with in the 2nd Test ?
I'm stating my opinion, which is based on what I have seen in this test match.
He'll get the next match and SA series.
That said, I have rarely seen a more disappointing attempt from an England player at playing spin. It is probably a symptom of our county championship in that, apart from Harmer, we do not have any quality spinners - and even then they rarely get thrown the ball because conditions are not suitable for them. Leach looks ordinary with the ball and he's meant to be our best.
We have very few technically sound players. Even Alec Stewart admitted that the challenges (and although he didn't mention it, the rewards too) of T20 mean that age group cricketers are encouraged to hit the ball first whereas in the old days they learned how to build an innings based on a sound technique.
That said, I do believe that Ollie Pope will be the exception and that he will in a couple of years time be out number 3. But he is an exception.
Day 5 test cricket is in your head...., us village cricketers can just about hit the ball ( every now and again)
Thats why Test cricket is always the ultimate battle for me (old school).
The captaincy is causing Root not to bat as Root can but NZ proving why they are ranked the number 2 Test side in the world.