That side looks rather bowler top heavy and a batter short especially given the relative international inexperience of Cox and Bethell
We've gone from having like Livingsone (6), Curran (7) and Jordan (8) to Curran (6), Overton (7) and Archer (8). The latter's fine if you don't lose wickets but with two rookies in the top 5 that is unlikely to be the case.
Curran at 6 and Overton at 7 is a massive problem.
The only strategy I can possibly come up with, given that 7 players bowled for England, is that they’re using the series to try out some new faces and see who performs.
Even then surely it’s better to get another batter in the line up and rotate game by game, rather than giving players 2 or 3 overs here and there under big pressure.
Its the modern T20 way though. Pack the side with bowling allrounders that are also hard hitting bats that you can rely on to smash a few coming in at 6 or 7. Players with only one string to their bow are rare in top level T20. Remember Curran has batted 3 in the IPL, thats not a pinch hitter role thats an actual batsmans slot.
I dont think we will go into a mjor tournament with the side balanced like this, but it is the way T20 is going and you aren't gonna pack the side with specialist batsmen anymore. I do think for this sort of game it gives us options and allows us to experiment.
Its the modern T20 way though. Pack the side with bowling allrounders that are also hard hitting bats that you can rely on to smash a few coming in at 6 or 7. Players with only one string to their bow are rare in top level T20. Remember Curran has batted 3 in the IPL, thats not a pinch hitter role thats an actual batsmans slot.
I dont think we will go into a mjor tournament with the side balanced like this, but it is the way T20 is going and you aren't gonna pack the side with specialist batsmen anymore. I do think for this sort of game it gives us options and allows us to experiment.
Agree with all rounders but Overton ended up playing as a specialist batsman (as did Jacks) which he isn't. The balance of the squad is actually wrong because the remaining members are all bowlers bar Mousley and we won't going to play him plus Cox and Bethell. Buttler and Brook will both come back with Salt being the other non bowler as we would leave Cox out and that could still mean someone like Bethell or Mousley batting at 7. That would give us, potentially, four seamers and four spinners. The other thing that we have been spoilt with, when Jordan was in the side, is a bowler who can catch and field. The ability to attack the ball at pace and stop both boundaries and ones from becoming twos is a pre-requisite this days as evidenced by one or two of the catches taken by the Aussies last night.
Its the modern T20 way though. Pack the side with bowling allrounders that are also hard hitting bats that you can rely on to smash a few coming in at 6 or 7. Players with only one string to their bow are rare in top level T20. Remember Curran has batted 3 in the IPL, thats not a pinch hitter role thats an actual batsmans slot.
I dont think we will go into a mjor tournament with the side balanced like this, but it is the way T20 is going and you aren't gonna pack the side with specialist batsmen anymore. I do think for this sort of game it gives us options and allows us to experiment.
The problem comes if your top order is too thin, and the all rounders have to play a major innings, instead of just slogging a quick 20. When we won the T20 WC in 2022, Livingstone batted at 7 in the final, and Curran would have come in at 8. Yesterday they were at 4 and 6. With a kid at 5.
Looking at the Hundred, by far the highest run scorer was James Vince, who seems to be England history now, but would have really strengthened the team yesterday in place of one of the all rounders. Or Tom Banton.
I can understand why England want to try out new players, but at the same time this is Australia we're playing, and losing badly to them is never a good thing.
I hadn't noticed that Matthew Potts was released to play for Durham in the current match, and took 9-68 today, and 12 in the match as they beat Lancs! Quite a statement performance that.
I hadn't noticed that Matthew Potts was released to play for Durham in the current match, and took 9-68 today, and 12 in the match as they beat Lancs! Quite a statement performance that.
Parkinson firmly crossed off Matthew Potts' Christmas card list
I hadn't noticed that Matthew Potts was released to play for Durham in the current match, and took 9-68 today, and 12 in the match as they beat Lancs! Quite a statement performance that.
Parkinson firmly crossed off Matthew Potts' Christmas card list
If it was the last wicket you'd have made a rare good point on a cricket thread. But it was the second
I hadn't noticed that Matthew Potts was released to play for Durham in the current match, and took 9-68 today, and 12 in the match as they beat Lancs! Quite a statement performance that.
Parkinson firmly crossed off Matthew Potts' Christmas card list
If it was the last wicket you'd have made a rare good point on a cricket thread. But it was the second
*phew* It will come as blessed relief to the surviving members of Tony Lock's family who'd always been under the misapprehension that he was prevented from taking twenty wicket haul in 1956.
Curran at 6 and Overton at 7 is a massive problem.
The only strategy I can possibly come up with, given that 7 players bowled for England, is that they’re using the series to try out some new faces and see who performs.
Even then surely it’s better to get another batter in the line up and rotate game by game, rather than giving players 2 or 3 overs here and there under big pressure.
Seems completely backwards to me
If true…..the decision to ‘experiment’ and try fresh faces playing against the Aussies (our greatest ongoing traditional opposition ), is not the best idea.
Curran at 6 and Overton at 7 is a massive problem.
The only strategy I can possibly come up with, given that 7 players bowled for England, is that they’re using the series to try out some new faces and see who performs.
Even then surely it’s better to get another batter in the line up and rotate game by game, rather than giving players 2 or 3 overs here and there under big pressure.
Seems completely backwards to me
If true…..the decision to ‘experiment’ and try fresh faces playing against the Aussies (our greatest ongoing traditional opposition ), is not the best idea.
Especially when you are charging spectators full price to see an understrength England team.
Archer still can't do 4 overs in 2 days? May as well retire
When asked about Archer's absence, Salt somewhat embarrassingly replied "great question, we're managing his workload". Archer can, of course, manage two games in three days as he proved in the Hundred by playing three matches in five days with two of those games taking place within 24 hours of each other. The likes of Atherton and Hussain were very critical of tonight's decision and rightly so.
It's all about the priorities of those that pay his central contract. Or should I say those that physically put money in his bank account because the people that are really paying for that are the ones that are being denied the opportunity to see him tonight.
Could one of you experts please explain this obsession with win toss, bowl ...
"We like to chase as then we can see what the conditions are like" is the usual reason.
Of course what this overlooks is that cricket is about batting and bowling, and that the team bowling second has the advantage of seeing what deliveries are most effective.
Plus, if a team loves to chase, then if they lose the toss then they'll be stuck in automatically.
Archer still can't do 4 overs in 2 days? May as well retire
Makes it even more annoying as he could play for Sussex at finals day tomorrow
This is what's ultimately most frustrating. I know we've got Robinson and Mills but Jofra is just that X factor extra bowler. Surely if the ECB knew yesterday he wasn't playing tonight they could have released him for Sussex.
Archer still can't do 4 overs in 2 days? May as well retire
Makes it even more annoying as he could play for Sussex at finals day tomorrow
This is what's ultimately most frustrating. I know we've got Robinson and Mills but Jofra is just that X factor extra bowler. Surely if the ECB knew yesterday he wasn't playing tonight they could have released him for Sussex.
See above re priorities. Counties sit a the bottom of that.
Its the modern T20 way though. Pack the side with bowling allrounders that are also hard hitting bats that you can rely on to smash a few coming in at 6 or 7. Players with only one string to their bow are rare in top level T20. Remember Curran has batted 3 in the IPL, thats not a pinch hitter role thats an actual batsmans slot.
I dont think we will go into a mjor tournament with the side balanced like this, but it is the way T20 is going and you aren't gonna pack the side with specialist batsmen anymore. I do think for this sort of game it gives us options and allows us to experiment.
Agree with all rounders but Overton ended up playing as a specialist batsman (as did Jacks) which he isn't. The balance of the squad is actually wrong because the remaining members are all bowlers bar Mousley and we won't going to play him plus Cox and Bethell. Buttler and Brook will both come back with Salt being the other non bowler as we would leave Cox out and that could still mean someone like Bethell or Mousley batting at 7. That would give us, potentially, four seamers and four spinners. The other thing that we have been spoilt with, when Jordan was in the side, is a bowler who can catch and field. The ability to attack the ball at pace and stop both boundaries and ones from becoming twos is a pre-requisite this days as evidenced by one or two of the catches taken by the Aussies last night.
As evidenced by that Overton drop. It is also clear from these two games that he and Jacks are in the side as batsmen only.
Archer still can't do 4 overs in 2 days? May as well retire
Makes it even more annoying as he could play for Sussex at finals day tomorrow
This is what's ultimately most frustrating. I know we've got Robinson and Mills but Jofra is just that X factor extra bowler. Surely if the ECB knew yesterday he wasn't playing tonight they could have released him for Sussex.
See above re priorities. Counties sit a the bottom of that.
I guess it's just disappointing when he's played 2 games in 3 years for Sussex not to have him for the showpiece event. I note Surrey have been given Smith Lawrence and Pope.
Comments
We've gone from having like Livingsone (6), Curran (7) and Jordan (8) to Curran (6), Overton (7) and Archer (8). The latter's fine if you don't lose wickets but with two rookies in the top 5 that is unlikely to be the case.
I’d like to say Bethell should be dropped for that “haircut”.
Even then surely it’s better to get another batter in the line up and rotate game by game, rather than giving players 2 or 3 overs here and there under big pressure.
Indeed dare I saw it, but we missed Malan today
I dont think we will go into a mjor tournament with the side balanced like this, but it is the way T20 is going and you aren't gonna pack the side with specialist batsmen anymore. I do think for this sort of game it gives us options and allows us to experiment.
Looking at the Hundred, by far the highest run scorer was James Vince, who seems to be England history now, but would have really strengthened the team yesterday in place of one of the all rounders. Or Tom Banton.
I can understand why England want to try out new players, but at the same time this is Australia we're playing, and losing badly to them is never a good thing.
It's all about the priorities of those that pay his central contract. Or should I say those that physically put money in his bank account because the people that are really paying for that are the ones that are being denied the opportunity to see him tonight.
Of course what this overlooks is that cricket is about batting and bowling, and that the team bowling second has the advantage of seeing what deliveries are most effective.
Plus, if a team loves to chase, then if they lose the toss then they'll be stuck in automatically.
This is what's ultimately most frustrating. I know we've got Robinson and Mills but Jofra is just that X factor extra bowler. Surely if the ECB knew yesterday he wasn't playing tonight they could have released him for Sussex.
I guess it's just disappointing when he's played
2 games in 3 years for Sussex not to have him for the showpiece event. I note Surrey have been given Smith Lawrence and Pope.