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England Cricket 2023
Comments
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Bowl it straight to bairstow early on and all our reviews will be wasted.Leuth said:
Alternatively, Crawley, Lees or Hameed? You can bet that Bairstow would give them more pause, even openingTodds_right_hook said:If bairstow opens that means we have a very make shift looking top 3 of
bairstow
duckett
pope
no question on how destructive they can be but I bet the Aussies wouldn't be to upset at bowling at them with a new ball in their hands.0 -
Chizz said:You can tell lots of information from statistics. So it's interesting to note that Crawley has won more Tests opening the batting than any other current (i.e. non-retired) player, ever (15 and counting). And he has a better average in winning Tests than the next two on the list (Burns and Jennings).
One argument for England picking him is that England keep winning when they do. That may be swaying McCullum's and Stokes' thinking right now. And who would argue against their decision-making?
Think the major factor for Crawley being selected is the positive mindset ...you are almost suggesting he is a "lucky mascot " ..whilst hales and Roy haven't succeeded as one day openers converted into test match openers YJB is proven test match quality and already part of the " revolution "
I'd go with Johnny to open1 -
As opposed to Crawley, Duckett & Pope. There is nothing "make shift" about Pope at 3 either - he's now done it on 20 occasions and averages 41.63 doing so. Duckett has opened since 10 times since he came back and averages 62.25.Todds_right_hook said:If bairstow opens that means we have a very make shift looking top 3 of
bairstow
duckett
pope
no question on how destructive they can be but I bet the Aussies wouldn't be to upset at bowling at them with a new ball in their hands.0 -
Whereas Crawley has taken to take an off stump guard in this Test so he knows where his off stump is and still ends up knicking off and getting bowled! It's also, thankfully, not possible for Bairstow to waste all our reviews.Todds_right_hook said:
Bowl it straight to bairstow early on and all our reviews will be wasted.Leuth said:
Alternatively, Crawley, Lees or Hameed? You can bet that Bairstow would give them more pause, even openingTodds_right_hook said:If bairstow opens that means we have a very make shift looking top 3 of
bairstow
duckett
pope
no question on how destructive they can be but I bet the Aussies wouldn't be to upset at bowling at them with a new ball in their hands.1 -
Root, in the top 3… 70 innings averaging a shade under 40… most of those innings coming early on in his career and he’s a better player now. I’m sorry, it just makes too much sense in this McCullum led team.1
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It's bizarre (I fully understand why though) that Bairstow has been in and out, up and down the order, gloves on, gloves off and finally nails down a spot and shows a vain of form the all time greats would be proud of. Gets a freak injury.
Then it's either gloves on or open when he was finally established at 5 or 6.
Put him in at 6 and make someone else move if your picking him on last summers form. Or make him force his way into the team as something else.
I would do the the former.2 -
I still think the Aussies will be happier to see pope at 3 than at 6.Addick Addict said:
As opposed to Crawley, Duckett & Pope. There is nothing "make shift" about Pope at 3 either - he's now done it on 20 occasions and averages 41.63 doing so. Duckett has opened since 10 times since he came back and averages 62.25.Todds_right_hook said:If bairstow opens that means we have a very make shift looking top 3 of
bairstow
duckett
pope
no question on how destructive they can be but I bet the Aussies wouldn't be to upset at bowling at them with a new ball in their hands.
duckett hasn't faced a good Aussie attack yet.
time will tell and I may be proved wrong but I don't think the Aussies are worried by our top 3.0 -
brook's made bairstow's immediate return a bit unlikely now, you'd have to drop pope or root.Cafc43v3r said:It's bizarre (I fully understand why though) that Bairstow has been in and out, up and down the order, gloves on, gloves off and finally nails down a spot and shows a vain of form the all time greats would be proud of. Gets a freak injury.
Then it's either gloves on or open when he was finally established at 5 or 6.
Put him in at 6 and make someone else move if your picking him on last summers form. Or make him force his way into the team as something else.
I would do the the former.0 -
Bazball definitely changes the thinking, and Crawley fits the positive approach better than more traditional openers like Hameed or his Kent colleague Compton. Indeed by playing Duckett as an opener it shows that England aren't looking for traditional solid openers, to take the shine of the new ball and blunt the bowling.
It seems daft to move him again, but could Pope open. After all, No 3 isn't his natural position, and he's adapted to that, and he would be a more solid option than say Bairstow.0 -
Neither of them bat at six?kentaddick said:
brook's made bairstow's immediate return a bit unlikely now, you'd have to drop pope or root.Cafc43v3r said:It's bizarre (I fully understand why though) that Bairstow has been in and out, up and down the order, gloves on, gloves off and finally nails down a spot and shows a vain of form the all time greats would be proud of. Gets a freak injury.
Then it's either gloves on or open when he was finally established at 5 or 6.
Put him in at 6 and make someone else move if your picking him on last summers form. Or make him force his way into the team as something else.
I would do the the former.0 - Sponsored links:
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But then you are either dropping Foakes or Stokes? The best keeper in the world (who also has a better Test average than Crawley) or the captain. If there is a sound argument for not moving Bairstow on last summer's form then surely there's no argument for moving Pope, Root or Brook on this winter's form is there? Equally, why make him force his way in the team when, as a Test batsman, he is head and shoulders above Crawley? As I've said previously, not many would have predicted that Duckett would be one of our openers as he wasn't doing it in the CC and was more known, anyway, as a white ball player let alone that he would do as well as he has done. So why not Bairstow?Cafc43v3r said:It's bizarre (I fully understand why though) that Bairstow has been in and out, up and down the order, gloves on, gloves off and finally nails down a spot and shows a vain of form the all time greats would be proud of. Gets a freak injury.
Then it's either gloves on or open when he was finally established at 5 or 6.
Put him in at 6 and make someone else move if your picking him on last summers form. Or make him force his way into the team as something else.
I would do the the former.0 -
Cafc43v3r said:
Neither of them bat at six?kentaddick said:
brook's made bairstow's immediate return a bit unlikely now, you'd have to drop pope or root.Cafc43v3r said:It's bizarre (I fully understand why though) that Bairstow has been in and out, up and down the order, gloves on, gloves off and finally nails down a spot and shows a vain of form the all time greats would be proud of. Gets a freak injury.
Then it's either gloves on or open when he was finally established at 5 or 6.
Put him in at 6 and make someone else move if your picking him on last summers form. Or make him force his way into the team as something else.
I would do the the former.
the skipper bats at six. You'd be hard pressed to drop him.0 -
For several years I put the argument that Pope should not be batting at 3 and not 6 because he is, technically, too good a batsman to do so and also he frequently found himself in a position where he did not understand what his role was. I think that it would be a backward step for him to drop down the order now that we have, at last, found our number 3.Todds_right_hook said:
I still think the Aussies will be happier to see pope at 3 than at 6.Addick Addict said:
As opposed to Crawley, Duckett & Pope. There is nothing "make shift" about Pope at 3 either - he's now done it on 20 occasions and averages 41.63 doing so. Duckett has opened since 10 times since he came back and averages 62.25.Todds_right_hook said:If bairstow opens that means we have a very make shift looking top 3 of
bairstow
duckett
pope
no question on how destructive they can be but I bet the Aussies wouldn't be to upset at bowling at them with a new ball in their hands.
duckett hasn't faced a good Aussie attack yet.
time will tell and I may be proved wrong but I don't think the Aussies are worried by our top 3.1 -
But that goes back to the question why are you picking Bairstow?Addick Addict said:
But then you are either dropping Foakes or Stokes? The best keeper in the world (who also has a better Test average than Crawley) or the captain. If there is a sound argument for not moving Bairstow on last summer's form then surely there's no argument for moving Pope, Root or Brook on this winter's form is there? Equally, why make him force his way in the team when, as a Test batsman, he is head and shoulders above Crawley? As I've said previously, not many would have predicted that Duckett would be one of our openers as he wasn't doing it in the CC and was more known, anyway, as a white ball player let alone that he would do as well as he has done. So why not Bairstow?Cafc43v3r said:It's bizarre (I fully understand why though) that Bairstow has been in and out, up and down the order, gloves on, gloves off and finally nails down a spot and shows a vain of form the all time greats would be proud of. Gets a freak injury.
Then it's either gloves on or open when he was finally established at 5 or 6.
Put him in at 6 and make someone else move if your picking him on last summers form. Or make him force his way into the team as something else.
I would do the the former.
On his form as a number 5/6 last summer or because he can't be worse than Crawley as an opener?
Surley you pick your best batsmen in the best positions and then pick the rest accordingly? If that's the Yorkie trio at 4, 5 and 6 that's what it is.0 -
Any chance this is over before lunch?0
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Nah, England will crawl along at 2.2 an over, and finish in the final 5 overs of the dayCafc43v3r said:Any chance this is over before lunch?
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Robinson proves himself not to be no Nighthawk in trying to pull a ball that was never designed to be pulled. But then we probably don't really have one of those anyway.
53-2
205 needed0 -
Southee appears to be finding something in the wicket not seen for the last 4 days0
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Pope needs to calm down. Southee is bowling too well at the moment to dance around the crease.0
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killerandflash said:
Blundell standing up now to stop him coming down the track.Pope needs to calm down. Southee is bowling too well at the moment to dance around the crease.0 - Sponsored links:
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Duckett is one of the best players of the back cut I've seen - he has the confidence to play it so late and right under the eyes0
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If we see a proper Stokes, 1 from 50 odd balls, innings I am all for it. I am starting to think he is physically incapable of playing like that any more.killerandflash said:
Nah, England will crawl along at 2.2 an over, and finish in the final 5 overs of the dayCafc43v3r said:Any chance this is over before lunch?0 -
HmmmAddick Addict said:Duckett is one of the best players of the back cut I've seen - he has the confidence to play it so late and right under the eyes0 -
But not when he just throws his hands at the ball without moving his head or feet to the ballAddick Addict said:Duckett is one of the best players of the back cut I've seen - he has the confidence to play it so late and right under the eyes0 -
59-3 and 199 runs needed0
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See above. A strength overdone can be a weakness!Cafc43v3r said:
HmmmAddick Addict said:Duckett is one of the best players of the back cut I've seen - he has the confidence to play it so late and right under the eyes0 -
This has to be a period of consolidation. Forget Bazball for now and see Southee and Henry off. The ball is still only 17 overs old.1
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I bet Blundell loves it when Henry bowls a short ball and he's standing up. He'll be praying that Root/Pope middle it.0
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Remember when Sachin scored a ton without playing a single drive? Root should just leave, block and play that shot off his hip.1
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Should outlaw the late/back cut0
