Test v India July 31st-4th Aug: Lost by 6 runs ODI v South Africa 2nd Sept: Lost by 7 wkts ODI v South Africa 4th Sept: Lost by 5 runs ODI v South Africa 7th Sept: Won by 345 runs T20I v South Africa 10th Sept: Lost by 14 runs (England innings reduced to 5 overs due to the weather) T20I v South Africa 12th Sept: Won by 146 runs T20I v South Africa 14th Sept: Abandoned T20I v Ireland 17th Sept: Won by 4 wickets T20I v Ireland 19th September: Abandoned
So three wins in nine matches - England lost the final Test of a 5-match series that was ludicrously crammed, were defeated in the first two matches of a 50 over series against SA by virtue of the players coming straight from The Hundred with the likes of Duckett "punch drunk" from playing so many matches, had a T20I series against SA decimated by the weather and now lead 1-0 against Ireland in the T20I series against Ireland with today's match being rained off too.
The ECB living up to their reputation, as previously evidenced by our performances in recent world cups, has been further enhanced to the extent that they now carry the motto "We don't fail to plan, we plan to fail".
Please tell me there are some warm up matches before the Ashes in 2 months time.
I believe the main squad are playing the Lions squad , but not seen anything else announced. I'd assume a Prime Ministers XI game or something along those lines too.
Cramming in Test matches has the side effect of meaning that teams tend to rotate their quick bowlers. This knocks on to some quick bowlers preferring to focus on short form cricket because they can earn plenty, only have to bowl 4/10 overs and can keep going into their 30s. Whether the sport will split in two remains to be seen but the schedule is becoming increasingly unmanageable, particularly with our relatively short summers.
Please tell me there are some warm up matches before the Ashes in 2 months time.
I believe the main squad are playing the Lions squad , but not seen anything else announced. I'd assume a Prime Ministers XI game or something along those lines too.
This is right. England play the Lions in their only pre-series FC match (my guess is that it will be later downgraded) in a three-day match starting on 13 November. And another warm-up, against the Prime Minister's XI in a two-day match on 29 November - after the first Test.
Interesting - would have expected Rehan Ahmed if we took 2 spinners, and Brook being made VC makes me think they're considering dropping Pope for Bethell.
Interesting - would have expected Rehan Ahmed if we took 2 spinners, and Brook being made VC makes me think they're considering dropping Pope for Bethell.
Would make sense . Pope has been disappointment the last 18 months and I’m not sure his decision making in the field is up to scratch when he took over as captain. They also have big plans for Bethell as well .
Interesting - would have expected Rehan Ahmed if we took 2 spinners, and Brook being made VC makes me think they're considering dropping Pope for Bethell.
Would make sense . Pope has been disappointment the last 18 months and I’m not sure his decision making in the field is up to scratch when he took over as captain. They also have big plans for Bethell as well .
Other option is they could be thinking Smith at 3, Pope keeping?
Interesting - would have expected Rehan Ahmed if we took 2 spinners, and Brook being made VC makes me think they're considering dropping Pope for Bethell.
Would make sense . Pope has been disappointment the last 18 months and I’m not sure his decision making in the field is up to scratch when he took over as captain. They also have big plans for Bethell as well .
Other option is they could be thinking Smith at 3, Pope keeping?
Would be surprised. I did hear on the grapevine that they wouldn't be taking another keeper and that Pope would be the back up with the gloves but I think they are desperate to get Bethell in there somewhere. Jacks, despite him not being a red ball spinner of any note, might play in one of the Tests if they really think that it will offer nothing for Bashir and specifically the day/night match. That would strengthen the batting for a game that traditionally doesn't last many days.
Comments
Test v India July 31st-4th Aug: Lost by 6 runs
ODI v South Africa 2nd Sept: Lost by 7 wkts
ODI v South Africa 4th Sept: Lost by 5 runs
ODI v South Africa 7th Sept: Won by 345 runs
T20I v South Africa 10th Sept: Lost by 14 runs (England innings reduced to 5 overs due to the weather)
T20I v South Africa 12th Sept: Won by 146 runs
T20I v South Africa 14th Sept: Abandoned
T20I v Ireland 17th Sept: Won by 4 wickets
T20I v Ireland 19th September: Abandoned
So three wins in nine matches - England lost the final Test of a 5-match series that was ludicrously crammed, were defeated in the first two matches of a 50 over series against SA by virtue of the players coming straight from The Hundred with the likes of Duckett "punch drunk" from playing so many matches, had a T20I series against SA decimated by the weather and now lead 1-0 against Ireland in the T20I series against Ireland with today's match being rained off too.
The ECB living up to their reputation, as previously evidenced by our performances in recent world cups, has been further enhanced to the extent that they now carry the motto "We don't fail to plan, we plan to fail".
This is right. England play the Lions in their only pre-series FC match (my guess is that it will be later downgraded) in a three-day match starting on 13 November. And another warm-up, against the Prime Minister's XI in a two-day match on 29 November - after the first Test.
Will Jacks called up as 2nd spinner. Brook vice captain, taking over from Ollie Pope.
Everyone else as expected.
The Brook thing suggests we might well see Bethell coming in over Pope
Personally I'd rather a better bowler be picked.
Picking a red ball spinner because he scored a few runs in white ball cricket is dubious.
England have been sensational at times, but awful other times, and I'm not sure the sensational batting performances have been down to his captaincy.