Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

He's just not ready for this level of cricket and it's not fair on him..particuarly if the captain prefers to bowl livingstone..

I found it annoying that Crane would bowl a ball to a fielder at the start of his every over.

Crane not having a happy time , it seems.

I was OK with his being trialled in Sydney (since he'd been included in the party in the first place) and actually felt his horrible figures were a little harsh on him - with a bit of luck he might have had a few wickets : but it is starting to look as if the experience has been anything but beneficial for him.

He is in the squad for NZ but it would be a brave choice to pick him in a Test on present form ! Might have been better to have him head home and digest the lessons he has hopefully noted in a less demanding situation ? Only a couple of matches but the signs aren't good.

Hope I'm wrong and he will bounce back ; otherwise he might be added to the Schofield , Kerrigan , list of Young England Spinners Selected at the Wrong Time and Destroyed Forever...

Crane just simply isn't up to the standard required for Test cricket, nought to do with him being young or picked to early. He has a woeful first class record and isn't even a guaranteed selection for the Hampshire first team. He was picked just because he's a leg spinner, and some seem to forget that a bowling action and style do not make a player, you have to be good enough in the first place.

It's nothing to do with form, he's never been good enough.

Hopefully 20 year-old Bess will have a chance to play in the next game. Has wonderful f/c stats. 12 matches 49 wickets at 22.59, 5 5-fers.

Still haven't seen any sign that Andy Flower might be in any way be considered culpable for the performances of England Lions and the back up players in general over the winter. Losing twice to WI A and a couple of journeymen spinners is very poor.

I dont think I can state strongly enough the fact that everything that is wrong with the English cricketing setup, from top to bottom, is summed in with the knowledge that one bowler in this series has taken 14 wickets in 2 games, for hardly anything per one, and despite being the prime spinner for more than one season in England he will stay with the development team.... meanwhile, his team mate takes one tailend wicket in perfect conditions, cant even get his captain to trust to bowl him over a part timer, and he will miss the third test because he will join up with the main squad.

What splints said, 100% agree with and stated during the Ashes series. How can that be justified?

He averages 46 in FC, nearly doube Leach. Leach has bowled him off the park..... what on gods green Earth are England doing?

Arthur Crabtree wrote:Still haven't seen any sign that Andy Flower might be in any way be considered culpable for the performances of England Lions and the back up players in general over the winter. Losing twice to WI A and a couple of journeymen spinners is very poor.

Flower was very keen to stress the Lions isnt about results today. Its about seeing what these guys do and then teaching them what they cant. Obviously rating it on some tangible, visible form of measurement might actually make people realise how much of chocolate fireguard leech this waste of oxygen is, but I guess you have to respect how he is able to sell his brand of nothingness time and time again as something valuable and scientific.

That's all he is. A person who is great at giving vague managerspeak nonsense terminology to explain something that lacks any substance. Turns out you can earn 300,000 grand a year doing that, so who's laughing.

Most depressing was Flower's lengthy endorsement of being patient with Mason Crane. He may as well have said "I have recommended him, so he will get 35 tests of being sh*te before we blame it all on him not being able to adapt despite adequate time".

Meanwhile, Jack Leach could probably take all 20 wickets in the third game, and will probably be dropped for the next Lions tour on the basis Flower went into the WC after him and didnt like the smell.

Flower has his favourites, who have 'character', doesn't matter if they are any good. Crane at 21, should be learning his trade with his county not in international cricket.

Swann made his debut at 29 and had 4726.0 overs under his belt before he played Tests. Crane, 773 overs. Flower also picked Kerrigan and Borthwick, each played one Test.

He should have said we realise the Crane is still learning and we have decided to sent Leach to NZ instead. Hope Ali doesn't break a finger.

3rd test.
W. Indies 168-5 at Dinner. Mahmood, Gleeson and Bess playing for Lions.

Having already secured the series 2-0, the West Indians made 263 all out in the first innings of the final 'Test' at North Sound. Shamar Brooks made 63, and there were 33s from John Campbell and Rahkeem Cornwall. Jack Leach took 3-58 and Sakib Mahmood 3-50.

Cornwall and Warrican are the new Ram and Val.

Spin twins Jomel Warrican (6-33) and Rahkeem Cornwall (3-46) spun the England Lions out for a mere 102 all out, Haseeb Hameed offering the only resistance with 48.

Mike, didnt you get the memo. England arent there to win, they are just there to find out what they are bad at and learn from it...... At this rate, they will be retired by the time they have completed the list, let alone get round to changing anything.

Serious question Mike, isnt this type of low total/spin domination the norm for West Indies domestic scene now? Pretty sure when I last seen a discussion on it, there was quite a number of spinners averaging under 20 in Windies.

sussexpob wrote:
He averages 46 in FC, nearly doube Leach. Leach has bowled him off the park..... what on gods green Earth are England doing?

are they worried about his action?

perhaps they think he won't have his usual bunsen to play with in NZ?