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Second Test: England v Pakistan, Headingley

PostPosted: Tue May 29, 2018 11:40 pm
by bigfluffylemon
On to round 2 of the English summer. One that sees the England test team at arguably its lowest ebb since the turn of the millennium.

England have a lot of soul searching to do after a wretched performance at Lord's. One that was not an aberration, but that speaks to a pattern of poor performance. Of course, this England team is nothing if not inconsistent, and the past three years of home form have shown that they have the capability to bounce back after a terrible performance (see: Headingley v West Indies, Trent Bridge v South Africa, Lord's v Pakistan and Lord's v Australia). So don't write them off. In fact, England haven't strung together back-to-back losses at home for 10 years (v South Africa, 2008). But the pressure will be tremendous, and should England lose, you would think that multiple heads must roll.

Despite not winning a test in eight attempts, England have only made one change to the line-up, with the in-form Keaton Jennings coming in for Mark Stoneman. Jennings has a test match hundred to his name, but suffered at the hands of the South African quicks in the early season last year. He has a fair bit to prove, but the bar is low. Chris Woakes may also return given Mark Wood's indifferent form.

Pakistan meanwhile are on the up after a famous victory. They just need to do the same again. One change is needed, with a replacement for the injured Babar Azam. Not sure yet who will get the nod.

Headingley is not a happy hunting ground for England - quite the reverse. It's a scene of several poor performances over the last few years. What England would give to be playing this game at Edgbaston, Old Trafford or Trent Bridge. But it isn't to be.

It's a few days out, but the weather for Leeds is set to be reasonable, with patchy clouds, some sunshine and temperatures in the low 20s. Fine test match weather, in fact. A few scattered showers and clouds on the first day, along with the brittle nature of England's batting line up, and Headingley's reputation for the ball moving when the cloud is around, suggests that both captains may be tempted to bowl first if they win the toss.

Re: Second Test: England v Pakistan, Headingley

PostPosted: Wed May 30, 2018 3:24 pm
by Durhamfootman
Hope it goes better than the first

and I hope that it doesn't rain in Leeds between now and Friday

Re: Second Test: England v Pakistan, Headingley

PostPosted: Wed May 30, 2018 6:47 pm
by Arthur Crabtree
Good stuff bfl. Not sure England are of the quality of the sides who used to bounce back. England have lost to WI, SL and NZ in their last four games in Leeds.

Re: Second Test: England v Pakistan, Headingley

PostPosted: Wed May 30, 2018 7:05 pm
by Dr Cricket
what are england playing at agree with mark and dagnall why would you possibly have Sam curran at 6 when england are usually 100/4 would you really want sam batting in that position.
I personally would pick a batting cover and give hildreth a go, drop bess, pick 4 seam bowlers and have Jennings, Malan and Root providing 5th bowlers overs and spin.

Re: Second Test: England v Pakistan, Headingley

PostPosted: Wed May 30, 2018 9:25 pm
by Dr Cricket
A lost in the 2nd test and England go 7 in the rankings.
Could go 8 as well if they lose to wi and Sri Lanka in the winter.
Wouldn’t call out a scenario if they end up 9th if Bangladesh home form continues.
IMHO they wouldn’t actually be much of a gap between 9th and 8 really or 7th so it is possible.

Think england never been lower than 8 and when they were 8th coach and captain got sacked.

Re: Second Test: England v Pakistan, Headingley

PostPosted: Wed May 30, 2018 9:57 pm
by ianp1970
4.75 (just under 4 to 1 in old money) available on a second Pakistan victory. Seems a lot better value than staking £15 to win just £8 if England win...

Re: Second Test: England v Pakistan, Headingley

PostPosted: Wed May 30, 2018 10:19 pm
by Arthur Crabtree
Sam Curran called up because Stokes is carrying an injury! That doesn't fill me with confidence.

Re: Second Test: England v Pakistan, Headingley

PostPosted: Thu May 31, 2018 12:09 am
by captaincolly
Arthur Crabtree wrote:Sam Curran called up because Stokes is carrying an injury! That doesn't fill me with confidence.

Nor me. Given the batting woes it seems odd to have a bowling all-rounder as cover for a number 6 batting all-rounder.

Re: Second Test: England v Pakistan, Headingley

PostPosted: Thu May 31, 2018 12:12 am
by bigfluffylemon
ianp1970 wrote:4.75 (just under 4 to 1 in old money) available on a second Pakistan victory. Seems a lot better value than staking £15 to win just £8 if England win...


Are you seriously telling me that England are odds-on favourites to win with the bookies? Pakistan are 4-1 outsiders? Really?

I'm not a betting man, but gee, that's sorely tempting.

And Sam Curran? Really? A guy whose seven first class innings this season have a top score of 19? I can't see him actually playing given that Woakes is a better allrounder, but still. We have Anderson, Broad, Woakes and Wood as fast bowling options. Stokes bats at 6 (rightly or wrongly). Why the hell wouldn't you call up batting cover?

Crazy.

Re: Second Test: England v Pakistan, Headingley

PostPosted: Thu May 31, 2018 8:47 am
by Arthur Crabtree
Getting Bairstow to give up the gloves seems to be the new assumed cure for the middle order. I don't get that at all. Just because Sangakkara was revealed to be an ATG bat when he became batter only, it doesn't mean it's a generally repeatable phenomena. You've got to be a burdened genius to have the potential to be an unburdened genius.

Taking the captaincy off Root is another popular suggestion. There may be something in this. Not because it is definitely effecting his batting, but if someone suspects there is a better skipper and leader in the XI.

I wonder if Root will become our Lara not because of his legendary batting but because he was England's last great player in a period of epochal decline. Not an original thought, but one that nags away.

Re: Second Test: England v Pakistan, Headingley

PostPosted: Thu May 31, 2018 10:15 am
by yuppie
I think Root will be Englands Mark Waugh. Pleasing on the eye, gets lots of starts but does not convert to bigger scores. Just unlucky for England he does not have a twin who is better at turning starts into 100's :D

Re: Second Test: England v Pakistan, Headingley

PostPosted: Thu May 31, 2018 11:08 am
by Arthur Crabtree
He has got a brother who plays for Notts.

Re: Second Test: England v Pakistan, Headingley

PostPosted: Thu May 31, 2018 12:01 pm
by sussexpob
bigfluffylemon wrote:
ianp1970 wrote:4.75 (just under 4 to 1 in old money) available on a second Pakistan victory. Seems a lot better value than staking £15 to win just £8 if England win...


Are you seriously telling me that England are odds-on favourites to win with the bookies? Pakistan are 4-1 outsiders? Really?


When people tell me the Bookie always wins, they are probably not gamblers. In certain sports, the home bias really does give huge bloated value on away teams. Case in point. I think Pakistan were 5-1 even though England were 40-3 in the first test. That reduced to 4-1 at 170-8. England were still favourites with the bookie well into the game. I think Pakistan only caught up after they had passed Englands score.

Even after Cook got dismissed for a duck and well behind, Pakistan were only 8/13..... ok, no longer tremendous value, but considering the scenario, would England win 5 times out of 13 in that situation? I think 1/13 was more appropriate.

Obviously lots of home fans betting on England probably not knowing what they are doing.

Re: Second Test: England v Pakistan, Headingley

PostPosted: Thu May 31, 2018 1:53 pm
by Alviro Patterson
captaincolly wrote:
Arthur Crabtree wrote:Sam Curran called up because Stokes is carrying an injury! That doesn't fill me with confidence.

Nor me. Given the batting woes it seems odd to have a bowling all-rounder as cover for a number 6 batting all-rounder.


Would think Buttler moves up to six, then either Curran or Woakes play at seven should Stokes be unfit to play the 2nd test.

Not surprised Stokes is crocked considering he has not played a great deal of cricket in recent months. Would have been better off building strength and fitness playing County Championship cricket instead of the IPL circus.

Re: Second Test: England v Pakistan, Headingley

PostPosted: Thu May 31, 2018 2:51 pm
by andy
Buttler at 6 and Curran 7 would worry me a lot.... suprised that Curran even got the nod to be honest...rumours that Bairstow is strugglung now as well..