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2nd test: West Indies vs England - Antigua

PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 6:42 pm
by andy
With the test match starting tomorrow, time for a new thread...

Jennings and Rashid out, with Denly making his test debut, hopefully he does well, let's face it he can't do any worse!!

Re: 2nd test: West Indies vs England - Antigua

PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 9:04 pm
by sussexpob
Bangladesh got bowled out for 43 here last test in 2018, although having watched that I can testify that the pitch had little to do with it. That pitch gave a little bit of seam, some swing, but wasnt really tough.

Just got to make sure no one tries to dump sand everywhere.

Re: 2nd test: West Indies vs England - Antigua

PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 11:41 pm
by Alviro Patterson
Hopefully Leach takes Rashid's place whilst Broad comes in for Moeen or Stokes

Re: 2nd test: West Indies vs England - Antigua

PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 11:42 pm
by sussexpob
Alviro Patterson wrote:Hopefully Leach takes Rashid's place whilst Broad comes in for Moeen or Stokes


Rumours suggest its Rashid out and Broad in, Jennings out and Denly in.

Re: 2nd test: West Indies vs England - Antigua

PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 11:54 pm
by sussexpob
It's important to remember Leach didn't pass the Flower test; not stern stuff apparently. Rashid passed all the tests, so well in fact, he does even need to play to get in

Re: 2nd test: West Indies vs England - Antigua

PostPosted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 12:00 am
by Alviro Patterson
Can't leave a bowler who has a test bowling average of 24.9, stats don't lie. Leach can play both the containing role and wicket taking role, in my eyes he is the best England spinner in modern day history.

Re: 2nd test: West Indies vs England - Antigua

PostPosted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 1:19 am
by Arthur Crabtree
Post Swann?

Re: 2nd test: West Indies vs England - Antigua

PostPosted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 3:48 am
by bigfluffylemon
Can't drop Stokes, he bowled decently in Barbados.

He should probably drop down the order, but that assume a there is someone better to bat at 5. The cupboard seems bare at the moment.

I will echo AC from another thread: why has Hildreth been overlooked for the last four years despite being one of the most consistent top order bars in the CC?

Re: 2nd test: West Indies vs England - Antigua

PostPosted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 10:44 am
by andy
Hildreth is a mystery to most of us....allegedly back in the days when Taunton was a road he was overlooked because of 'easy runs' howveer in past few seasons it's been a raging turner, and he still has runs, so yeah no one can figure out why he's never been selected.... :dunno

Re: 2nd test: West Indies vs England - Antigua

PostPosted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 11:54 am
by sussexpob
andy wrote:Hildreth is a mystery to most of us....allegedly back in the days when Taunton was a road he was overlooked because of 'easy runs' howveer in past few seasons it's been a raging turner, and he still has runs, so yeah no one can figure out why he's never been selected.... :dunno


Considering the fact that Trescothick is on record as saying Giles and him have talked about Hildreth as being a test player ready in the making, the fact that Mike Newell essentially stated very unambiguously that Hildreth was a flawless technical talent that he was sure would step up, and that Gus Fraser has also stated in the past he sees him as a test player, who exactly in the sphere of English cricket in the last few years hasnt verified his name? Moores was understood to be strongly considering picking him before he was sacked. And one stat I heard on the radio in a recent match was Whitaker went specifically to watch him 5 times, and he apparently banged a century in all four championship games, and a 98 in the limited overs game, when knowing he was the centre of attention. Add into that that Graham Thorpe, England's batting coach, speaks about him in glowing terms since working with him with the Lions in the early 2010s.... who is the person blocking him?

Andy Flower has definitely been to Somerset, and when invited to talk about prospects, spent the whole time bigging up a player scrapping a 30s averages. Sounds typical Flower. Hype the guy who looks all the right stuff but not succeeding, ignore the guy smashing runs.

I guess at some stage in Hildreth's run in the Lions (average just under 60, successful captaincy with the team, praised by everyone in the setup he worked with) he was given "THE TEST"..... he got 97% percent, but filled it out in red pen, so had his opportunity burnt. Ravi Bopara got 75% percent, but used blue pen. Played for England a 100 times.

Re: 2nd test: West Indies vs England - Antigua

PostPosted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 12:29 pm
by andy
Waste of talent that he was never selectged, could have done a hell of a job, but sadly the call will never come for him now

Re: 2nd test: West Indies vs England - Antigua

PostPosted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 1:32 pm
by Arthur Crabtree
Average runs per wicket at each ground shows that the IVA Stadium is about as good to bat on as the old ARG.


http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... iew=ground

This table emphasises how good the the Recreation Ground was to bat on. Next best with a reasonable amount of games played was Bourda. Then, the Adelaide Oval.

No England grounds make it onto the first page (apart from The Rose Bowl which has only had three Tests). Surprising Chester le Street comes next (six games). But having played a meaningful amount of games, it's The Oval then Trent Bridge.

Re: 2nd test: West Indies vs England - Antigua

PostPosted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 1:34 pm
by Arthur Crabtree
andy wrote:Waste of talent that he was never selected, could have done a hell of a job, but sadly the call will never come for him now


I can see Smith selecting him. Though he may be picked as opener.

Re: 2nd test: West Indies vs England - Antigua

PostPosted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 1:41 pm
by andy
I can't see him being selected, not a chance sadly

Re: 2nd test: West Indies vs England - Antigua

PostPosted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 2:48 pm
by sussexpob
Windies Win the toss and bowl. Will wemake lunch?