by sussexpob » Tue Aug 06, 2019 10:01 am
We can talk through the list of individuals and list their weaknesses and what have you, but the truth is when I look at this Australian line up "warts n all" I do so knowing that while they might not have a great line up, every single person in this team knows their role, what is required of them, and will be working to the best of their ability to squeeze out as much efficiency for the team as possible. When I look at England, I see a list of names who have absolutely no direction at all, and it's very indicative that you could predict with almost certainty the order of batting for Australia, you wouldnt even put 10p on predicting what order England come out in next test, it changes so much.
You can see the lack of planning in every core of England's thinking; as an example, we sent out a batter averaging not much past 10 runs an innings since 2018 and not a single not out in 35 test innings, ahead of someone who only 2 or 3 tests previous scored 137* on a pitch where that individual effort beat the total of both Indian innings. Woakes ended both innings batting with a limping Anderson, and was left not out in the first dig when an extra 15 odd runs taking England's lead to treble figures would have felt like a significant barrier to the Australians.
England seem to have zero plan about how to shape their batting. Root doesnt want to bat at 3, but has to because we picked a 3 not up to the task. Rather than admit that, we try to shelter him at 4 at the cost of devaluing our top asset. At 5, we have a player who is capable of taking the gloves and probably a good 7, but who doesnt score enough big runs to bat as a specialist. We have a 7 that cant hit the ball off the square who is for some reason being protected when his form has fell off a cliff. In between we have a 6 who is batting in the top slots for the sole reason that he bowls.
You cant have middle order bats averaging in the low 30s even when they are playing to those numbers, its simply not enough runs. But none of these players have any form either. It makes me laugh when Root comes out and says "we wont be knee-jerk dropping"?? Knee-jerk? Stokes has an average of 32 after 55 tests in the top 6. Bairstow is past the 60 mark. Buttler has 1 x 100 in 32 tests, and the first two's run of form lasts the best part of two bloody years. Its hardly that reactive to suggest these players simply arent good enough and have had a major run in the side. They have been consistently rubbish, over years and tens of test matches.
But thats it isnt it? We are back to the 90s style situation where undying loyalty is shown to failures for some reason, yet you get a lad averaging 55 in county cricket come in who is 20 years of age, he scores 28 on debut (on a pitch where only ONE top 6 batter out of both sides beat that), he fails once next up and is gone. Then every puts their hands up and says "who is there"? Well, if a lad comes into a dressing room of abject failure and has to smash 100s coming in at 12-2 vs the new ball on a green top with the ball jagging everywhere, and you say to him its perform here, or its all over..... you are going to be left with no one. Joe Denly averages nearly 20 less than Pope in FC cricket and has got double the test run Pope got..... why? What the hell is the thinking in that?
Of course, its in the interests of the team to claim that county players just arent up to standards rather than have to acknowledge there are other, more pressing problems further back. The Lions is controlled by a man with pretty much zero record of getting players to convert, and more than that, players who come into his setup (Like Hameed, the biggest example) leave it after a short time having forgotten how to bat. Our selector hasnt made any contributions, in fact he's picked more players who refuse to play 4-5 day cricket than others. The coach has proved that the teams approach is consistently poor. The batting coaches are stealing a living from the setup, because everyone is going backwards. And is county cricket that rubbish, or has maybe the change of toss rules almost instantly lead to average scores plummeting? When are we going to hold all of these accountable?
And Root as captain? Give to someone else, please. As Smith strode out to bat with the ball doing things in the first innings, he moved a slip out to short midwicket, and a man out the covers to leg slip. All that did was force the bowlers to bowl straight, and Smith just had fun tucking the ball off his pads. It is very clear that there is no tactical nous there. He had no clue how to get Smith out, he just went with seemingly random placements. And when England are confronted with a situation where just bowling the same lines and lengths doesnt work, they dont have a clue on a plan B. How many times was Smith able to attack 4 balls an over then get a single the last two with the tail? How many Aussies knew that if they saw off 30 balls, the scoring balls would come?
One team seem prepared for this series and have done their homework, the other when the chips were down were stuck not knowing what to do.... and in the moments where the match was in the balance, Australia consistently beat the knockout blow, then when they themselves struck, it was all over.
2010 French Open fantasy league guru 2010 Wimbledon fantasy league guru 2014 Masters golf fantasy guru 2015 Players Championship FL Guru 2016 Masters Golf Fantasy Guru
And a hat and bra to you too, my good sirs!