English Cricket Thread

[alfie]

Guess he knew his time was up after Key's comments the other day. Age and all I suppose he wasn't likely to feature much more - though if they get a few injuries to the "new" pace bowling group he might be missed in the next home series.

Was an excellent all rounder at home. And if he hadn't been somewhat in the bowling shadow of Anderson and Broad , might be even better remembered. Strong white ball record as well

[sussexpob]

No surprise for Woakes really. Post away Ashes series are usually the point at which England teams look to reinvent themselves for the next 4 year cycle, and I don't see much of a future for Woakes in that blueprint. If he was fit, on fire and bowling well, a last hurrah in OZ would have been a swansong, but with questions on all marks I think he can't have any complaints. It was the right time for the team to move on for the future. A nice moment to end on too in some ways - being remembered as the guy who was willing to get hurt to save the series for a team puts him in the folk legend category.

Disappointing career in many ways. The away form just didn't make sense to me, because it really is terrible. Not just merely bad, but very bad. I can only conclude he was never comfortable leaving Britain? Because he was a better bowler even in benign conditions than his away record suggested.

[Arthur Crabtree]

This NZ game sneaked up on me. I thought it might be the women when I saw the score. England struggling with the bat anyway.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Handy recovery from Scurran, but not much to defend.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Another good contribution from the Surrey allrounder since his belated recall.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Rained off.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Another colossal T20 win for England today though. And a big T20 batting total-236. England's fifth highest.

[Arthur Crabtree]

England starting to get it together for the approaching WCT20?

[bigfluffylemon]

Shhh, they might hear you!

[andy]

Phil salt is just ridiculous in the format these days he's a banker at the top of the order and amuses me when people question his place in that side...he is the best T20 batsmen in the world at the moment and pundits question whether he should be in the side...it's baffling! Jordan Cox is wasted at number 7 however...zero point him being there if he's gonna bat 7...swap him with Curran or just pick another allrounder

[Arthur Crabtree]

He got dropped from the 50 overs side.

[andy]

He got dropped from the 50 overs side.

Right...dosent stop him being the best T20 batsman in the world right now though..

[sussexpob]

Right...dosent stop him being the best T20 batsman in the world right now though..

Well, unless he is playing against India.... and then he looks like a tailender.

[sussexpob]

England starting to get it together for the approaching WCT20?

Hard to quantify what the results of this series mean now NZ have implemented their casual contracts. Seems only the opening bat opted into the series, the rest haven't played.... so is this half a B team? Hard to tell, because there have been opt outs on other games as well, so they never seem to settle on a side.

Not sure I understand whats happened to Ish Sodhi either. His central contract was taken away, and he's not played in the T20I side all year seemingly. A bit strange to drop an experienced spinner in the build up to a world cup in Asia. His econ under 8 is invaluable in such conditions.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I thought England had beaten SA last summer too, but it was a draw. Beat WI and Ireland though...