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

Jennings over the last 20 innings

360 runs
Average- 18.

and worse... there may not be anybody better than that

I still maintain that he has the temperament to succeed, if not the technique. Work in progress. The retirement of Steely might bizarrely buy him some more time to work on the technique.

Not sure Ramps will be able to help him with any of that, though

Colly might have been able to, but Jennings was daft/gullible enough to move away from the best person who might have been able to help.....

so *modded* him!

England need to replace Steely with a right hander

there must be one out there

There has been mention of Denly for Sri Lanka

1 Burns
2 Denly
3 Ali
4 Root
5 Buttler
6 Stokes
7 Bairstow

Denly has been mentioned as a bowler. Hasn't a good record as a bowler though. In fc cricket.

Arthur Crabtree wrote:Denly has been mentioned as a bowler. Hasn't a good record as a bowler though. In fc cricket.

Much improved recently though.

He has 17 wickets this season in CC2 at 38.

It'd be good if all these kids and longshots like Pope and Denly got a few Lions games to try a little taste of international cricket. My impression is that Smith will put these types of players straight in the Test team. Which is interesting, but risky.

Durhamfootman wrote:England need to replace Steely with a right hander

there must be one out there

Agree with that. Nothing against lefties ; but you don't want all your top order the same way around. Left-right opening pairs do give the bowlers a few more problems ...but is there one out there ?

Slipstream wrote:There has been mention of Denly for Sri Lanka

1 Burns
2 Denly
3 Ali
4 Root
5 Buttler
6 Stokes
7 Bairstow

Don't need seven bowlers. For me, get Pope in at 5/6 and move the others down one place.

not sure Denly opens these days.... I might be wrong

Was thinking today.

Sri Lanka will not be the best place to Test our new openers. We will be seeing if people can or cannot play spin rather than how good an opener they are.

The Professor wrote:Was thinking today.

Sri Lanka will not be the best place to Test our new openers. We will be seeing if people can or cannot play spin rather than how good an opener they are.

There is only one home test before the Ashes (Ireland in a four-dayer) so unless we're going to pick a pair of rookies next August, there is no other option.

My preferred tactic would be to pick 3 openers in the top order against SL & WI. The duo that does best then get to start versus Australia at Edgbaston. If all three do well, even better - as that is another problem position filled.

ianp1970 wrote:

The Professor wrote:Was thinking today.

Sri Lanka will not be the best place to Test our new openers. We will be seeing if people can or cannot play spin rather than how good an opener they are.

There is only one home test before the Ashes (Ireland in a four-dayer) so unless we're going to pick a pair of rookies next August, there is no other option.

My preferred tactic would be to pick 3 openers in the top order against SL & WI. The duo that does best then get to start versus Australia at Edgbaston. If all three do well, even better - as that is another problem position filled.

That would be my approach also. As they seem set on taking Jennings it would at least allow for two other prospects... However it seems they are also keen on the "Moeen at three" plan so it is more likely the three openers will be in the squad and we will see how it goes from there...

No openers no top order players at all? no surprises.

There is absolutely no reason to play as a no 1,2,3, in the modern context unless yu are a player with enough about you to change your approach (avoid using the word technique here please)

I am sure no armchair experts appreciate the self management that is required to gradate in cricket- it is an unreal quality and that is why there are arguably only three players in the world capable of doing it to a high standard. (don't have to name them do I?) So everyone else relies upon repetition repetition etc etc until an approach to the game becomes a natural one- that's the thing about natural it's...........natural?? So then you cant change it unless you are one of the aforementioned big trio of demi- genius'

Either you pay cricketers at the sub prime level enough to make boring the boobies off everyone an attractive prospect, or you settle for the dross, I have, in equal measures, a high regard for Burns' achievements these last few years and an absolute mistrust of a methodology which will have the likes of Cummins ,Starc and any other world class bowler salivating. He is not the answer - unless the question is 'how not to.....''...Lets face it he gets the gig because he is the last man standing

In conclusion (if you get this far) pick the best XI test class players and ....I dunno..draw lots.? Sure, Moen ain't ideal at no 3 but he is about as good as we have, in the country, so we better hope he can just do a job, because there is, literally , no one else even approaching capable.

Quick q - how many folks had a go at Trott? .....HA I thought so - no pleasing you, is there?

-from the suggestion box...Go for the one who's the best fielder..........Lythe?

I haven't posted on a cricket board for five years........wow! the return of diteras aka?.....nah, life is already too damned short.


see ya