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

Arthur Crabtree wrote: It's tempting to think that Stokes should step up his responsibilities as a top order bat now he has a great deal of experience. But stats suggest he isn't actually getting any better, for all his coaching makes him look a nice straight orthodox batter. What we have had so far is a number seven batter and a fourth seamer augmented by some excellent fielding. His record against sides with strong spin attacks isn't that good. In ten Tests this year he averages under 27 with no hundreds. My gut feeling is that he'll start to score runs again. Though it always has been.

What motivation does Stokes have to buck down and get better? The fact is, most of the English press proclaimed him a cricketing god after 3 games, and ever since he's been touted consistently as some legend. He has had it easier than any cricketer I could really ever remember, he has at times displayed bad attitude in the dressing room, has problems off the pitch, and as a player has so far not exactly blown the doors off in either discipline. I could imagine KP being destroyed for half the things Ben does, but he cops nothing. He's been continually praise for what little production he gives, so why would he work harder? Not like his current lack of quality is being called out. He can be a passenger all he wants. Case in point, he averages 25 for a year and people are writing articles about him being a technically perfect player.

Remember all those innings when he was on "form"? Were any of those innings "clean"? All I remember is the missed stumpings, the constant dropped catches, and that time the ball smacked the offstump and the bail didnt dislodge. He got levels of luck verging on the insane. When people take catches, take stumpings, and balls dont my some miracle fail to remove the bails, he's been well under par.

Of the spin trio I think it is Leach that has proved the most undroppable.

Rashid and Ali together are too aggressive - Leach offers stultifying economy which gives the other licence to push forward.

Leach could be our Lyon.

sussexpob wrote:

Arthur Crabtree wrote: It's tempting to think that Stokes should step up his responsibilities as a top order bat now he has a great deal of experience. But stats suggest he isn't actually getting any better, for all his coaching makes him look a nice straight orthodox batter. What we have had so far is a number seven batter and a fourth seamer augmented by some excellent fielding. His record against sides with strong spin attacks isn't that good. In ten Tests this year he averages under 27 with no hundreds. My gut feeling is that he'll start to score runs again. Though it always has been.

What motivation does Stokes have to buck down and get better? The fact is, most of the English press proclaimed him a cricketing god after 3 games, and ever since he's been touted consistently as some legend. He has had it easier than any cricketer I could really ever remember, he has at times displayed bad attitude in the dressing room, has problems off the pitch, and as a player has so far not exactly blown the doors off in either discipline. I could imagine KP being destroyed for half the things Ben does, but he cops nothing. He's been continually praise for what little production he gives, so why would he work harder? Not like his current lack of quality is being called out. He can be a passenger all he wants. Case in point, he averages 25 for a year and people are writing articles about him being a technically perfect player.

Remember all those innings when he was on "form"? Were any of those innings "clean"? All I remember is the missed stumpings, the constant dropped catches, and that time the ball smacked the offstump and the bail didnt dislodge. He got levels of luck verging on the insane. When people take catches, take stumpings, and balls dont my some miracle fail to remove the bails, he's been well under par.

Agree with what you say. Stokes is undroppable. Plays whether injured or not. Before Bristol batting 35.72. Since then 26.85. I would still play him at three instead of having an easy time down the order.

Big news from the ECB - Jofra Archer appears to eligible for England selection from January 1 next year. New regs for British citizens and those born in UK - three years residence provided they have not played as a local elsewhere during this time...

To WI

1Root
2 Ali
3 Anderson
4 Bairstow
5 Broad
6 Burns
7 Buttler
8 Curran
9 Jennings
10 Leach
11 Rashid
12 Stokes
13 Woakes
14 Roy
15 Archer
16 Pope

Personally I think any UK citizen should be available to play for England. But it's typically craven of the ECB to bring in those extreme qualification rules and then flip-flop as soon as it's convenient.

Slipstream wrote:First Test in the West Indies

1 Burns
2 Jennings
3 Bairstow
4 Root
5 Stokes
6 Buttler
7 Foakes
8 Ali
9 Archer
10 Broad
11 Anderson

He won't get in the Test side will he?

Not good news for a number of potential WC players, like Jordan or Stone or the Currans.

Arthur Crabtree wrote:

Slipstream wrote:First Test in the West Indies

1 Burns
2 Jennings
3 Bairstow
4 Root
5 Stokes
6 Buttler
7 Foakes
8 Ali
9 Archer
10 Broad
11 Anderson

He won't get in the Test side will he?

Not good news for a number of potential WC players, like Jordan or Stone or the Currans.

Will be able to stake a claim in the warm up games. First class batting average 31.34. If Bayliss thought he had a headache in selection before he has a bigger one now.

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@Cricket_Ali

Update on Jofra Archer ... looking like he will have met the criteria for England qualification some time around mid-March 2019 (so effectively rules out Caribbean tour). Yet to reach 210 days in his third year of residency and is committed to overseas T20 spells this winter

http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/ ... -exclusive

"In the Tests I'd probably just like to bat just after Sam [Curran]. Either before or after Sam. Both of us are attacking and I think we could really do some damage if we do get together," he said.

Picking his place already, will Curran be even in the side if Archer is?

Plenty of possibilities when Broad and Anderson move on. England sometimes moot that they are going to rotate them. They rarely do, but it seems to be on the agenda.

Arthur Crabtree wrote:Plenty of possibilities when Broad and Anderson move on. England sometimes moot that they are going to rotate them. They rarely do, but it seems to be on the agenda.

Broad isn't going anywhere for a few years. He is only 32. Last match was bowling 85.7-89.5mph. Anderson this year 43 wickets at 22.51. I know people are tired of seeing them bowling and want to get their favourites in.

So say there's not JA and SB what will the bowling look like?
Jennings Burns Bairstow Root Stokes Butter Ali Foakes Woakes Archer Curran.

Curran at 11 is a hell of a lot of batting lol!

Stokes and Hales hearing this week, I believe. Be surprised if any sanctions are imposed on Stokes: fact is legally he's been found not guilty of affray and has served several months suspension imposed by ECB. Not sure he deserves the legend status imposed by the press but there's nothing he can do about that. His bowling in SL reached a new level as did his fielding. He's a leader on the field and highly regarded by his teammates. Not yet a legend but undoubtedly an indispensable member of the team.

Hales and Stokes face no further suspension.