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

Hales gets himself banned for recreational drug use.

He should have served his time by the start of the WC, but honestly, in a WC year, his place in the side not guaranteed (he's probably first batting reserve), and after the Bristol incident, how bloody stupid can you get?

Modded head.

sussexpob wrote:

Slipstream wrote:The WC is not the time to make changes. Mostly this squad has been together for a long time, won most of their games together. Bat all the way down to 11 so can afford 6 specialist bowlers. I can't see any other team who has this. The perfect squad who just need to use their brains on different pitches.

Spot on, England strength and depth in all departments that rival teams can only dream of.

England have the 2nd worst bowling record since 2017 began, and thats probably only because the worst team (SL) had to bowl to England's batsman, while England's bowlers in return got the worst of the established test sides to bowl at. Remove the games between these sides, and England come out worse. Calling this team perfect is frankly crazy. Saying they have strength in depth in all departments is a mystery to me..... do England have a tried and tested spinner who didnt play in this series? Do they have a tried and tested paceman who holds his own outside of the current projected XI? Apart from Hales who will probably be dropped, where is the established batting depth?

Which England bowlers would get into India's line up? None.... India have about 4-5 spinners with better econ rates than ours, and better or similar averages. India's worst paceman for econ is still below all of England's established crop.

England have a terrible bowling attack. We on average give away nearly 50 odd runs per innings more than Pakistan.

Since 2017, England have lost just one ODI series in 11 and won 9 ODIs in a row. That is the only statistic worth mentioning.

At the end of the day, white ball matches are won by the team who scores the most runs. Bowling averages does not come into it when England can chase 350+ without breaking sweat.

If a goalkeeper never saves a shot all year, but his team never lose because they win every game by 1 goal all year, averaging 5 goals a match, is the keeper not terrible? Stats done lie, over multiple matches and years England's attack have been the most expensive. The fact they win more than other teams does not take away from that fact, it just means our batting is very good.

End of the day, England only maintain a 54% win percentage from the top 4 teams in their most recent combined home/away series, the most likely should we say we will meet in the semi finals. Its quite close to being a win one, loss one scenario, which is a close call in a knockout..... India have a 74% win percentage vs the same teams. India have won (since 2017) 2.7 matches per loss to Englands 2.8, but have played far more matches vs the top sides, and their average is carried over 20 odd extra games, showing better consistency.

Most importantly, the gap between India's bowling and strike rates indicate they win on average by a great amount, or the difference between their batting power and bowling is at a greater efficiency (again, vs better quality opposition on average). India clock a 0.5 per over advantage, England and South Africa come in 2nd on equal 0.4.

When it comes to balance, England have a problem. If we dont put 300 on the board in consecutive matches in the knockouts, assuming we get there, we are probably favourites to lose.

Roy, Gregory and STONE IN THE SQUAD TO FACE Ireland.

Stokes, Buttler and Archer are not included.

Wood is unfit.

Joe Root (capt), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Lewis Gregory, Jack Leach, Jason Roy, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes

Weird looking squad. Where are the batters? Is Denly an opener in that selection? Or Roy, whose record with a red ball isn't great.

Arthur Crabtree wrote:Roy, Gregory and STONE IN THE SQUAD TO FACE Ireland.

Stokes, Buttler and Archer are not included.

Wood is unfit.

Joe Root (capt), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Lewis Gregory, Jack Leach, Jason Roy, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes

Weird looking squad. Where are the batters? Is Denly an opener in that selection? Or Roy, whose record with a red ball isn't great.

Roy to open. Denly at 3. 6/7/8 will be Moeen/Woakes/Curran in some order.

How about

1 Burns
2 Denly
3 Roy
4 Root
5 Bairstow
6 Curran
7 Woakes
8 Ali
9 Gregory
10 Broad
11 Anderson

Five pace bowlers and one spinner. I'd far rather Leach was in there, and probably a batter at six. Not that there's one in the squad.

I thought Sibley was going to get a call up. Roy really struggles when the ball moves around. Maybe he can adapt to a red ball, but his fc record doesn't suggest that.

At least Vince and Ballance aren't back again.

Roy had to be selected based on his form, and the fact that everyone has tried and failed...he should get the the ireland game and all 5 tests....Denly at 3 im happy with...Gregory has 44 wickets at 13 this summer and deserves his call up...As soon as Wood and Archer were ruled out Stone was always going to get the call, dont expect him to stay there when the other two are back though

Olly Stone might be the second coming of Michael Holding, but even if he takes a 10-for every test he plays, he is only going to be fit for another 7 before he is dead, so whats the point?

Neither Roy or Denly convince me as test players. Burns needs a long run in the side, but so far he's looked technically challenged at times. No really complaints about the rest considering the problems with depth at the moment.

I concede id have probably picked Roy to test him. Record isnt that bad, and while you could question how good he will be against swing, when he isnt tested with a moving ball there are few strokemakers in the world who look so emphatically punishing. Id would be tempted to move him down away from the new ball, there doesnt really (in the 4 day game) seem much of a reason why he opens. Protect him from the new ball

He might be another 5 or 6. But England are spilling over with 5-6s.

Given how appalling our top order is youd have to move Roy to number 9 to get him away from the new ball

The squad usually is 12, the extra being a reserve fast bowler in case some bowler falls over on the day.
Instead we get 7 fast bowlers in a squad of 14 - even going on tour we take only 6. I am surprised we didn't pick two spinners after Lords. 7.2 overs. Yes I am looking at you Root. Did England think that Ireland was going to be hard work picking 6 bowlers or were the bowlers expected to get the runs.... that is Woakes, Curran and Ali. One unexpected bowler did get the runs.

Woakes
Stokes
Archer
Curran
Broad
Stone
Anderson

I expect Stokes to be telling Root what to do now he is vice captain.

Reports Simon Harmer is training with England as the closest thing we can find to Nathan Lyon.

How long until he's a resident?

The Professor wrote:Reports Simon Harmer is training with England as the closest thing we can find to Nathan Lyon.

How long until he's a resident?

Does Simon Harmer spend enough time in Britain to qualify, bearing in mind he plays in South Africa during the winter?

Simon Harmer has better things to do than toss about with England...... He has a job to do for me, and that is far more important