The Cricket Society IV

Reply 60

OP

17

Real shame that England lose Mark Wood and Steven Finn for South Africa Tests, but it's great that Ben Stokes is back in the reckoning.

Realistically, we'll take five seamers - Broad, Anderson, plus three others alongside all-rounder Stokes.

You'd imagine that the options are Plunkett, Woakes, Jordan, and Footitt. I think that Willey and Topley will get chances eventually, but after some decent game time at county level with the red ball.

You can bet the former two will be included, but I hope Footitt is given a chance too. His average with both bat and ball is superior to Plunkett.

Reply 61

Alrounder79

2

Original post

by Zerforax

Prediction - in 4 years time Bangladesh will be seen as one of the best sides in the world :colondollar:

In the shorter formats, this is seriously a real possibility. In tests though, I just hope they manage one or two wins against a team other than West Indies or Zimbabwe lol.

Reply 62

Raiden10

17

Original post

by Mackay

Real shame that England lose Mark Wood and Steven Finn for South Africa Tests, but it's great that Ben Stokes is back in the reckoning.

Realistically, we'll take five seamers - Broad, Anderson, plus three others alongside all-rounder Stokes.

You'd imagine that the options are Plunkett, Woakes, Jordan, and Footitt. I think that Willey and Topley will get chances eventually, but after some decent game time at county level with the red ball.

You can bet the former two will be included, but I hope Footitt is given a chance too. His average with both bat and ball is superior to Plunkett.

I like footitt

Reply 63

Mackay

OP

17

Shaun Marsh called into Australia squad for Adelaide Test against New Zealand.

Steve O’Keefe and James Pattinson also called up.

Reply 64

Zerforax

21

http://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/929147/the-torchbearer

Great piece on Mashrafe Mortaza

Reply 65

Mackay

OP

17

So, Bell has been dropped. That's his career over, you'd imagine. He has been a heck of an International cricket (FIVE Ashes wins!!) but he has been a dwindling talent for some time now, and is unreliable in the field.

No century for 23 innings sums it up, despite a high score of 63 in the UAE against Pakistan.

Full squad
Cook (capt), Moeen Ali, Anderson, Bairstow, Ballance, Broad, Buttler, Compton, Footitt, Hales, Jordan, Patel, Root, Stokes, Taylor, Woakes.

Why no Plunkett? I'm glad Footitt is included, but now the selectors need to play him. I imagine Woakes and Jordan will feature, though.

Reply 66

Aky786UK

19

Yes I'd have thought Plunkett would be ideal for those type of wickets. Rashid axed but think Ali might suffice on this tour.

KP isn't happy on Bell's exclusion but imagine that's more because he's a director of the management company that represents his mate Belly and any chance to dig out the ECB of course and, a TV show about him on ITV 4 tonight (which tbh will watch to see if his ego has diluted at all since his exit from the team).

Reply 67

Mackay

OP

17

Just seen that KP video. Jesus Christ. You can't really argue with Bell's omission, in truth. I'm a big fan of his, but his eyes have been letting him down both at the stumps, between the wickets, and in the field.

Reply 68

Mackay

OP

17

Cook, Hales, Ballance, Root, Taylor, Stokes, Buttler, Moeen, Broad, Anderson, Footitt.

That'll be the team for the Boxing Day Test, I imagine. It'll be a gruelling few months for England. Lasting until February, they'll play a whole lot of cricket - not least those who will perform in all three formats (Hales, Root, Taylor, Stokes etc.)

Reply 69

atom y humber

1

Wait, so England shouldn't have dropped Thorpe for KP according to KP's logic.

Bell shouldn't have gone to the emirates ffs.

Goodbye Mr so near but yet so far.

Reply 70

Mackay

OP

17

Original post

by atom y humber

Wait, so England shouldn't have dropped Thorpe for KP according to KP's logic.

Bell shouldn't have gone to the emirates ffs.

Goodbye Mr so near but yet so far.

KP's logic has never made sense.

Every thing he says should be taken with a lump of salt, rather than a pinch. Notice how he hasn't backed James Taylor after brutally dismantling his potential in his autobiography, too.

Apparently he has a new book out soon. I can't wait for him to appear everywhere promoting it.

Reply 71

Angry cucumber

20

KP is thoroughly dislikeable

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 72

Mackay

OP

17

Glad that Pup has spoken up for himself. He's fired some serious shots at Hayden, Symonds and in particular Buchanan.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/nov/20/michael-clarke-slams-hayden-symonds-and-buchanan-for-ashes-pot-shots

Reply 73

Louis.

16

Original post

by Mackay

Cook, Hales, Ballance, Root, Taylor, Stokes, Buttler, Moeen, Broad, Anderson, Footitt.

That'll be the team for the Boxing Day Test, I imagine. It'll be a gruelling few months for England. Lasting until February, they'll play a whole lot of cricket - not least those who will perform in all three formats (Hales, Root, Taylor, Stokes etc.)

Unless Ballance has discovered his front foot I'd be very wary of playing him against Steyn et al.

Lots of options for 3. Chance to play Taylor at 3 and Bairstow at 5. Or, and this is what I think will end up happening, Compton and Hales will both play. Both have spent plenty of time batting at 3 for their counties so I think they may both end up in the top 3 with Cook. And if this doesn't work just pick another opener at 4. And then another at 5. One will eventually come good.

Delighted that Footitt is in and really hope he plays, but disappointed that Plunkett isn't around. Not convinced by Woakes as a test bowler and don't rate Jordan at all. Oh well.

Reply 74

FFTypoCorrector

1

****ing boiling in Dubai. The locals seem to think we'll be up for this, I beg to differ. Sense a resounding England win.

Reply 75

Mackay

OP

17

Original post

by Louis.

Unless Ballance has discovered his front foot I'd be very wary of playing him against Steyn et al.

Lots of options for 3. Chance to play Taylor at 3 and Bairstow at 5. Or, and this is what I think will end up happening, Compton and Hales will both play. Both have spent plenty of time batting at 3 for their counties so I think they may both end up in the top 3 with Cook. And if this doesn't work just pick another opener at 4. And then another at 5. One will eventually come good.

Delighted that Footitt is in and really hope he plays, but disappointed that Plunkett isn't around. Not convinced by Woakes as a test bowler and don't rate Jordan at all. Oh well.

Of course, his footwork is an issue. He is drastically short of quality in that area, and the SA quicks will destroy him unless his rest has seen him recover some mental and physical aptitude.

I'd love Taylor or Compton at three, but I'm unsure the selectors will feature the latter.

Reply 76

Mackay

OP

17

Roy with 102, and Root with 71. That'll do nicely.

Reply 77

Enginerd.

21

Only Pakistan can help out of form players regain form. Azhar needs to go. Don't know who will replace him but losing ODIs constantly is disappointing, especially at home.

Posted from TSR Mobile