4th Test build up, KP being magnanimous

[spring hall convert]

I know its not the only issue and simplifying the issue but are we missing the graft and ability to stick around of Collingwood more than we thought? We did seem to have found that with Trott for a bit but without someone like that does the rest of the batting line-up feel over pressured and therefore fail? I think Pietersen certainly seems to play better when he's confident that the other end has someone who can stay there for a long stretch.

Couldn't agree more, I get the feeling that both Trott and Colly were grafters and extremely good to have around the team. We've not managed to replace Collingwood since his retirement and plenty have had a go at it (Bopara, Morgan, Taylor, Woakes, Root did well but was moved up and now Stokes.

 

[JCL - the new kid in town]

Couldn't agree more, I get the feeling that both Trott and Colly were grafters and extremely good to have around the team. We've not managed to replace Collingwood since his retirement and plenty have had a go at it (Bopara, Morgan, Taylor, Woakes, Root did well but was moved up and now Stokes.

i think Root and Stokes will be around for a while as they show good promise. Whether Bairstow will make it depends on how much time he is given, I thought he did ok in the context of the series, in as far as he wasn't any worse than any of the others and we need a new WK at some point in the near future so why not have a young hungry team with a few old heads to add experience. We can't do much worse

 

[spring hall convert]

i think Root and Stokes will be around for a while as they show good promise. Whether Bairstow will make it depends on how much time he is given, I thought he did ok in the context of the series, in as far as he wasn't any worse than any of the others and we need a new WK at some point in the near future so why not have a young hungry team with a few old heads to add experience. We can't do much worse

The jury is out on Bairstow for me. Despite his howler not going for that catch early on the fourth day, I think he looked a far more organised keeper than when Prior first got in the England team, once French, the very underrated keeping coach works his magic on him, I'm sure that area will be fine. I'm not particuarly convinced about his batting though, he has potential but seems to (familiar story this) have problems against extreme pace and/or swing. Good player of spin though.

 

[JCL - the new kid in town]

The jury is out on Bairstow for me. Despite his howler not going for that catch early on the fourth day, I think he looked a far more organised keeper than when Prior first got in the England team, once French, the very underrated keeping coach works his magic on him, I'm sure that area will be fine. I'm not particuarly convinced about his batting though, he has potential but seems to (familiar story this) have problems against extreme pace and/or swing. Good player of spin though.

I agree, i think it is his batting which will make or break him.

 

[vegster]

Couldn't agree more, I get the feeling that both Trott and Colly were grafters and extremely good to have around the team. We've not managed to replace Collingwood since his retirement and plenty have had a go at it (Bopara, Morgan, Taylor, Woakes, Root did well but was moved up and now Stokes.

Some players are almost irreplaceable. It took about 20 odd years to replace Ian Botham with Flintoff, It took about 5 to replace Gooch with Trescothick, it was about 5 years before finding Ashley Giles as replacement for Tuffers. and I don't think we will ever find a replacement for Gower. Collingwood was not often a hero but he was the gutsy cricketer who would tough it out and yet still compete in the same manner as Lamb, Willey and, Knott. Time will tell but we need to find new blood from somewhere.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Stuart Broad himself will recall as a 21 year-old getting carted for six 6s in an over by Yuvraj Singh in the World 20/20 Super 8s; the way in which his game has improved since then is testament to his mental toughness.

There was a young chap called Scott Boswell. He was being lauded as a potential ODI diamond, that was until...

6 Scott Boswell
Leicestershire v Somerset, C&G Trophy final, 2001

Cricket can be cruel. Boswell had been Leicestershire's champion in the semi-final, cleaning up four England players in a match-winning performance. In the final, the occasion, the Lord's slope and his own sweaty palms undid him. In his second over he sent down eight wides, five of them in a row. His match figures were two overs for 23. These were among Boswell's last deliveries for the county. He played only once more, but he appeared to be a broken man and his one over in the final Sunday League game of the season went for 18 and before he hobbled off. He was released a month later and went into teaching.

For some reason, I went to that final. No idea why as I had no particular affinity to either Leics or Gloucs. I was an impoverished student at the time as well.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

There was a young chap called Scott Boswell. He was being lauded as a potential ODI diamond, that was until...



For some reason, I went to that final. No idea why as I had no particular affinity to either Leics or Gloucs. I was an impoverished student at the time as well.

He went into teaching? If he wasn't a broken man before...

 

[JCL - the new kid in town]

I had a thought that as the team don't seem to trust monty and would rather bowl root instead at times why not forget about picking a specialist spinner. Then you could have 3 seamers plus stokes and then 5 other batsmen. That leaves two places for the WK (bairstow) and either another batsman or maybe prior at 7 to take the pressure off bairstow at 8 but also find some form himself. I know it sounds a bit crazy but prior was until recently holding his own as a batter and if the seamers are Brennan and broad then our tail looks quite short and might do what the Aussies always seem to and wag.

 

[vegster]

He went into teaching? If he wasn't a broken man before...

those who can do, those who can't, teach.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

those who can do, those who can't, teach.

Yeah, brilliant, cheers.

Got any more inane cliches you want to share?

 

[big nuts]

I had a thought that as the team don't seem to trust monty and would rather bowl root instead at times why not forget about picking a specialist spinner. Then you could have 3 seamers plus stokes and then 5 other batsmen. That leaves two places for the WK (bairstow) and either another batsman or maybe prior at 7 to take the pressure off bairstow at 8 but also find some form himself. I know it sounds a bit crazy but prior was until recently holding his own as a batter and if the seamers are Brennan and broad then our tail looks quite short and might do what the Aussies always seem to and wag.

I don't think you can play in Sydney without a specialist spinner. I do however think England need to revert back to six specialist batsman just to give us the best possible chance of posting decent totals.

1.cook
2.carberry
3.Bell
4.pietersen
5.Root
6.ballance
7.prior
8.Stokes
9.broad
10.Anderson
11.panesar

Stokes has shown enough to play as a 3rd seamer and Root is a decent part-time option if as usual Sydney turns.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

He went into teaching? If he wasn't a broken man before...

Ha ha. I was a broken man way before I landed at your school. I passed and I'll be passing on my cv next year.

 

[Pavilionaire]

It's encouraging to see a few Englishmen doing well in the Big Bash - Jos Buttler, Alex Hales, Eoin Morgan worth keeping an eye on. Sam Robson and Scott Borthwick also interesting for the forthcoming season.

 

[Gwylan]

Sam Robson and Scott Borthwick also interesting for the forthcoming season.

By this time next year, both of these will have played test cricket; Borthwick possibly next week. I'd have taken Robson instead of Carberry on this tour but his time will come - although he may decide he'd rather play for Australia after the debacle of this tour

 

[JCL - the new kid in town]

I don't think you can play in Sydney without a specialist spinner. I do however think England need to revert back to six specialist batsman just to give us the best possible chance of posting decent totals.

1.cook
2.carberry
3.Bell
4.pietersen
5.Root
6.ballance
7.prior
8.Stokes
9.broad
10.Anderson
11.panesar

Stokes has shown enough to play as a 3rd seamer and Root is a decent part-time option if as usual Sydney turns.

oh i agree with you about the spinner its just they don't seem to trust Monty to bowl much so whats the point of having him in the team to bowl a few overs here and there. Also i with your team suggestion i would probably put Stokes at 6 as he has has shown some form (more than the rest) and then prior at 8 might help him with less pressure (but i would probably stick with Bairstow now as we've brought him in rather than chop and change)

 

[MICK PATCHAM]

cricket =

 

[vegster]

It's encouraging to see a few Englishmen doing well in the Big Bash - Jos Buttler, Alex Hales, Eoin Morgan worth keeping an eye on. Sam Robson and Scott Borthwick also interesting for the forthcoming season.

Luke Wright doing quite well too,