4th Ashes Test - Durham

[Wise Man Says]

They see both Root and Bairstow as the future.

Root won't get moved and baristow will finish this series, going by what you read and hear.

Agreed. Which could put us in a huge dilemma come the winter. If he fails second innings here and then at the Oval (ifs, I know), do we pick him at Brisbane. And what if he fails there?

It all boils down to this - he needs a score and quickly. Personally, I'm just not convinced he (maybe yet TBF to him) has the temperament or technique for test cricket.

 

[Arkle]

They see both Root and Bairstow as the future.

Root won't get moved and baristow will finish this series, going by what you read and hear.

I can understand Root not being moved as, in the long term, he is our opener but I don't understand what Bairstow brings to the party beyond being a capable second choice wicket keeper if Prior's arms fall off mid-test.

It seems to me that Taylor wasn't really given a good enough chance - two games with a squad in semi-disarray against the world's best - and Morgan was basically made the fall guy for the dismal display against Pakistan in the UAE when others performed as badly and hasn't been given a look in since (in tests).

 

[Wise Man Says]

Also, even if they get 300 and say we get 250. We bat well second time around and the game swings around again.

I think we will get around 240-250 and then we can bowl them out for 150-200.

We have to bowl well tomorrow, but we all know we can.

Going to be another great test.

This will be a fast moving game I reckon. I can't see the Aussies piling runs on tomorrow, I just don't think it's a 450/500-5 wicket.

I'm expecting (and obviously hoping for) the tumble of Aussie wickets tomorrow.

Our aim should be to be batting again tomorrow night and it's possible.

 

[Chappers]

Agreed. Which could put us in a huge dilemma come the winter. If he fails second innings here and then at the Oval (ifs, I know), do we pick him at Brisbane. And what if he fails there?

It all boils down to this - he needs a score and quickly. Personally, I'm just not convinced he (maybe yet TBF to him) has the temperament or technique for test cricket.

He will play at the Oval and will of course go to Oz. Don't think he will be a starter, but the way England are these days, he is going nowhere.

They look at him, like they did Bell years ago.

As for Root, I like him but maybe it wasn't the right series to put him in as an opener.

I can understand Root not being moved as, in the long term, he is our opener but I don't understand what Bairstow brings to the party beyond being a capable second choice wicket keeper if Prior's arms fall off mid-test.

It seems to me that Taylor wasn't really given a good enough chance - two games with a squad in semi-disarray against the world's best - and Morgan was basically made the fall guy for the dismal display against Pakistan in the UAE when others performed as badly and hasn't been given a look in since (in tests).

My guess is they rate Bairstow, but, he needs a big score somewhere or he will rightly be placed on the sidelines, albeit for a short while.

 

[rudd]

Isn't the average at the Riverside about 250?

It's poor but not disastrous, just have to do well with the ball.

Aye TMS said the first innings scores at Durham this season have been 250, 237, 259, 267 and 253. It's still a disappointing score from where we were and how some wickets were given away.

 

[TopCat]

Just back from the match, cracking day out, brilliant seats and top banter with the Aussie faithful. Shame England ruined it by batting like a bunch of *****.....

 

[mikemanc]

He will play at the Oval and will of course go to Oz. Don't think he will be a starter, but the way England are these days, he is going nowhere.

They look at him, like they did Bell years ago.

As for Root, I like him but maybe it wasn't the right series to put him in as an opener.



My guess is they rate Bairstow, but, he needs a big score somewhere or he will rightly be placed on the sidelines, albeit for a short while.

Bell looked a far better player than Bairstow has and he came in and made a shed load of runs (albeit against the likes of Bangladesh). Bell's problems when he was younger were in his head not his technique. Bairstow looks out of his depth, he needs a couple of seasons in county cricket honing his technique.

 

[rowley2]

Well I'm just back after a detour, and if we are still in this game tomorrow night I'll be happy. Too many bad signs there for me. Cook, Bell, and Bairstow all got out carelessly, there looks to be a look of "job done" about some of them, which also showed at Old Trafford at times.

Bunny should be playing, and not just because he is one of ours. We need his variation.

 

[sonson]

Aye TMS said the first innings scores at Durham this season have been 250, 237, 259, 267 and 253. It's still a disappointing score from where we were and how some wickets were given away.

It's ok. A good batting side would be pretty disappointed with it though.

 

[chelt_mackem]

Agreed. Which could put us in a huge dilemma come the winter. If he fails second innings here and then at the Oval (ifs, I know), do we pick him at Brisbane. And what if he fails there?

It all boils down to this - he needs a score and quickly. Personally, I'm just not convinced he (maybe yet TBF to him) has the temperament or technique for test cricket.

I think Bairstow has his chance in the next 2 tests, we all know he'll play at the Oval, and I'd be surprised if he was dropped for Brisbane, but if the pitches for the 2 tests are the type we normally get, I think they'll be ideally suited to his style of play. He'll need a ton at one or other game, preferably Brisbane as we always start tours badly and any of our batsmen notching hundreds will be a decent start.

 

[rowley2]

I think Bairstow has his chance in the next 2 tests, we all know he'll play at the Oval, and I'd be surprised if he was dropped for Brisbane, but if the pitches for the 2 tests are the type we normally get, I think they'll be ideally suited to his style of play. He'll need a ton at one or other game, preferably Brisbane as we always start tours badly and any of our batsmen notching hundreds will be a decent start.

He really shouldn't be going on tour to Australia as a front line player. His brain is scrambled and his technique looks frazzled. But he is a good player, and IMO would benefit from a spell back at Yorkshire and getting some runs

But it won't happen. England clearly think they have a team that need neither rest nor change, despite the evidence.

They are in danger of resembling some England teams of the past. They could be nicknamed "Strangeways" ; once someone puts you in, its hard for anyone to get you out.

 

[The Colonel]

The bairn and I both agreed that we would have bowled first, given the notoriously poor scores that have been posted this season on the ground. Seems like the wickets are pretty similar to the ones prepared for the CC.

The pitch drains very fast and it seems to play havoc but TBH its suited Durham's style of play this season where our batting has been poor but our bowling pretty much excellent.

It'll be interesting too see what the Aussies post on it first innings.

Great day out. Looking forward to tomorrow.

 

[Chappers]

The bairn and I both agreed that we would have bowled first, given the notoriously poor scores that have been posted this season on the ground. Seems like the wickets are pretty similar to the ones prepared for the CC.

The pitch drains very fast and it seems to play havoc but TBH its suited Durham's style of play this season where our batting has been poor but our bowling pretty much excellent.

It'll be interesting too see what the Aussies post on it first innings.

Great day out. Looking forward to tomorrow.

When we won the toss, I thought we would have bowled

 

[bernardbresslaw]

Just got a ticket for tomorrow

 

[Wise Man Says]

I think Bairstow has his chance in the next 2 tests, we all know he'll play at the Oval, and I'd be surprised if he was dropped for Brisbane, but if the pitches for the 2 tests are the type we normally get, I think they'll be ideally suited to his style of play. He'll need a ton at one or other game, preferably Brisbane as we always start tours badly and any of our batsmen notching hundreds will be a decent start.

TBH, I reckon the tour down there will be very tough, I have a bad feeling about it.

When we won the toss, I thought we would have bowled

Not out way really. Runs on the board, wearing pitch for Swann with them batting last is what we usually go for.

Usual tactics. It's the same with our reluctance to chop and change teams, we have a set 11 and usually stick to it (except for example in Compton's case).

 

[Steak Pie]

Quite a bit of 20/20 hindsight going on here, was just a below par batting performance. Cook chose to bat, Clarke said he definitely would have batted, Sky commentary team would have batted, TMS team would have batted, Channel 5 team would have batted.

So, everyone whose been anywhere near the pitch says it's a good 'un and they would have batted. The SMB disagrees......

 

[BIG BAZ]

When we won the toss, I thought we would have bowled

this for me anarl but in all fairness Clarke said without doubt had he won the spin he wouldda batted

 

[bernardbresslaw]

Quite a bit of 20/20 hindsight going on here, was just a below par batting performance. Cook chose to bat, Clarke said he definitely would have batted, Sky commentary team would have batted, TMS team would have batted, Channel 5 team would have batted.

So, everyone whose been anywhere near the pitch says it's a good 'un and they would have batted. The SMB disagrees......

Pieterson?

 

[The Colonel]

Quite a bit of 20/20 hindsight going on here, was just a below par batting performance. Cook chose to bat, Clarke said he definitely would have batted, Sky commentary team would have batted, TMS team would have batted, Channel 5 team would have batted.

So, everyone whose been anywhere near the pitch says it's a good 'un and they would have batted. The SMB disagrees......

In fairness even Collingwood read his own pitch wrong v Yorkshire and admitted so afterwards. For those who havent seen Durham play this season or taken note of the low scores I'd agree, it had all the hallmarks of a belter, but there have been no belters here this year and someone should have factored that in.

It'll be interesting too see if the Aussies do any better when they bat.

TBH, I reckon the tour down there will be very tough, I have a bad feeling about it.



Not out way really. Runs on the board, wearing pitch for Swann with them batting last is what we usually go for.

Usual tactics. It's the same with our reluctance to chop and change teams, we have a set 11 and usually stick to it (except for example in Compton's case).

Be interesting too see if that happens as well.

If you use the Yorkshire game as an example the wicket got better, not worse, as the game went into the 4rth day. Look at the other games the 4rth innings totals were awful by and large.

Intriguing game set up.

 

[Steesafc]

Just got in, thoroughly enjoyable day despite the score! The best part of 16 hours drinking so i'll hold my opinion until later!