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England vs India (fourth test) The Oval


Vince doesn't open anymore. He bats 4/5.

Been saying it all summer when he's been suggested

Edit: not batted higher than 5 this season

I couldn’t care less where he bats

I’m just using him as an example really

you need to pick someone who won’t get 7 ducks in a year

someone who can block a good ball and not get out because he is looking down to cover point every ball
Of the ones we’ve tried Burns remains the best option for me. We need to accept that averaging 32 opening in England mightn’t be the worst thing in the world.

Said at the time that Denly was dropped last year that his worth might only become apparent once he was out of the team and I still don’t think we’ve seen an upgrade on him at 3. Although Malan has made a decent comeback so far.

he’s not though

it’s not about his average

that’s irrelevant

it’s not played on paper

if he gets a 100 every 5 tests but gets single figure scores in between how is that any use?
I’ve thought about it. Can he? There are less ‘good balls’ to face when you hide down at 5 mind.

I really hope not. I’d have him 5 in this team currently.

just an example

but Vince or someone like him gets out playing shots

not keeping out a straight ball that moves a bit in the first over

that’s my point

people getting too hung up on Vince, I take that back. Just anyone with a proper technique

Burns will never not get out consistently early

which is more important than the odd 100, if that makes sense
I’ve thought about it. Can he? There are less ‘good balls’ to face when you hide down at 5 mind.

I really hope not. I’d have him 5 in this team currently.

how can you pick livingstone

he got out leaving a straight one yesterday for example
 
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I don't know how Burns gets a game. Yesterday he scored 5 and watched that shot from Kohli go straight past him. Every time I see him he's useless. I don't know who would replace him, but he can't be the best we've got.
 
I don't know how Burns gets a game. Yesterday he scored 5 and watched that shot from Kohli go straight past him. Every time I see him he's useless. I don't know who would replace him, but he can't be the best we've got.
Will that’s it mate, no disrespect but it’s easy to say someone should not get a game.

But harder to suggest someone better to take his place, and the bottom line is they isn’t anyone better.

He is the best opening batsman in this country at the moment.
I couldn’t care less where he bats

I’m just using him as an example really

you need to pick someone who won’t get 7 ducks in a year

someone who can block a good ball and not get out because he is looking down to cover point every ball


he’s not though

it’s not about his average

that’s irrelevant

it’s not played on paper

if he gets a 100 every 5 tests but gets single figure scores in between how is that any use?


just an example

but Vince or someone like him gets out playing shots

not keeping out a straight ball that moves a bit in the first over

that’s my point

people getting too hung up on Vince, I take that back. Just anyone with a proper technique

Burns will never not get out consistently early

which is more important than the odd 100, if that makes sense


how can you pick livingstone

he got out leaving a straight one yesterday for example
Personally I think we could do worse than Livingstone, it’s not as if he has just been a success at the shorter format, he has decent first class red ball record, but more importantly don’t think we can underestimate confidence, his recent record in shorter format will give him massive confidence in a similar way I believe has happened with Malan

Confidence is massive as a batsman imo.
 
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Averages 40 in first class cricket, I suspect the second paragraph was trolling…
Livingstone only got 77 runs in 7 red ball innings this season.

Mind he says it doesn't matter that James Vince bats at 5. He should open for England cos he scores runs and doesn't get ducks.

His only good knock this season was 231 against Leicestershires woeful bowling.

Take that out and Vince averages 26.84 and that's good enough for England apparently
Personally I think we could do worse than Livingstone, it’s not as if he has just been a success at the shorter format, he has decent first class red ball record, but more importantly don’t think we can underestimate confidence, his recent record in shorter format will give him massive confidence in a similar way I believe has happened with Malan

Confidence is massive as a batsman imo.
77 runs in 7 innings for Livingstone. Not a chance.

Malan at least had a 199 behind him for Yorkshire from his one knock in red ball.
 
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massive day, just cant afford to get rolled over with the weather improving
His absence is demonstrating the importance of an opener with good defensive technique

Sibley's problem is he was just bang out of form, I had no problem with how he played, but he got out of form so he was just getting out quickly too

think he got like 50 odd this week in the CC
 
massive day, just cant afford to get rolled over with the weather improving


Sibley's problem is he was just bang out of form, I had no problem with how he played, but he got out of form so he was just getting out quickly too

think he got like 50 odd this week in the CC
India had come up with a strategy for Sibley: pack the on-side field (as he has no scoring shots on the off-side) and fish for his aerial flick off the hips.

The batting coaches should have addressed this between the away and home series. By all accounts he is a hard grafter in the nets, and has made all sorts of improvements to his game.

The problems with Hameed and Burns appear psychological and less easily addressed.
 
India had come up with a strategy for Sibley: pack the on-side field (as he has no scoring shots on the off-side) and fish for his aerial flick off the hips.

The batting coaches should have addressed this between the away and home series. By all accounts he is a hard grafter in the nets, and has made all sorts of improvements to his game.

The problems with Hameed and Burns appear psychological and less easily addressed.

agree on sibley

Burns for me is technical, so many moving parts that he just can’t keep the good balls out early consistently, and I don’t think he ever will

Hameed seems flaky like, is he tough enough for test cricket? Unsure as of yet

sibley should have been dropped just annoying me bit how media just praising hameed as miles better than sibley, who himself has 2 test 100s.
 
His absence is demonstrating the importance of an opener with good defensive technique and mental toughness.

I agree, he's just too defensive. Way too defensive. It was pointed out he got in the 50s for Warwickshire this week, but also 3 in the first innings. He's not for me.

I do think we're in trouble as far as openers go, but Sibley isn't the answer.
 
India had come up with a strategy for Sibley: pack the on-side field (as he has no scoring shots on the off-side) and fish for his aerial flick off the hips.

The batting coaches should have addressed this between the away and home series. By all accounts he is a hard grafter in the nets, and has made all sorts of improvements to his game.

The problems with Hameed and Burns appear psychological and less easily addressed.
Burns' issues are without doubt technical, there's no doubting the confidence or mental toughness of a man with his hair to be honest. Hameed really is like a rabbit caught in the headlights, the Aussies would have a field day with him down under.
 
Burns' issues are without doubt technical, there's no doubting the confidence or mental toughness of a man with his hair to be honest. Hameed really is like a rabbit caught in the headlights, the Aussies would have a field day with him down under.

aye agree with both points
 
I think looking at county averages and short term performances in red ball cricket shouldn’t be the only way of assessing whether someone should be selected for Test cricket in the modern day game. The lack of quality bowlers playing in it, the lack of genuine commitment to preparing for it because of the calendar, the lacking quality of the pitches, and the lack of ‘big game’ matches in it doesn’t lend itself well to making selection choices.

Temperament and performances in big white ball games and a basic technique are probably as good indicators as averages in red ball county cricket. Just look at Joe Root’s performances in domestic red ball cricket this season, he had one good knock. It’s almost like a different sport given the conditions of county cricket.
 
Burns' issues are without doubt technical, there's no doubting the confidence or mental toughness of a man with his hair to be honest. Hameed really is like a rabbit caught in the headlights, the Aussies would have a field day with him down under.
Burns was recognised as one of the more mentally tough players in the game, but he and his Mrs had a bairn last year and he admitted to struggling with life in the bubble: says he needs to be able to get away from cricket to recharge his batteries.

Sibley is an absolute geek by all accounts, lives and breathes the game.
 
Burns was recognised as one of the more mentally tough players in the game, but he and his Mrs had a bairn last year and he admitted to struggling with life in the bubble: says he needs to be able to get away from cricket to recharge his batteries.

Sibley is an absolute geek by all accounts, lives and breathes the game.
That may be so, but I don’t think his game has been affected by mental issues like Buttler’s clearly has been, or just mental toughness in general like Hameed. He’s clearly just struggling with the quality of test cricket.

That’s not to say a break from the game wouldn’t do him some good like, these lads are only human after all.
 
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