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3rd test - Headingley


It's just started drizzling. Quite muggy.

Edit: thunder now. Just got back from my run in time.
 
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Voice of fair play said:
Well yeah I know this is the biggest series of all and emotions run high understandably but we have been well in all the test matches, and our approach needs to be more adaptable and more flexible.

Loads of posters have made that valid point.

We need to keep the faith in Mccullum and Stokes going forward imo
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I'm keeping the faith completely in the longer term, though I expect us to lose this series comfortably, possibly by four or five.

Aggression doesn't have to equal recklessness and certainly not brianlessness. Stokes' batting in the last two innings exemplifies how measured and balanced it can be, but Stokes and Root aside, none of the other batsmen can play that way. They're not experienced enough in digging out an innings. Brook and Duckett, outrageous talents in twenty over cricket and doing ok in white, but so unpredictable. Crawley plays properly but nicks out at 30 or 40, just like Atherton did more often that not! But openers will do that.

Against good bowlers, say India or Pakistan, the others' technique will smash two or three quick 60s or 70s per innings and our bowlers have been good enough to get the wickets to get wins.

Against excellent bowlers who know what they're doing to pick on every player's flaws and niggles, we fall apart.

What gets it for me is the obvious lack of preparation, in bowling, fielding and dare I say fitness. The bowlers have had some good ideas and variation, notably against Labushagne, but only sporadically against the others. The whole team just all seem a bit undercooked and like they're winging it with no plan. Oh and Wood should have played the first test let alone the second.

The difference between the sides has been preparation and professionalism. We have bags of potential but we need to add a bit of Fletcher thoroughness into the McCullum mentality and we might actually achieve something. And get them playing County Cricket in August not the effing Hundred.

This series has been fast, yes even quite close, but ultimately sloppy and ugly cricket. "Bazball" (hate the brand) was the only logical strategy after 16 defeats or whatever it was, and it's made the most of what we have, but we must find a way to tune it and improve on it. Preparation, practice and professionalism.
 
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Beau Peep said:
I'm keeping the faith completely in the longer term, though I expect us to lose this series comfortably, possibly by four or five.

Aggression doesn't have to equal recklessness and certainly not brianlessness. Stokes' batting in the last two innings exemplifies how measured and balanced it can be, but Stokes and Root aside, none of the other batsmen can play that way. They're not experienced enough in digging out an innings. Brook and Duckett, outrageous talents in twenty over cricket and doing ok in white, but so unpredictable. Crawley plays properly but nicks out at 30 or 40, just like Atherton did more often that not! But openers will do that.

Against good bowlers, say India or Pakistan, the others' technique will smash two or three quick 60s or 70s per innings and our bowlers have been good enough to get the wickets to get wins.

Against excellent bowlers who know what they're doing to pick on every player's flaws and niggles, we fall apart.

What gets it for me is the obvious lack of preparation, in bowling, fielding and dare I say fitness. The bowlers have had some good ideas and variation, notably against Labushagne, but only sporadically against the others. The whole team just all seem a bit undercooked and like they're winging it with no plan. Oh and Wood should have played the first test let alone the second.

The difference between the sides has been preparation and professionalism. We have bags of potential but we need to add a bit of Fletcher thoroughness into the McCullum mentality and we might actually achieve something. And get them playing County Cricket in August not the effing Hundred.

This series has been fast, yes even quite close, but ultimately sloppy and ugly cricket. "Bazball" (hate the brand) was the only logical strategy after 16 defeats or whatever it was, and it's made the most of what we have, but we must find a way to tune it and improve on it. Preparation, practice and professionalism.
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Yeah good post mate, but I suspect you slightly off the ball with Wood, sure he would have played earlier if fully fit
 
Beau Peep said:
I'm keeping the faith completely in the longer term, though I expect us to lose this series comfortably, possibly by four or five.

Aggression doesn't have to equal recklessness and certainly not brianlessness. Stokes' batting in the last two innings exemplifies how measured and balanced it can be, but Stokes and Root
Click to expand...
Not sure what brianlessness is but I don't like it! ;)


For all the talk of bazball it doesn't look to me that they're actually playing bazball because Australia are putting too much pressure on them. For all the enjoyment since the moment Stokes became captain we're only just now seeing how good these players are, and a number are falling short.

Worth noting what Australians are saying about England players, the ones they fear are Root, Stokes and in this match Wood if he can hit his straps, which it looks like he has.
 
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