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Thoughts on Room for Improvement from the test summer

scotch

scotch

Striker
That should be Lawrence binned. Need to find a spare opener for Oz.

Duckett needs to find a brain, 70/80 wont win you tests.

Popes captaincy taken away (perhaps have him give up the VC rather than it seem like theyve taken it off him, look at Brook). Nearly 50 tests and still struggling to find any consistency or 2nd innings runs.

Is the wicketkeeper debate over? Given how well Smith has batted, might they look at him as a top 6 player

Woakes cant operate over 5 tests back to back in current test schedules (lets be honest, even Cummings last summer was suffering) at his age, was definitely creaking at times, would not be surprised if he had a niggle. Cant get away with him at 7 if the top order fails.

Potts needs to keep working on his batting because Woakes spot could be there for him in the future.

Atkinson needs to learn from this experience and build on his fitness, looked goosed this test and carrying an injury, speeds were dropping every test though.

Hull needs at least another year to develop and add some speed (Broad came in on the back of a good county start and bowled at similar pace with less success on his debut test)

Bashir, could do with working on his batting.

Wood needs to be wrapped in cotton wool next year.

Good to see Stone back, seems silly to chuck him into the ODI squad given his injury record.

Bowling economy rates, seemed to go unnoticed but at time the Sri Lankans were outscoring us without even trying to slog, Atkinson, Stone and Hull all went at over 4, near 5 and over 5 runs per over each.

Test match ticket prices need to drop, Lords shouldnt have 2 tests when we only have 6 in the summer, test should be more spread out to allow bowlers to recover.
 

We just look weak in the lower order batting without a number 8 who can bat
Don’t get me wrong , Gus’ Ton was brilliant, however I can’t see him being a long term no 8
 
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Parkside said:
Certainly shouldn't and although his shot selection is limited criticism of him is harsh. I take it that you've never used the term brainless about a shot or action of a player
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He plays some poor shots but he also scores a lot of runs off risky shots

Him and Crawley are probs the best partnership around the game at the minute

Going back to the OPs thread.

Pope needs to find a way to get in more, it’s boom or bust, we need to do more

Brook needs to do more too, slightly carried away he got

We need to work out who is going to take the new ball ahead of Woakes abroad, and for me it should be Potts
scotch said:
That should be Lawrence binned. Need to find a spare opener for Oz.

Duckett needs to find a brain, 70/80 wont win you tests.

Popes captaincy taken away (perhaps have him give up the VC rather than it seem like theyve taken it off him, look at Brook). Nearly 50 tests and still struggling to find any consistency or 2nd innings runs.

Is the wicketkeeper debate over? Given how well Smith has batted, might they look at him as a top 6 player

Woakes cant operate over 5 tests back to back in current test schedules (lets be honest, even Cummings last summer was suffering) at his age, was definitely creaking at times, would not be surprised if he had a niggle. Cant get away with him at 7 if the top order fails.

Potts needs to keep working on his batting because Woakes spot could be there for him in the future.

Atkinson needs to learn from this experience and build on his fitness, looked goosed this test and carrying an injury, speeds were dropping every test though.

Hull needs at least another year to develop and add some speed (Broad came in on the back of a good county start and bowled at similar pace with less success on his debut test)

Bashir, could do with working on his batting.

Wood needs to be wrapped in cotton wool next year.

Good to see Stone back, seems silly to chuck him into the ODI squad given his injury record.

Bowling economy rates, seemed to go unnoticed but at time the Sri Lankans were outscoring us without even trying to slog, Atkinson, Stone and Hull all went at over 4, near 5 and over 5 runs per over each.

Test match ticket prices need to drop, Lords shouldnt have 2 tests when we only have 6 in the summer, test should be more spread out to allow bowlers to recover.
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I agree with a lot but not on economy rates, that was purely down to the fields by Pope. They were ridiculous, just had to get it past the bowler and it was 4

He captained ok in the others but had a shocker here
 
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MustardAndOnions said:
but not on economy rates, that was purely down to the fields by Pope. They were ridiculous, just had to get it past the bowler and it was 4

He captained ok in the others but had a shocker here
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It is a dig at Pope's captaincy mind that the fields were too attacking, not offering enough support to the bowlers.
 
Still think if you put Pope at 5 he scores big runs

Brook needs to realise that test cricket can be hard, he could be a star, but he’s sloppy

Smith is better than 7 but also perfect at 7

Atkinson is a great find but he steadily lost effectiveness, need to look after bowlers

Picking purely on height is a mistake

Ticket prices for the smaller nations are a joke

Tests shouldn’t revolve around white ball cricket
 
chunkyshanhawk53 said:
Still think if you put Pope at 5 he scores big runs

Brook needs to realise that test cricket can be hard, he could be a star, but he’s sloppy

Smith is better than 7 but also perfect at 7

Atkinson is a great find but he steadily lost effectiveness, need to look after bowlers

Picking purely on height is a mistake

Ticket prices for the smaller nations are a joke

Tests shouldn’t revolve around white ball cricket
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I’m not sure on pope. I think he will always get out early wherever he plays, it’s his mindset early on that needs to change. He’s under no pressure from me though, I think we fans are creating a problem a bit
 
If you want to be a serious test team, you can't have Chris Woakes opening the bowling.

Test matches need to be restored to the summer. Making it impossible for kids to watch test matches will kill the sport.

If you don't respect the game, the better sides will batter you. Some of the cricket played by England this summer has been nothing short of a piss take. We'll get whitewashed in Oz if we continue.

Only real positive to come out of the season is that the wicketkeeper position is sorted for the time being.
 
Steak Pie said:
If you want to be a serious test team, you can't have Chris Woakes opening the bowling.

Test matches need to be restored to the summer. Making it impossible for kids to watch test matches will kill the sport.

If you don't respect the game, the better sides will batter you. Some of the cricket played by England this summer has been nothing short of a piss take. We'll get whitewashed in Oz if we continue.

Only real positive to come out of the season is that the wicketkeeper position is sorted for the time being.
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You can in England, he’s brilliant.

So harsh that post like.
 
I’m happy with Duckett and Crawley as the opening pair, but I would have liked to see us try another opener in this series.

Pope I can take or leave, I am not against him carrying on at 3 as there is no realistic alternative and no time to blood one before India and Australia, which unfortunately is all that matters these days.

Another run of low scores and his place should be under intense scrutiny, no chance it will be by those that matter however.

Very happy with Smith as keeper batsman.

Disappointed for Foakes and for me there would be a place for him somewhere, even as specialist batsman.

Still firmly believe Jimmy is in our best XI and should be going to Pakistan as a bowler. The way they handled him stepping down left a bad taste and will continue to do so for some time yet. Other than Potts and Wood the rest of the bowling resources are a bit meh, to me.

Looking forward to seeing Archie Vaughan in the side sooner rather than later, but overall I’m finding it hard to be enthused about the test side, test cricket and cricket in general at the moment, for various reasons.
 
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Salem Street South said:
I’m happy with Duckett and Crawley as the opening pair, but I would have liked to see us try another opener in this series.

Pope I can take or leave, I am not against him carrying on at 3 as there is no realistic alternative and no time to blood one before India and Australia, which unfortunately is all that matters these days.

Another run of low scores and his place should be under intense scrutiny, no chance it will be by those that matter however.

Very happy with Smith as keeper batsman.

Disappointed for Foakes and for me there would be a place for him somewhere, even as specialist batsman.

Still firmly believe Jimmy is in our best XI and should be going to Pakistan as a bowler. The way they handled him stepping down left a bad taste and will continue to do so for some time yet. Other than Potts and Wood the rest of the bowling resources are a bit meh, to me.

Looking forward to seeing Archie Vaughan in the side sooner rather than later, but overall I’m finding it hard to be enthused about the test side, test cricket and cricket in general at the moment, for various reasons.
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I just don’t get the obsession online with Foakes

He’s just not quite good enough. He’s a good cricketer but he’s just below top level.
 
MustardAndOnions said:
I just don’t get the obsession online with Foakes

He’s just not quite good enough. He’s a good cricketer but he’s just below top level.
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He’s an exceptional keeper

As a batsman I think he’s underrated

I think he's sound technically and his temperament is suited to Test cricket.

On this summer’s evidence I am very happy with Smith as our keeper batsman, as said.
 
Foakes just simply unlucky, ever so often people just come along who just are soo good they replace you in the side as you just have to play them.

Smith in that bracket.

Just like our middle order was good when KP came along he had to play and someone had to be dropped
 
Voice of fair play said:
Foakes just simply unlucky, ever so often people just come along who just are soo good they replace you in the side as you just have to play them.

Smith in that bracket.

Just like our middle order was good when KP came along he had to play and someone had to be dropped
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I'd like to see how Smith keeps in Pakistan to spinners before raving about him.
Wicketkeeping has become a lost art with the dearth of spinners. Rew's keeping yesterday on a turning pitch was excellent.
I'm not denying Smith's batting capabilities.
 
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Salem Street South said:
He’s an exceptional keeper

As a batsman I think he’s underrated

I think he's sound technically and his temperament is suited to Test cricket.

On this summer’s evidence I am very happy with Smith as our keeper batsman, as said.
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He’s not good enough for international cricket I don’t think

I’d have 2 or 3 others ahead of him

People stuck with this romantic view of a glove man from the 1980s or someit
Voice of fair play said:
Foakes just simply unlucky, ever so often people just come along who just are soo good they replace you in the side as you just have to play them.

Smith in that bracket.

Just like our middle order was good when KP came along he had to play and someone had to be dropped
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He’s not unlucky

He shouldn’t be in the team even when Smith gets injured

He’s not a good enough batsman,
Parkside said:
I'd like to see how Smith keeps in Pakistan to spinners before raving about him.
Wicketkeeping has become a lost art with the dearth of spinners. Rew's keeping yesterday on a turning pitch was excellent.
I'm not denying Smith's batting capabilities.
Click to expand...

We won in Pakistan with Pope keeping twice like

Foakes is clearly a good keeper but this idea he’s some game changing player because he gathers the ball better, not for me.
 
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