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Test squad Zimbabwe (and let’s make it the match thread)

Durham-Mackem41 said:
Probably the most unbalanced day of test cricket I have ever seen. The ICC need to do better in terms of trying to improve structure in the lesser countries.

As I don’t think anyone whats to see matches like this where the outcome is more of less guaranteed before a ball goes down.

Pope and Crawley rightly under pressure before this test then both score hundreds to let’s be honest an attack that is not even division 2 county standard.

The worry is if they both continue to struggle v India no time to blood new players for the Ashes.

You can’t win away with an opener who averages 30 and a number 3 who’s so in and out.

I love cricket especially test cricket but found little enjoyment in that today.
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That opener who averages 30 didn't last time he played Australia so who knows
 

Durham-Mackem41 said:
Probably the most unbalanced day of test cricket I have ever seen. The ICC need to do better in terms of trying to improve structure in the lesser countries.

As I don’t think anyone whats to see matches like this where the outcome is more of less guaranteed before a ball goes down.

Pope and Crawley rightly under pressure before this test then both score hundreds to let’s be honest an attack that is not even division 2 county standard.

The worry is if they both continue to struggle v India no time to blood new players for the Ashes.

You can’t win away with an opener who averages 30 and a number 3 who’s so in and out.

I love cricket especially test cricket but found little enjoyment in that today.
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They literally just won 2-1 in New Zealand

That was literally the last series we had played ffs
 
I understand the need for developing cricketing nations (Zimbabwe weren't until Mugabe destroyed them mind) to play the top teams but it's no good if they can't compete, then you could argue why they can't improve otherwise 🤔

The ads under pressure can't win either.. they fail or score runs they opponents aren't good enough for the media or us 🤣

Can't follow a lot of it but I don't think I'll miss much haha
 
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MustardAndOnions said:
They literally just won 2-1 in New Zealand

That was literally the last series we had played ffs
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With Crawley averaging 14 and Pope has one huge score and loads of failures in between you seem to have blinkers on when it comes to justifiable criticism of England or Durham players.

I will stand by it until proven otherwise they are both sub standard test players. The standard for a good test player has Neven changed an average of 40 and a hundred every 5 games both well short of that.

It was Crawleys first hundred in 2 years and averted 11 last ashes down under.
 
Durham-Mackem41 said:
With Crawley averaging 14 and Pope has one huge score and loads of failures in between you seem to have blinkers on when it comes to justifiable criticism of England or Durham players.

I will stand by it until proven otherwise they are both sub standard test players. The standard for a good test player has Neven changed an average of 40 and a hundred every 5 games both well short of that.

It was Crawleys first hundred in 2 years and averted 11 last ashes down under.
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Pope averages over 40 at 3

Hardly any opener in the world averages 40 now. It’s a lot lot harder.

I dunno why you are so desperate to write off an unbelievable test series win in NZ, also forgetting Pope has a great series
 
MustardAndOnions said:
Pope averages over 40 at 3

Hardly any opener in the world averages 40 now. It’s a lot lot harder.

I dunno why you are so desperate to write off an unbelievable test series win in NZ, also forgetting Pope has a great series
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Pope is to in and out and such a nervous starter also found out badly v Aussies you rate him I don’t think your putting a ceiling on your side of he is your number 3 and Crawley opens.

But it’s a game of opinions if I was an opponent in our line up its Root and Brook you want out don’t think captains worry much on Crawley or Pope.

I hope they both have great series both v India and Aussies but think far more likely the h both struggle.

Crawley averaged 11 got dropped and recalled last time down Uber and Pope averages 15 v Australia.

I think they both will stay in the team under current management.

Last time we won down under we had 3 players averaging 50 with a keeper averaging 40 and 8&9 averaging in the mid 20s.

The hyper aggressive approach which works well on flatter pitches is to mask the fact that of our top you have 2 great players one good and 3 you are below average in terms or averages and hundreds made.
 
Both played well yesterday but we learnt nothing from them both getting runs yesterday. They did what was asked of them but even with a good series against India, people will be dubious about them down under. I think Crawley 's game is more suited to Australian pitches where the ball will come on to the bat a little quicker, and there'll be less seam movement with a bit of added bounce. Pope is the more likely to struggle IMO as he often looks frenetic early in his innings.
 
Dexter said:
Chance we aim for 1,000 before the end of the day?
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I’d love to see it. No point and humiliating for Zimbabwe but it’d just be satisfying to see a score over 1,000.

Glad they haven’t declared so those with tickets more likely to see the game. Could have been over in under 3 days
 
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