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Any changes for 2nd Test 🤔


Voice of fair play said:
Well there really isn’t much else, just making the point it isn’t as good indicator as the past as standard at test level much greater than ever been.

Pitches and conditions different

And all the openers several of them who scored runs at county level all failed at test level in recent years.
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The logical step is to blood them initially against minor test outfits- ,Bangladesh, Ireland ,West Indies nowadays sadly. Rather than throwing in the novice away in an Ashes. Not exactly rocket science!
 
I think less than 1% of Cricket fans want Crawley in the team, he just fails and fails and fails and it’s so predictable. I’d sooner have someone like Malan or Denly who would get 20 before getting out.

Bowling wise I think we need to bring in Tongue for wood. Don’t think the pink ball suits wood particularly.

Bigger than a personnel change, we need a tactical change. Bazball doesn’t need throwing out, but there has to be nuance. Put away aerial shots square of the wicket and ffs start actually running runs. Get bat on ball but knock it into the massive gaps and run 2s & 3s.

Total runs from 1st test. Crawley shite as we all know, but Root & Stokes need to improve with the bat.

Crawley - 0
Duckett - 49
Pope - 79
Root - 8
Brook - 52
Stokes - 8
Smith - 48
Atkinson - 38
Carse - 26
Archer - 5
Wood - 4
 
dangermows said:
And yet Stokes said it was those looking to stay in who had bother. Not sure playing red ball cricket at home prepares you for bouncier Australia pitches either (they should've exposed themselves more to the test conditions).

Did Australia need to bring Head up the order and go guns blazing when they had three days to knock off 200?
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The game played out like the Perth test last year. Difficult until the afternoon of day 2.

The lose shots straight after lunch cost us. Had they just played the ball on it's merits in that period they'd have been able to cash in.

Ponting as usual had his finger on the pulse. Maybe they should have listened to him at the start of day 2!

Head opened as Khawaja was injured for starters. But they'd just seen our tail playing it like a T20 without any real bother. So they knew it would hold up and be a road perfect for him to carry on playing that way.

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DonaldDownTheWing said:
I think less than 1% of Cricket fans want Crawley in the team, he just fails and fails and fails and it’s so predictable. I’d sooner have someone like Malan or Denly who would get 20 before getting out.

Bowling wise I think we need to bring in Tongue for wood. Don’t think the pink ball suits wood particularly.

Bigger than a personnel change, we need a tactical change. Bazball doesn’t need throwing out, but there has to be nuance. Put away aerial shots square of the wicket and ffs start actually running runs. Get bat on ball but knock it into the massive gaps and run 2s & 3s.

Total runs from 1st test. Crawley shite as we all know, but Root & Stokes need to improve with the bat.

Crawley - 0
Duckett - 49
Pope - 79
Root - 8
Brook - 52
Stokes - 8
Smith - 48
Atkinson - 38
Carse - 26
Archer - 5
Wood - 4
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Yeah but don't you know they can't drop Crawley because his game is well suited to Australian conditions...
 
Voice of fair play said:
I think the Rew brothers good shout but too early just a matter of time before they break through.

Lawrence and Sibley been there.

I agree Crawley should be dropped but disagree the wrong players have been selected as you suggested.

There is nobody out there who I think I wish he was picked he would make the difference.

But like you say mate all about opinions.
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James Rew has no chance it seems in this setup.

Apparently being a run machine in professional cricket doesn't count for anything. Picking his brother ahead of him on vibes and cos Rew has a few extra lbs.

Not to say Thomas isn't a talent before I get grief on that. But James Rew would have already played test cricket for any of the setups before this current one and he'd have scored tons.

He'd score tons in this current setup too as unlike most young players across the world who are T20 players trying to fit into red ball. He's got a technique that will see him do well in all formats.

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Eggman said:
So there’s Crawley and one of the five bowlers who all bowl right arm fast/medium for a start.

Do we really need 5 bowlers doing the same thing, with no variations ?

I know the likes of Sibley have been tried before, so I’m not saying pick him, but there’s no harm in having a second look at someone who might have improved or matured second time around.

How many times did the likes of Gatting or Hick get recalled before they got established ?
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Hick and Ramprakash unlike Gatting never were established but were undoubtedly amongst the best six batters in the country. Chopping and changing didn’t work but neither does picking someone who averages 30 after 60 tests to open the batting .
 
I'll also say this, as much fun as it is seeing Gus, Carse, Archer and Wood swinging the bat, they need to reign it in a bit when they get themselves in and in Archers case actually get in first instead of swinging from ball one
 
mackembhoy said:
James Rew has no chance it seems in this setup.

Apparently being a run machine in professional cricket doesn't count for anything. Picking his brother ahead of him on vibes and cos Rew has a few extra lbs.

Not to say Thomas isn't a talent before I get grief on that. But James Rew would have already played test cricket for any of the setups before this current one and he'd have scored tons.

He'd score tons in this current setup too as unlike most young players across the world who are T20 players trying to fit into red ball. He's got a technique that will see him do well in all formats.

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I think James is unlucky he has come through at exactly the same time as Smith if they only picking one keeper/batsman.

But agree on the other point about selection for the Lions although apparently Thomas a cracking prospect as well.
 
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Voice of fair play said:
I think James is unlucky he has come through at exactly the same time as Smith if they only picking one keeper/batsman.

But agree on the other point about selection for the Lions although apparently Thomas a cracking prospect as well.
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I'm not advocating Rew over Smith but he's a better batsman than Bethell/Cox/Lawrence.

The last 3 holders of the backup batsman slot in a time when he's been scoring consistently in the CC.

Liked that he moved up to 4 and still scored over 1000 runs. Also the youngest English player since Compton in 1939 to 10 FC tons.

But he not got the T20 prowess of them lot and that unfortunately seems to be more of a selection criteria.

James Rew is more like Root as an all format player and Root if he was coming through now wouldn't be picked for England either.
 
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mackembhoy said:
I'm not advocating Rew over Smith but he's a better batsman than Bethell/Cox/Lawrence.

The last 3 holders of the backup batsman slot in a time when he's been scoring consistently in the CC.

Liked that he moved up to 4 and still scored over 1000 runs. Also the youngest English player since Compton in 1939 to 10 FC tons.

But he not got the T20 prowess of them lot and that unfortunately seems to be more of a selection criteria.

James Rew is more like Root as an all format player and Root if he was coming through now wouldn't be picked for England either.
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Actually think he can adapt to T20 played a great innings in the semi final of the blast in 2024, although doesn’t normally make the Somerset T20 side although will this year.

But yeah more of a red ball player and a top class player full stop so totally agree with the wider point you making.

I think Root would be picked if he was coming through now mind, but that a different argument, you have still seen players like Pope and Foakes for example picked, so it’s not all dashers all of time.
 
Voice of fair play said:
Actually think he can adapt to T20 played a great innings in the semi final of the blast in 2024, although doesn’t normally make the Somerset T20 side although will this year.

But yeah more of a red ball player and a top class player full stop so totally agree with the wider point you making.

I think Root would be picked if he was coming through now mind, but that a different argument, you have still seen players like Pope and Foakes for example picked, so it’s not all dashers all of time.
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Foakes was discarded precisely because he's not a dasher whilst Pope looks as if he's on borrowed time have only been given a 1 year extended central contract and losing the vice-captaincy. Pity because I though he was the only batsman who came out with any credibility in the 1st test. Doubt very much if Root would be selected using current criteria.Both Root and Brook have deteriorated by trying to adapt to Bazball.
They both have enough natural ability to score at a healthy rate without the risk taking that Bazball escews.
 
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mackinbristol said:
Yeah but don't you know they can't drop Crawley because his game is well suited to Australian conditions...
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If I'm coming in at 3 or 4 then I'd not want Crawley opening. It's either 200 or out first 5 overs.

No time for a cup of tea and a quick check of the SMB
 
Voice of fair play said:
Actually think he can adapt to T20 played a great innings in the semi final of the blast in 2024, although doesn’t normally make the Somerset T20 side although will this year.

But yeah more of a red ball player and a top class player full stop so totally agree with the wider point you making.

I think Root would be picked if he was coming through now mind, but that a different argument, you have still seen players like Pope and Foakes for example picked, so it’s not all dashers all of time.
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Foakes was messed around. He never got a run at all. The odd test here and there. I can always see the arguments against him, but he was badly treated

Pope averaged nearly 60 at the time, he was always going to be picked.
 
I would basically pick who the Aussies would least like to face. Therefore Wood plays 100%. He needs to get his pace and his aggression up.

The Aussies would be absolutely licking their lips if Bashir plays. He's bang average and would get some serious tap.

Crawley is a potential match winner if he can stay at the crease. A big ask.

I'd pick the same side. No issues with burn out or fitness after a 2 day test. They picked the right team for the first test. We didn't score enough runs and bowled shit once. Root is the key and Stokes' batting too. They both need to come to party batting wise.
 
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