England make it to a major final

[The Breen Machine]

I would like to think England management will employ different tactics for different grounds (ie, An Indian flat top, we would launch early then conslidate against spinners?)

I would too but have we seen evidence of this in the past?

I know the KP factor is a big one but I'm disapointed England chose to revert back to Bell opening in his absence, rather than try and replace an instinctively attacking batsman with another and allow Cook and Trott to play with less pressure.

 

[Deleted member 35923]

Plenty reasons to be cheerful but I still don't like the make-up and balance of the side at all and I think in anywhere other than English conditions we wouldn't have had a sniff of the final with the side we have put out.

I agree.

Yes its an achievement and it will be good to see us in a final. We have been very professional in our approach and that cant be faulted.

However I don't know why people are getting uppity by stating we are quite formulaic, conservative and at times a little dull. We have some fairly dynamic players in our side and also some very effective players who play their own none flamboyant style. That is fine but at the minute I think our combinations could be improved - especially in terms of the batting order.

Id just like to see us playing more attacking and positive cricket, particularly when we have teams on the ropes and at times I think we play it a little too safe when we probably don't need to

 

[scotch]

Hope so. I can see us beating Sri Lanka but India look quite strong at the moment.

Always get the feeling that if you get dilshan, sanga and Jaywardene early then you can just steamroll through the rest of their batting line up.

India just keep coming though all the way down.

 

[johnson]

I would too but have we seen evidence of this in the past?

I know the KP factor is a big one but I'm disapointed England chose to revert back to Bell opening in his absence, rather than try and replace an instinctively attacking batsman with another and allow Cook and Trott to play with less pressure.

A myth, hence why they are in the final

What is an attacking batsman? Someone who makes 35 off 20 then gets out?

Plenty reasons to be cheerful but I still don't like the make-up and balance of the side at all and I think in anywhere other than English conditions we wouldn't have had a sniff of the final with the side we have put out.

Couldn't disagree more

 

[Deleted member 35923]

A myth, hence why they are in the final

What is an attacking batsman? Someone who makes 35 off 20 then gets out?

You don't have to be a Chris Gayle or Shahid Afridi to be considered attacking.

A batsman that takes calculated risks, can escalate their scoring when required and give us a solid platform to build on in the middle overs without scoreboard pressure.

I wouldnt drop any of the players at the top of the order. The combinations need changing though. For me, Root should be promoted to the top of the order. His approach is aggressive - that doesnt mean he is slogging to all parts.

 

[The Breen Machine]

A myth, hence why they are in the final

What is an attacking batsman? Someone who makes 35 off 20 then gets out?



Couldn't disagree more

An attacking opening batsman? Someone who may make 35 off 20 but his scoring rate leaves less pressure on those around him who's natural scoring rate is lower, and in turn leaves less pressure on the middle to lower order. How many times does Bell score 35 off 45 then gets out, what would you prefer?

We have been lucky in the sense that Bopara and Buttler have come in and been able to moose it in the last few overs in some games, but a top 3 of Cook, Bell and Trott are far too similar in their styles and scoring rates to see England successful in different conditions and tournements.

You don't have to be a Chris Gayle or Shahid Afridi to be considered attacking.

A batsman that takes calculated risks, can escalate their scoring when required and give us a solid platform to build on in the middle overs without scoreboard pressure.

I wouldnt drop any of the players at the top of the order. The combinations need changing though. For me, Root should be promoted to the top of the order. His approach is aggressive - that doesnt mean he is slogging to all parts.

I think there is a lack of positive opening batsmen in the country who can cope with international cricket, promoting Root rather than Bell would have been a better idea for me, with Bopara at 4 and Bairstow at 6.

 

[essex boy]

Stoneman could be worth a go at some point

 

[Deleted member 35923]

Stoneman could be worth a go at some point

if he remains consistent for the rest of this season he certainly will be in with a shout.

 

[ProfessionalMackem]

Always get the feeling that if you get dilshan, sanga and Jaywardene early then you can just steamroll through the rest of their batting line up.

India just keep coming though all the way down.

Aye that's why I want the Sri Lankans to knock the suckers out. It'll be a canny atmosphere either way though. Really looking forward to the final.

Can Butler not try his hand at opening? If he doesn't come off we still have the likes of Bops and the gypo to attack at the end of an innings.

What this problem really highlights is how much we miss KP near the top of the order.

 

[Deleted member 26022]

this could set england up for a great summer:-D

 

[johnson]

An attacking opening batsman? Someone who may make 35 off 20 but his scoring rate leaves less pressure on those around him who's natural scoring rate is lower, and in turn leaves less pressure on the middle to lower order. How many times does Bell score 35 off 45 then gets out, what would you prefer?

We have been lucky in the sense that Bopara and Buttler have come in and been able to moose it in the last few overs in some games, but a top 3 of Cook, Bell and Trott are far too similar in their styles and scoring rates to see England successful in different conditions and tournements.



I think there is a lack of positive opening batsmen in the country who can cope with international cricket, promoting Root rather than Bell would have been a better idea for me, with Bopara at 4 and Bairstow at 6.

I don't agree with pinch hitters at the top of the order

Not know with the two new balls rule

We have eased to the final really, your posts seem like there is some big problem with the ODI side, there isn't

We are playing the conditions and until recently we were ranked the best ODI side in the world

 

[Deleted member 35923]

I don't agree with pinch hitters at the top of the order

Not know with the two new balls rule

We have eased to the final really, your posts seem like there is some big problem with the ODI side, there isn't

We are playing the conditions and until recently we were ranked the best ODI side in the world

Root wouldnt be a pinch hitter. There is a big difference between a pinch hitter and a naturally aggressive and attacking batsman like Root.

 

[johnson]

Root wouldnt be a pinch hitter. There is a big difference between a pinch hitter and a naturally aggressive and attacking batsman like Root.

No agree with that, Root would be excellent there

Was responding to a different post.

 

[The Breen Machine]

I don't agree with pinch hitters at the top of the order

Not know with the two new balls rule

We have eased to the final really, your posts seem like there is some big problem with the ODI side, there isn't

We are playing the conditions and until recently we were ranked the best ODI side in the world

No one is advocating a pinch hitter, there's a big difference between asking somebody like Swann to open up and whack it, or asking someone like Root who scores at a good rate and works the field well to open, or someone like Steven Davies who has opened in ODI's before, scored well and does it regularly in domestic cricket with a high strike rate. Ideally you want someone like Cook who is an authentic strokemaker who can bat 50 overs, alongside a more dynamic, come hard at the ball opening batsman who will look to hit the ball over the infield, take risks and score boundaries, particularly when you have Trott at 3.

There is no massive problem with the ODI side, there is something lacking which won't see us win a major tournement unless we are at home and things work in our favour. We have a good side but we aren't using what's available to us and are way too inflexible as it is.

 

[scotch]

Could definitely be worth having for the World Cup in Australia

Cook
trott
Root
KP
Morgan
Stokes
Buttler
Broad
Tredwell
Anderson
Finn

Bopara, Bresnan. Bell, Bairstow, Hales, Briggs, Harris in reserve

 

[mikemanc]

The most frustrating thing for me is the number of dot balls the top 3 are happy to play out. I don't want them to go dancing down the wicket or backing away and hitting over cover because that's not their game. However, they are all capable of knocking the ball about, looking for a single every ball and aggressively pushing the fielding side. Instead they just sit there with a defensive prod and hold the pose rather than looking for the opportunity.

 

[Deleted member 35923]

Cook
Root
Trott
KP
Morgan
Prior
Buttler
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Finn

Id be happy with that.

 

[johnson]

The most frustrating thing for me is the number of dot balls the top 3 are happy to play out. I don't want them to go dancing down the wicket or backing away and hitting over cover because that's not their game. However, they are all capable of knocking the ball about, looking for a single every ball and aggressively pushing the fielding side. Instead they just sit there with a defensive prod and hold the pose rather than looking for the opportunity.

They don't thought, they are very good at scoring singles and twos.

 

[SR5 1SU]

Bad forecast for Sunday, rain all day at edgebaston :-(

I'm going to be extremely disappointed if the weather plays up, I've been really looking forward to the final now England are in it.

 

[mikemanc]

They don't thought, they are very good at scoring singles and twos.

Why do they usually score at less than 5 an over for the first 35 overs then?