Cricket

[TheGayTent]

You've got your wish....

Most bizarre, didn't deserve to be dropped, doesn't deserve his recall. 

I hope he shows Bayliss what he can do, but you have to wonder now what the selectors do next if he Ballance fails in this Pakistan series. 

[kaosmark2]

Yeah. His form hasn't been stellar this summer. Borthwick's been better and gives another part-time spin option with a winter in India coming.

Some players the selectors like coming back to (Bairstow), I guess they bring in Butler?

[TheGayTent]

6 minutes ago, kaosmark2 said:

Yeah. His form hasn't been stellar this summer. Borthwick's been better and gives another part-time spin option with a winter in India coming.

Some players the selectors like coming back to (Bairstow), I guess they bring in Butler?

He's been shite. 

I wonder if they'd consider picking Woakes and Stokes and having one less specialist batsman. 

Or moving Bairstow up, taking the gloves off him and picking Buttler. 

I don't agree with moving Root back to 3. 

[kaosmark2]

1 hour ago, TheGayTent said:

He's been shite. 

I wonder if they'd consider picking Woakes and Stokes and having one less specialist batsman. 

Or moving Bairstow up, taking the gloves off him and picking Buttler. 

I don't agree with moving Root back to 3. 

They said earlier they were considering Stokes as a pure batting option, ditto Buttler.

I'd play Root where Root wants to play. If he wants to play at 3, fine, but if he doesn't we shouldn't shove him out of the slot he's scored so many runs in.

[TheGayTent]

1 minute ago, kaosmark2 said:

They said earlier they were considering Stokes as a pure batting option, ditto Buttler.

I'd play Root where Root wants to play. If he wants to play at 3, fine, but if he doesn't we shouldn't shove him out of the slot he's scored so many runs in.

Who is they? 

Buttler as a pure batting option makes no sense - he's head and shoulders above Bairstow as a glovesman. 

I agree re Root - if he's happy at 3 then fine...but he averages less than 30 at 3...

[kaosmark2]

3 hours ago, TheGayTent said:

Who is they? 

Buttler as a pure batting option makes no sense - he's head and shoulders above Bairstow as a glovesman. 

I agree re Root - if he's happy at 3 then fine...but he averages less than 30 at 3...

Selectors and coaches.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jul/03/england-trevor-bayliss-jos-buttler-pakistan-tests

“It will be an interesting selection meeting,” Bayliss said. “He’s [Buttler] certainly in contention. We’ve spoken before about Buttler, Jason Roy and Ben Stokes playing as a batter – he made 250 just a few Tests ago – so they all have to be in contention.”

I agree that Buttler's a substantially better keeper than Bairstow. His form with the gloves did dip just before he got dropped, but I think that was a hangover from his poor batting rather than actual.

He's not spent that much time at 3, so the average is a bit misleading, but you put your best batsman where you can get the most out of him. If there's any doubt he shouldn't be moved.

[kaosmark2]

When did Woakes get good?

[TheGayTent]

Would have taken that at 11 o'clock 

[kaosmark2]

Absolutely.

Slightly disappointed at Rashid not playing, OT is traditionally great for spinners and with recent weather as well it seemed like it'd be a good move, but I'm not sure who I'd have left out. Maybe Stokes.

[kaosmark2]

Nice to see some centuries again.

Vince starting to look like he won't be in the winter squads. Rash shot every innings and no 50s yet. I'd still let him finish the series though. I like the principle of giving batsmen 2 series.

[TheGayTent]

19 minutes ago, kaosmark2 said:

Nice to see some centuries again.

Vince starting to look like he won't be in the winter squads. Rash shot every innings and no 50s yet. I'd still let him finish the series though. I like the principle of giving batsmen 2 series.

Agreed. Ballance just gets this one though for me. 

Both not on the plane currently. 

[kaosmark2]

I'm assuming one fewer batsman will play this winter to get rashid in, but a couple of spares will go. Vince probably needs a century and a 50 to go now, while Ballance has a bit of credit in the bank but isn't looking like he'll resume his initial test form. 

[GlastoSimon]

36 minutes ago, Scruffylovemonster said:

Only question really now is are our bowlers good enough to get the 22 wickets? Surely even england can't lose this from here. Well played Woakes. Not bad knock for  number 9!

I think England needing 22 over the standard 20 is a bit unfair

 

[kaosmark2]

2 hours ago, GlastoSimon said:

I think England needing 22 over the standard 20 is a bit unfair

 

With our slightly sketchy catching it will be 22  

[LJS]

Does anyone see any sense or logic in England not enforcing the follow on? It does occasionally rain in Manchester apparently!

[TheGayTent]

I would usually agree - but there's 6 sessions left, after today and the forecast is good. England won't need 4 sessions, I'll be surprised if they need 3. 

Enjoy the quality cricket England are producing and be happy. 

[TheGayTent]

32 minutes ago, Barry Fish said:

Still there is no sense or logic to it.  

Give the bowlers a rest, grind the Pakistanis noses in it, give Hales a score, there's plenty of logic. 

Whether there's as much logic to it is debatable, but to say there's no sense and no logic, is bollocks. 

[TheGayTent]

9 minutes ago, Barry Fish said:

Well your only one thinking any of the above is reasonable thinking.   Universal amazement is all I am seeing in all forms of media.

One of the best batsmen and successful test cricket captain together with a very highly respected coach clearly think it's reasonable. 

I wouldn't have made the decision but I can understand why they did. If you can't,  well....

[kaosmark2]

I think it's a reasonable decision. I don't agree with it and would have preferred the follow-on, but I still think there's logic and reason behind it.

Broad and Anderson have both openly said that they don't like the follow-on being enforced by England. There's close to 200 overs left and if the bowlers feel they'd prefer a rest then I'm happy to give it to them. Our bowling attack has bailed out dodgy batting plenty of times, so when our batsmen perform I think they're entitled to a short break and the 4th innings pitch.

[kaosmark2]

I would also assume England will bat until soon before lunch and then have over 5 sessions to eke out 10 wickets. Declare at 150-180 with a 550 lead or so and 30 minutes left in the morning session. It'll mean that any bowling done in the morning won't be enough to tire bowlers out for the remaining two sessions tomorrow. 

[LJS]

1 hour ago, Barry Fish said:

Given there is a *50% chance of rain from lunchtime Tuesday that wouldn't be bright...  There is also a *30% chance of rain towards end of play Monday.  Plus Manchester is a bastard for throwing you rain out of nowhere.

Cook has cocked up and brought some pressure when there was none. He should call it tonight and go at them from start of play.  Pakistan won't get anywhere near 489 but they might get lucky with rain and force a draw if we play through until lunch.

*Metoffice

The only reason for not enforcing the follow on that makes any sense is if one of their bowlers is carrying an injury.

Otherwise, all the decision achieves is reducing England's chances of winning. ...although not by much due to their commanding lead.

[TheGayTent]

15 minutes ago, Barry Fish said:

Hopefully have them all out in a couple of hours

Highly unlikely 

[TheGayTent]

Now if we really want to talk about stinkers from Cook, that there catch was one...

[kaosmark2]

Another pretty 30 from Vince. Anyone think he's likely to get on the winter tours?

Ballance doing well, and Moeen maintaining his far better record at 7 than 8.

[TheGayTent]

The weather forecast for tomorrow looks good