| The England middle order looks 11:42 - Feb 6 with 533 views | Bluefish |
So good on paper
Need to solve the long standing opener problem and the spinner problem and we will dominate world cricket
Am i being too optimistic here? |  |
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| The England middle order looks on 11:53 - Feb 6 with 502 views | Guthrum |
Burns is pretty good (apart from the rash shot) and Sibley is outstanding in the role. I don't think that opening is so much of an issue. Lawrence at no. 3 is only playing his third Test, too soon to pass judgment.
I thought Bess and Leach did pretty well in Sri Lanka. Spinners are always going to be something of a lower priority in non-Subcontinental teams. It's not often you're going to find someone the quality of Swan, or Lyon for the Aussies, when they're growing up on less conducive pitches. Warne was just a freak. |  |
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| The England middle order looks on 11:57 - Feb 6 with 498 views | IpswichKnight |
| The England middle order looks on 11:53 - Feb 6 by Guthrum |
Burns is pretty good (apart from the rash shot) and Sibley is outstanding in the role. I don't think that opening is so much of an issue. Lawrence at no. 3 is only playing his third Test, too soon to pass judgment.
I thought Bess and Leach did pretty well in Sri Lanka. Spinners are always going to be something of a lower priority in non-Subcontinental teams. It's not often you're going to find someone the quality of Swan, or Lyon for the Aussies, when they're growing up on less conducive pitches. Warne was just a freak. |
Lawrence is not a 3, he doesn’t bat there for Essex even. I still think the top 3 should be Burns, Sibley and Crawley ( when fit ) your 3 should really be an opener.
The middle order is crazily strong! |  | | |
| The England middle order looks on 12:00 - Feb 6 with 484 views | Guthrum |
| The England middle order looks on 11:57 - Feb 6 by IpswichKnight |
Lawrence is not a 3, he doesn’t bat there for Essex even. I still think the top 3 should be Burns, Sibley and Crawley ( when fit ) your 3 should really be an opener.
The middle order is crazily strong! |
Think Crawley might well have played there if he wasn't injured. | |
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| The England middle order looks on 12:03 - Feb 6 with 480 views | WD19 |
The opener problem is a lot less pronounced than it was 12-18 months ago.
The spinner problem is massive. The difference between being potentially the best side in the world or a relative also-ran.
....and there is still a wicket keeping problem, masked by the fact that Butler is a good bloke and mentally strong. |  | | |
| The England middle order looks on 12:05 - Feb 6 with 476 views | catch74 |
| The England middle order looks on 11:53 - Feb 6 by Guthrum |
Burns is pretty good (apart from the rash shot) and Sibley is outstanding in the role. I don't think that opening is so much of an issue. Lawrence at no. 3 is only playing his third Test, too soon to pass judgment.
I thought Bess and Leach did pretty well in Sri Lanka. Spinners are always going to be something of a lower priority in non-Subcontinental teams. It's not often you're going to find someone the quality of Swan, or Lyon for the Aussies, when they're growing up on less conducive pitches. Warne was just a freak. |
Agreed, put Crawley in at 3 and Briad in for Bess or Leach and I imagine that’s what we’re looking at for the Ashes. Moeen (although he was woeful last away Ashes)for his added batting and Bairstow for his recent form may have something to say. |  |
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| The England middle order looks on 12:12 - Feb 6 with 451 views | Chrisd |
I don't think there is an opener problem personally, Burns showed against Australia he's a decent opening batsmen and both Crawley and Sibley have both looked decent in various series. Was really impressed with Sibley's knock during this innings was hoping he'd convert it into a 100. I agree about the spin department though, we really miss someone of Swann's capability. | |
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| The England middle order looks on 12:17 - Feb 6 with 446 views | Bluefish |
| The England middle order looks on 12:03 - Feb 6 by WD19 |
The opener problem is a lot less pronounced than it was 12-18 months ago.
The spinner problem is massive. The difference between being potentially the best side in the world or a relative also-ran.
....and there is still a wicket keeping problem, masked by the fact that Butler is a good bloke and mentally strong. |
I don't see the wickie issue but I might be a bit biased for all the hospitality that Jos has provided me :) | |
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| The England middle order looks on 12:21 - Feb 6 with 439 views | Chrisd |
| The England middle order looks on 12:03 - Feb 6 by WD19 |
The opener problem is a lot less pronounced than it was 12-18 months ago.
The spinner problem is massive. The difference between being potentially the best side in the world or a relative also-ran.
....and there is still a wicket keeping problem, masked by the fact that Butler is a good bloke and mentally strong. |
After the way Buttler performed in Sri Lanka, I doubt that there is a wicketkeeping issue. It will be interesting when Ben Foakes comes in for the 3rd Test onwards. Foakes is our best gloveman and he's decent with the bat too, just needs to remind the selectors of that fact. | |
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| The England middle order looks on 12:22 - Feb 6 with 433 views | BlueForYou |
Burns & Sibley are fine. Crawley a born No3. Moeen Ali is a fraud. This team has grit, & belief, & is discovering Test match cricket again after the Bayliss years. |  | | |
| The England middle order looks on 12:24 - Feb 6 with 428 views | Guthrum |
| The England middle order looks on 12:21 - Feb 6 by Chrisd |
After the way Buttler performed in Sri Lanka, I doubt that there is a wicketkeeping issue. It will be interesting when Ben Foakes comes in for the 3rd Test onwards. Foakes is our best gloveman and he's decent with the bat too, just needs to remind the selectors of that fact. |
Then there is also Bairstow in the bckground, more than handy with both gloves and bat. | |
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| The England middle order looks on 12:26 - Feb 6 with 426 views | Chrisd |
| The England middle order looks on 12:24 - Feb 6 by Guthrum |
Then there is also Bairstow in the bckground, more than handy with both gloves and bat. |
Very true. From an England perspective, that squad is starting to shape up quite nicely, plenty of options. | |
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| The England middle order looks on 12:31 - Feb 6 with 419 views | Guthrum |
| The England middle order looks on 12:22 - Feb 6 by BlueForYou |
Burns & Sibley are fine. Crawley a born No3. Moeen Ali is a fraud. This team has grit, & belief, & is discovering Test match cricket again after the Bayliss years. |
Wouldn't describe Ali as a 'fraud'. More a decent (but not really outstanding) international-level spinner who has been struggling to find form with the bat of late.
IMO that wouldn't justify playing him at the moment, tho. | |
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| The England middle order looks on 12:35 - Feb 6 with 416 views | Guthrum |
| The England middle order looks on 12:26 - Feb 6 by Chrisd |
Very true. From an England perspective, that squad is starting to shape up quite nicely, plenty of options. |
Plus, as was mentioned in the commentary today, a lot of young players coming through (he doesn't look it, but even Sibley is only 25). Promising for the future, too. | |
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| The England middle order looks on 12:39 - Feb 6 with 406 views | WD19 |
| The England middle order looks on 12:31 - Feb 6 by Guthrum |
Wouldn't describe Ali as a 'fraud'. More a decent (but not really outstanding) international-level spinner who has been struggling to find form with the bat of late.
IMO that wouldn't justify playing him at the moment, tho. |
Quite. He has got the best part of 200 test wickets. 18th on the all time list. | | | |
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