🏏 The Cricket Thread

[Iceman]

Would suit me and solve 2 problems at once. Other than that I think we have to rely on Cook and Bell rediscovering their top form. Lyth is the only incoming player who needs a rest and hopefully Bairstow can cement his place. How highly do you rate Rashid for both bowling and batting (separately)?

 

[regwec]

A work in progress in both departments. His batting is more than good enough for a number eight: he has a high score of 180 and an average of 35 in first class cricket, but it remains to be seen how he responds to the bigger trial of test matches. His leg spin can be expensive and inconsistent, but it can also be deadly: he has first class innings best figures of 7/107. He is more of a specialist spinner than Moeen Ali and has a completely different style. In theory, they could combine to close an end up very effectively.

 

[Iceman]

Yeah would be nice on the right pitch or late stage on most pitches to have spin from both ends without it impacting on batting depth.

 

[regwec]

England would also still have Joe Root's off spin, which is pretty respectable.

 

[Iceman]

And he is definitely not compromising the batting lineup!

 

[Iceman]

Right time to put this to bed. Stokes gets Starc to kick things off. 2 more wickets till the Ashes are back!

 

[Iceman]

That's it, all over! England win The Ashes 2015!!

 

[regwec]

So happy. What a start to the weekend!

 

[regwec]

Michael Clarke has announced that the next testmatch will be his last.

 

[regwec]

One of sport's oldest and greatest rivalries is now in perfect equilibrium.

 

[regwec]

So, what awaits us at the Oval? The talk in England inevitably about keeping the winning team, but I would take the opportunity to experiment and devise the 11 that will start against Pakistan. They need more spin options and the flat wickets in the UAE might make Moeen a less hazardous opener. Alternatively they could take a look at Hales or Stoneman as an opener of the future. I don't see the point in persisting with Lyth; he'll still be at the ground to lift the trophy anyway. It would be mad to risk Jimmy Anderson's recovery for a dead rubber, and I would be tempted to give Footitt a game in place of Wood just to see his potential- a left hand seamer could be very handy for the future.

My 11-

Moeen
Cook (c)
Bell
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Buttler
Rashid
Broad
Finn
Footitt

I expect the selection to be far more conservative, however.

As for the Aussies; I'm not sure what changes remain to be made, though I would certainly select Peter Siddle over Hazlewood. Siddle should have been playing throughout after the loss of Ryan Harris, in my opinion, as Australia have lacked much control. I hope and expect we get a cracking swan song from Michael Clarke.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

How convenient for Clarke. Taking on New Zealand on home turf as his swansong.

 

[Iceman]

Michael Clarke has announced that the next testmatch will be his last.

Makes sense.

One of sport's oldest and greatest rivalries is now in perfect equilibrium.

I had no idea. Had thought the Aussies were way ahead but I guess England must have won a lot more before I started watching.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

Oh never mind. The next match, not series. I dun goofed.

 

[regwec]

It's an odd statement that he made, really. To paraphrase- "I am currently nowhere near good enough a batsmen to be in Australia's first 11, let alone lead it as captain. But I will bat at number five and captain at the Oval". It would seem to imply that he isn't taking the chance to make it 3-2 rather than 4-1 altogether seriously.

 

[aNarcHy2day]

Congrats to the English on winning back the Ashes.

 

[Iceman]

Australia 265 for 3 after England put them in to bat. Warner got 85, Smith is on 75 not out.

 

[regwec]

Yes, this one looks pretty boring, and a dead rubber too. A bit of a shame that England fielded an unchanged side- it would at least have been interesting to see a few debutantes.

 

[Iceman]

Yeah. Seems like it might be a non event. Although if the game's close that might change.

 

[Iceman]

467 - 8

What a weird series.

 

[regwec]

481 all out. The fact that Moeen took three wickets in the first innings suggests that England really did miss out by failing yet again to pick Adil Rashid.

 

[Iceman]

Oh yeah, this was the ideal time to give him a chance. Makes no sense. Well at least Lyth gets yet one more chance to show his county form on the big stage. Please get at least a 50!

 

[Iceman]

Cook out, 30 for 1.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

Bye Lyth.

Bye bye.

 

[regwec]

It was ridiculous to pick him for this test, when Moeen might have been tried as an opener before the Pakistan series, allowing Rashid to provide bowling support.

If I was in Cook's shoes, I would ask Moeen to open in the second innings and invite Lyth to have a last test innings at three.