In reply to Post #81
Was at the game. Good to see stokes get a 5 for. Carberry has to go. Cook looked devoid of tactics during the afternoon with Smith and Haddin at the crease. We need to polish up on how to get teams out efficiently and effectively.
Was at the game. Good to see stokes get a 5 for. Carberry has to go. Cook looked devoid of tactics during the afternoon with Smith and Haddin at the crease. We need to polish up on how to get teams out efficiently and effectively.
What was the reason for dropping root? Cook has struggled since becoming captain and by the looks of it the senior players don't seem to help him out much?
In reply to Post #83
It seemed to me that swanny and prior were his main advisors on the field, he looks even more lost without them.
Well done to stokes, he has a big future, but needs to learn to control better. That comes with experience though.
Painful watching again, throwing away a position of dominance, didn't help being a bowler down but it's happened in every test so far
It seemed to me that swanny and prior were his main advisors on the field, he looks even more lost without them.
Well done to stokes, he has a big future, but needs to learn to control better. That comes with experience though.
Painful watching again, throwing away a position of dominance, didn't help being a bowler down but it's happened in every test so far
Lets hope our batting stands up to be counted tonight for once. Fingers crosssed.
In reply to Post #83
He didn't struggle in India, but that was the patient attritional cricket he / flower likes. When teams play aggressively he struggles - like in NZ earlier and now in Aus.
Maybe the Windies series will be another line in the sand, losing last time over there was the kick in the arse the team needed - not sure it's a bad thing that there's no tests though!
He didn't struggle in India, but that was the patient attritional cricket he / flower likes. When teams play aggressively he struggles - like in NZ earlier and now in Aus.
Maybe the Windies series will be another line in the sand, losing last time over there was the kick in the arse the team needed - not sure it's a bad thing that there's no tests though!
well thats a good start , 2nd ball
I am simply lost for words. 
IMO Flowers. KP (controversial!) and Cooke must step down. Bring on Lehmann and bring back Strauss. Get hold of players with fire in their guts. Stop pampering our bowlers at home with favorable pitches. Stop the time wasting. Stop the sledging - it just looks stupid if you cannot back it up. Bring back good aggressive cricket as practiced by the Aussies this series and by the England Ashes 2005 squad. Only ray of light in this lot is Ben Stokes.
IMO Flowers. KP (controversial!) and Cooke must step down. Bring on Lehmann and bring back Strauss. Get hold of players with fire in their guts. Stop pampering our bowlers at home with favorable pitches. Stop the time wasting. Stop the sledging - it just looks stupid if you cannot back it up. Bring back good aggressive cricket as practiced by the Aussies this series and by the England Ashes 2005 squad. Only ray of light in this lot is Ben Stokes.
In reply to Post #88
100% agree with all of those sensible words Ken. Especially Cooke; watching him get out last night was just embarrassing to watch. It made me cringe and want to turn over.
Anyone like to bet that KP's performances would improve if he was paid what he got in the IPL?
100% agree with all of those sensible words Ken. Especially Cooke; watching him get out last night was just embarrassing to watch. It made me cringe and want to turn over.
Anyone like to bet that KP's performances would improve if he was paid what he got in the IPL?
In reply to Post #88
agree,
The Cricket Board have already stated that Flowers job is safe, He needs to do the decent thing and resign.
Cook and Bell surprised me this tour with their performances( of lack of )
K.P time is up, he has to step aside.
I think im right in saying that none of our batsman has made a ton this series......
The Aussie bowlers were pitching full on this morning, thats why so many wickets fell to slip catches and caught behind, along with the lbw of Cook. yet our bowlers continued to pitch the ball short
There has been a lack of passion throughout the entire ashes series.
Bring back boycott, Botham and co....
agree, The Cricket Board have already stated that Flowers job is safe, He needs to do the decent thing and resign.
Cook and Bell surprised me this tour with their performances( of lack of )
K.P time is up, he has to step aside.
I think im right in saying that none of our batsman has made a ton this series......
The Aussie bowlers were pitching full on this morning, thats why so many wickets fell to slip catches and caught behind, along with the lbw of Cook. yet our bowlers continued to pitch the ball short
There has been a lack of passion throughout the entire ashes series.
Bring back boycott, Botham and co....
In reply to Post #88
A year ago everyone was praising Cook - he's still young and has had one bad series. The pitches we prepared for the England part of the ashes didn't suit, our pace bowlers - low, slow and didn't really swing. I seem to remember people calling for Strauss to go as he wasn't performing with the bat and couldn't control the team. KP I agree with, his average hides the fact that he scores big every now and then, the way he got out to obvious traps just show his ego. Who would replace him though?
It's one (very) bad series for the batsmen, by and large the bowlers did ok and we're let down by the batsmen. Let's not go back to the 90's where people got one chance and then we're dropped as the selectors pandered to public opinion.
Flowers and the ECB's mistake has been to micromanage and play the game too safely - the big difference with Lehman is that he got the guys playing for fun (it's a game after all) added to the fact that Australia had everything to prove whereas the England team were jaded and done it all before
A year ago everyone was praising Cook - he's still young and has had one bad series. The pitches we prepared for the England part of the ashes didn't suit, our pace bowlers - low, slow and didn't really swing. I seem to remember people calling for Strauss to go as he wasn't performing with the bat and couldn't control the team. KP I agree with, his average hides the fact that he scores big every now and then, the way he got out to obvious traps just show his ego. Who would replace him though?
It's one (very) bad series for the batsmen, by and large the bowlers did ok and we're let down by the batsmen. Let's not go back to the 90's where people got one chance and then we're dropped as the selectors pandered to public opinion.
Flowers and the ECB's mistake has been to micromanage and play the game too safely - the big difference with Lehman is that he got the guys playing for fun (it's a game after all) added to the fact that Australia had everything to prove whereas the England team were jaded and done it all before
In reply to Post #91
It's so long till the next test series there will be loads of names thrown about till then, but any batsman who starts the season well will fancy there chances for a place in the squad.
Joss buttler is one I'd like to see around the squad dunno what his keepings like tho, but would be great to see him and stokes batting down the order.
there's definitely room for a positive top order player, at number 4 with bell where he should have been for this series, number three.
Kp either won't be there or will be batting 5
It should make for an exciting start to the county season
It's so long till the next test series there will be loads of names thrown about till then, but any batsman who starts the season well will fancy there chances for a place in the squad.
Joss buttler is one I'd like to see around the squad dunno what his keepings like tho, but would be great to see him and stokes batting down the order.
there's definitely room for a positive top order player, at number 4 with bell where he should have been for this series, number three.
Kp either won't be there or will be batting 5
It should make for an exciting start to the county season
In reply to Post #92
Having seen him quite a few times at Taunton last year - Joss's keeping is fine, he also did well in the odi series against Aus. Not sure he's ready for tests yet, his batting in the LV championship was much improved last year, maybe with him getting more chance to keep at Lancs the series against Sri Lanka might be a chance if Prior doesn't score big early season. At this stage I'd put Kieswetter in front of Buttler, keeping is better, but not in England's long term plans - Steve Davis and James Foster are better than both, but in the same boat.
Having seen him quite a few times at Taunton last year - Joss's keeping is fine, he also did well in the odi series against Aus. Not sure he's ready for tests yet, his batting in the LV championship was much improved last year, maybe with him getting more chance to keep at Lancs the series against Sri Lanka might be a chance if Prior doesn't score big early season. At this stage I'd put Kieswetter in front of Buttler, keeping is better, but not in England's long term plans - Steve Davis and James Foster are better than both, but in the same boat.
In reply to Post #93
I like Davies, shame he didn't really take his chance. I only managed to get to t20s at the oval this summer, didn't see much first class unfortunately. I actually hope prior finds some form early season, he's been a key player for England for a while now.
I just want a couple of players who score quickly, stokes certainly can, carberry can but hasn't shown it so far and may not be in the frame for the next series.
The bowlers have covered for the batsmen for too long, the home series v India was the last time they looked good
I like Davies, shame he didn't really take his chance. I only managed to get to t20s at the oval this summer, didn't see much first class unfortunately. I actually hope prior finds some form early season, he's been a key player for England for a while now.
I just want a couple of players who score quickly, stokes certainly can, carberry can but hasn't shown it so far and may not be in the frame for the next series.
The bowlers have covered for the batsmen for too long, the home series v India was the last time they looked good
Don't faint...England have WON the 4th one dayer at the WACA! 
Well the 20/20s are going the usual dreary way. Loss after loss! And Andy Flower packing it in. So to cheer you up...
If you want a really good read and a load of laughs about our summer game you have just GOT to read 'Not Dark Yet' by Mike Harfield. I defy any true cricket fan not to LOL at virtually every page. David Lloyd in his foreword says, " (this book is so funny) I nearly wet myself. In fact I laughed so much I nearly passed my fags around."
ISBN 978-0-9554217-1-6
You'll thank me for this...
If you want a really good read and a load of laughs about our summer game you have just GOT to read 'Not Dark Yet' by Mike Harfield. I defy any true cricket fan not to LOL at virtually every page. David Lloyd in his foreword says, " (this book is so funny) I nearly wet myself. In fact I laughed so much I nearly passed my fags around."
ISBN 978-0-9554217-1-6
You'll thank me for this...