England in Sri Lanka

[Sir Virgs and Zamora]

Originally Posted by Chin Music

Did you see the Dobell interview on cracinfo? As you know, I did think that he needed to be dropped after the Edgbaston game. However the handling by the management appears to have been appalling. In my view, Moeen in his right mind is probably the best spinner England has available, yet to cast him out even from having a central contract for test, even after one admittedly appalling game, is dreadful management.

Yes. He needed to be dropped. His head had gone but to not give him a central contract was odd.

Broad certainly had a point about people focussing on batting when his bowling figures were sensational.

I wonder how it might have panned out if moeen had got the wicket of usman K when he was dropped.

Funny old game.

[Chin Music]

Originally Posted by Sir Virgs and Zamora

Yes. He needed to be dropped. His head had gone but to not give him a central contract was odd.

Broad certainly had a point about people focussing on batting when his bowling figures were sensational.

I wonder how it might have panned out if moeen had got the wicket of usman K when he was dropped.

Funny old game.

To be honest I don't think that is quite right. Although I acknowledge that Moeen had bowled well after spending several months out of the test side in 2018, his continued lack of form with the bat put more pressure on him to perform with the ball. It was always going to be a case that if he had a couple of poor games with the ball then it would have been difficult for him to stay in the side with more realistic contenders, such as Leach. Unfortunately when he's bad he's really bad. That said, it appears he had burn out issues amongst other things, which only makes his case more complex.

I did agree with you mostly that in the earlier part of his career, criticism of his role was a little unfair when he was contributing with the bat, even if his bowling returns weren't always great.

[Notts Exile]

Curran and Wood as your main two seamers / swing bowlers? Hmmm. Which seamers are going to keep it tight? I'd want a Broad or Woakes in there.

[Prince of Denmark]

Originally Posted by Notts Exile

Curran and Wood as your main two seamers / swing bowlers? Hmmm. Which seamers are going to keep it tight? I'd want a Broad or Woakes in there.

Last year I think it was Anderson plus Curran and Stokes. I'm sure there were several innings when Stokes and/or Curran didn't bowl at all. With Anderson missing I'd have thought Broad would be first choice. Stokes will obviously play in any case. So then it's one of the other three.

[AJ101]

It would be weird to take Broad all the way there and then not pick him.

[MRNC4.0]

So apparently there will be no radio coverage of this test series, which seems a shame. How come no one picked up the rights?

[gmdf]

Originally Posted by MRNC4.0

So apparently there will be no radio coverage of this test series, which seems a shame. How come no one picked up the rights?

Apparently they (Talk Sport) DID pick up the rights, but chose not to use them!

Cricket fans face radio blackout with no ball-by-ball coverage of England Tests for first time in 17 years
The two-Test series in Sri Lanka will not feature ball-by-ball radio coverage
TalkSport have first option on live radio rights but opted not to take them up
The commercial broadcaster are focusing their resources on longer tours



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cr...-17-years.html

NB Which is why they should only sell them to serious broadcasters in future, in my opinion!

[Ali TT]

Originally Posted by Chin Music

To be honest I don't think that is quite right. Although I acknowledge that Moeen had bowled well after spending several months out of the test side in 2018, his continued lack of form with the bat put more pressure on him to perform with the ball. It was always going to be a case that if he had a couple of poor games with the ball then it would have been difficult for him to stay in the side with more realistic contenders, such as Leach. Unfortunately when he's bad he's really bad. That said, it appears he had burn out issues amongst other things, which only makes his case more complex.

I did agree with you mostly that in the earlier part of his career, criticism of his role was a little unfair when he was contributing with the bat, even if his bowling returns weren't always great.

The problem is we set the bar too high when judging Mo. Since Deadly, England have only had Swann as a top notch spinner. Behind him there's a bunch - Panesar, Emburey, Edmonds, Tuffers, Giles and Ali - statistically clustered together. The opprobrium Ali faces doesn't compare to the reality of what history tells us English fans should expect from an English test spinner, which is someone who averages mid-30s and will have matches and series where they are pretty toothless.

[Chin Music]

Originally Posted by Ali TT

The problem is we set the bar too high when judging Mo. Since Deadly, England have only had Swann as a top notch spinner. Behind him there's a bunch - Panesar, Emburey, Edmonds, Tuffers, Giles and Ali - statistically clustered together. The opprobrium Ali faces doesn't compare to the reality of what history tells us English fans should expect from an English test spinner, which is someone who averages mid-30s and will have matches and series where they are pretty toothless.

Although I generally agree with your point, the problem is that when he is bad, he often bowls searing full tosses and long hops that don't look out of place at my level of club cricket (waves at GBG!). I do think that he is the most dangerous of current England spinners given that he does rag the ball quite considerably. The problem is that he has barely ever done an ok holding role in which nearly all the others could do, i.e. chip in with the odd wicket even if there is not much happening and not go for runs. Granted, the game has changed but he just doesn't have the core consistent accuracy when there isn't help in the pitch for spinners.

[sharky]

Originally Posted by Chin Music

Although I generally agree with your point, the problem is that when he is bad, he often bowls searing full tosses and long hops that don't look out of place at my level of club cricket (waves at GBG!). I do think that he is the most dangerous of current England spinners given that he does rag the ball quite considerably. The problem is that he has barely ever done an ok holding role in which nearly all the others could do, i.e. chip in with the odd wicket even if there is not much happening and not go for runs. Granted, the game has changed but he just doesn't have the core consistent accuracy when there isn't help in the pitch for spinners.

Precisely, there are times when we have needed someone to do a holding role and he has bowled filth. I'm more critical of the England management for expecting him to do it when he basically has always been a batsman who bowled dangerous off breaks for the reasons you state. They then kept picking him when his confidence was down, almost burning him out mentally. I'm glad he has taken some time out and if I were him I'd go back to Worcs and ask not to bowl so much to see if he can get back in the England side as a batsman.

[tigertiger]

Rumours TMS close to a deal

[Jock McTuffnel v3]

When are the squads announced ?

[oldandfat]

Originally Posted by Jock McTuffnel v3

When are the squads announced ?

Test squad a few days ago - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/51446633

[Jock McTuffnel v3]

Originally Posted by oldandfat

Test squad a few days ago - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/51446633

Ta - thought the radio rights were taken up by BBC - has that fallen through ?

[1000yardstare]

Wood out of SL series with a side strain. Mahmood who didn't go to Australia with the Lions because of a knee injury last week is called up.

According to the ECB, Wood sustained this latest injury at the end of the South Africa tour. How long did they think he would need to get over the injury? He last played 16 Feb.

[oldandfat]

Why risk Wood in T20/50 over matches? Aaarrgghhhh

[1000yardstare]

Originally Posted by oldandfat

Why risk Wood in T20/50 over matches? Aaarrgghhhh

Mail
'Wood was clearly feeling an issue in his side in the build-up to the final Test against South Africa in Johannesburg'.

We will bowl him anyway. So side strain becomes a small tear.

'England even say Wood might have been fit for the second Test in Colombo on March 27 but they have decided not to risk him'.

Medics can't compare him to other bowlers as he bowls at over 90mph.

[oldandfat]

When fully fit Wood has the X factor. But if not 100% he offers little and he has a long history of injuries. In an ideal world he plays Test Cricket and the occasional low key county game. He is unlikely to be about for the next 50 over WC and I believe there are better T20 bowlers (although Wood 2016(?) T20 finals day made the hair on back of my neck stand up - electrifying) so why play him in white ball cricket?

[Ali TT]

Originally Posted by 1000yardstare

Mail
'Wood was clearly feeling an issue in his side in the build-up to the final Test against South Africa in Johannesburg'.

We will bowl him anyway. So side strain becomes a small tear.

'England even say Wood might have been fit for the second Test in Colombo on March 27 but they have decided not to risk him'.

Medics can't compare him to other bowlers as he bowls at over 90mph.

Have to question his commitment really. Can't he bowl 90mph non stop whenever Root tells him too?

[sharky]

Originally Posted by Ali TT

Have to question his commitment really. Can't he bowl 90mph non stop whenever Root tells him too?