Eng v Pak 1st Test

I would agree that Foakes is a very live contender for the keepers job but standing back Buttler is very adequate It`s when he`s standing up that the cracks appear and as our main strength is in pace bowling and as there are serious doubts that our only spinner,Bess is not yet good enough it may be better to bring in Crawley for either Anderson or Archer as it looks like Stokes may be fit to bowl.
 
1950`spoolfan said:
Robbie you said similar and other negative comments after excellent wins against the Windies and there you go again sniping.We`re not perfect but there`s a good blend of quality and character in that side as today again demonstrated .A pity you choose to try to justify your previous misguided comments .
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I'm not sniping, I'm delighted they won. I'm offering a critique. And my analysis of our Test side at the moment is that the top order is much, much weaker than the lower order and the bowling. I like Burns' attitude, but I don't think he is quite what is needed, Sibley is flawed technically, we don't have a convincing No. 4 and Stokes is batting one place too high.

We won't always have Broad and Anderson, and we can't expect Woakes to be a strike bowler AND a No.7 batsman when they are gone. This team is fundamentally unbalanced.
 
basilrobbie said:
I'm not sniping, I'm delighted they won. I'm offering a critique. And my analysis of our Test side at the moment is that the top order is much, much weaker than the lower order and the bowling. I like Burns' attitude, but I don't think he is quite what is needed, Sibley is flawed technically, we don't have a convincing No. 4 and Stokes is batting one place too high.

We won't always have Broad and Anderson, and we can't expect Woakes to be a strike bowler AND a No.7 batsman when they are gone. This team is fundamentally unbalanced.
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Sibley though still fairly new to the Test scene, has currently got a Test average of an excellent 42 ,Burns 36,far from unacceptable and young Crawley looks to be a very promising number three. Root would then bat 4 with Stokes 5 and Woakes at 8.A pretty balanced team I would suggest.
 
It's the best group of test players we've had for a while and whilst we are still looking for quality in a couple of keys positions - spinner & top order - we have the basis of a decent squad. Pope will move up the order and possibly bat at three in time.
 
Lots to be positive about. In terms of batting Crawley has done nothing wrong and we still wait to get a look at Dan Lawrence in test cricket. Only seen him playing T20 but he must be close to a debut.
 
Butler s got too much class to drop him but not as keeper that should be foakes and bairstow at three root at four , I think the Aussies will love the opening pair next year that may need changing before then though.
 
P t Barnum said:
Butler s got too much class to drop him but not as keeper that should be foakes and bairstow at three root at four , I think the Aussies will love the opening pair next year that may need changing before then though.
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Bairstow seems to have been out of the picture more for attitude than anything. Somethings gone on there.
 
1950`spoolfan said:
What a load of rubbish SATW. We came back to miraculously draw the Ashes series, we came back from 1 down to beat the Saffers away and have just done the same against the Windies here and now we have pulled off a remarkable win from behind against a clearly decent Pakistan side who had not lost from this position in the last 20 years.

Let`s just respect those achievements and with Crawley back in we have a more promising top 4 than since the days of Trott et al.Give them a chance.
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We came back from 1 down to ‘miraculously’ draw a series?

You clearly know nothing about cricket if you think our top order batting is fine.
 
straightatthewall said:
We came back from 1 down to ‘miraculously’ draw a series?

You clearly know nothing about cricket if you think our top order batting is fine.
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As a qualified now retired cricket coach with a son who has successfully played minor counties cricket I`ll ignore your ill founded and ill informed comments above.

England`s top order is a work in progress but with the openers doing better than any apart from Alistair Cook have done in recent years the selectors won`t be looking to replace any of them any time soon. Crawley looks full of potential and Root while not quite at his best of late is still well worth his place.So while not perfect we have a more promising situation than we`ve had for some time .

The miracle I refer to is of course Stokes`s match winning innings at Headingley last year.You may or perhaps may not have noticed that today on a difficult 4th innings pitch we reached the eighties before losing our second wicket, without that good start I doubt we`d have won..
 
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ElBurroSinNombre said:
I've got a feeling that we are going to win this - maybe it's just the optimist in me. Of course, it's vital that we knock them over quickly, and if we do then the momentum is in our favour. We just need a positive mindset and a couple of batters to perform. We have some very experienced players in Root and Stokes and need someone to hang around long enough for the pressure to shift onto the bowlers.
We do have the players who can hit us to victory if we get in sight of the total. Anyway I can't watch it as I am playing village cricket this afternoon.
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Don't like to say that I told you so, but I told you so.
We are turning into a decent side whatever the naysayers think. This will be our third series win on the bounce if we do it.
 
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As I`ve mentioned before on here I too think we now have the makings of a very decent side.

You were absolutely right about today`s win but a run chase like that is pretty rare,amongst the best ten ever for us I think, so it`s not surprising most thought Pakistan started as favourites this morning,that`s my excuse anyway. 😔
 
ElBurroSinNombre said:
Don't like to say that I told you so, but I told you soWe are turning into a decent side whatever the naysayers think. This will be our third series win on the bounce if we do it.
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Yep, I have to say well said Sir. I was confident that our ODI side could do it (world champions after all), but doubted that our test side could do it.
Although IMHO they got there playing a one day innings (Buttler & Woakes), which in the circumstances was what we required of course.
The main point I agree with is that we are turning into a decent side, I reckon we have a long way to go, but more positives than negatives in my view.
This seems to be demonstrated by attached rankings.
If you look at the test rankings, we are 4th, well ahead of the lower sides, but also well behind the top 3; but we seem to be getting there
NB - the sides we are currently playing are 7th and 8th, so I'm not getting carried away, just seems we are improving 👍

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50’s,

I agree with the view that there’s the makings of a good side, but that’s because we have huge depth in the fast bowling department and a very strong middle/lower middle order.

The weakest part is the top order and I’m still not convinced they have enough quality and technical ability to improve enough to be consistently putting on solid starts and Root is not performing to the standard of his global contemporaries - Smith, Kholi and Williamson- and hasn’t done for some time now.
 
Got cricket on in the background whilst doing some estimates and just realised when a few clapped popes 50 that there’s no crowd....🤣
 
Stokes has withdrawn from the England team to go to New Zealand to be with his family.

I think his dad was ill so probably to spend time with him.

Big loss but hopefully others can fill the big gap.
 
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