Re: Why are England's "best seven" batsmen so weak?

by tac Thu 06 Dec 2007, 22:39

furriner wrote:Damn. You guys should just burn a few effigies like I do.

More satisfying; helps the local economy unless I burn something else with it; great bonding if done together.

Bad for the environment . . . and you subis should stop your farkin cows from farting as well!

by Henry Thu 06 Dec 2007, 23:36

Dello wrote:
Henry wrote:Well we have a completely different opening combination for a start. England's opening partnerships between Strauss and Trescothick were crucial to England's success in 05.

How many times have England put on an opening partnership of 50+ since trescothick went?

Oh, "05 this", "05 that", "remember when it was 05?"

To quote Homer Simpson: "Before, before... Quit living in the past, Marge."

Trescothick's over. 05 is history. The Ashes are gone. Move on.

Yes it isn't 05 anymore, but that was a period of success for the England team that we can compare to now when trying to figure out where it's all gone wrong these last 12 months.

Has there really been a big change in the players attitudes since the 05 Ashes? Or is it simply a case of not having players who are as good as what we had in that golden period of 2004-05?

Take away Flintoff, Trescothick, an in form Strauss and Harmison, and Simon Jones, and it isn't really surprising that we arent playing as well now as we were 2-3 years ago. When teams lose their best players, they don't do as well. Hardly rocket science.

by LeFromage Thu 06 Dec 2007, 23:41

Harmison wasn't in form, though, in 2005. And Simon Jones could never be called one of England's best players off the back of just two and a bit Tests against Australia.

His position in the side was very much on shaky grounds going into the second Test. And he was terminally injured in the fourth Test.

That's his entire England career right there.

by Henry Thu 06 Dec 2007, 23:54

I seem to remember Jonah had about 3-4 catches dropped off his bowling during Australia's second innings at Lords. Not mentioning any names (It was Geraint Jones and Kevin Pietersen's fault) though, so I don't think his spot in the side was really under threat.

Yeah, there was a constant injury cloud over his head, but he had put in some good performances against the Windies in early 2004, and South Africa in 04-05. Basically, whenever he was on the park(granted that wasn't very often), he was a threat, and he was playing for England throughout most of their 18 month golden period. Crucially, he added some much needed fire and nastiness to England's attitude. Ryan Sidebottom just isn't convincing as the snarling, mean fast bowler. I laugh whenever he tries to fire himself, his teammates, and the batsmen up.

by please don't yell Fri 07 Dec 2007, 02:05

I do get the feeling the england team as a whole took the foot of the gas after the 05 win.

A lot of the blame for that has to go to fletcher.

When you win one massive series and then start writing self congratulatory books while you're still in the job it's clear you're not thinking about how you're nearly at the top of the mountain, you're thinking more about enjoying the view from the top.

by please don't yell Fri 07 Dec 2007, 02:12

As for harmi i have never been impressed when he's played the tougher teams. he had that great game against us at lords although conditions were very bowler friendly.

He's played another 13 ashes tests and taken just 28 wickets at 54.

by Henry Fri 07 Dec 2007, 03:43

I think we should back guys like Cook, Bell, and Bopara. These three will more than likely be the backbone of the English batting for the next 10 years, so we should tolerate the odd failure from them here and there.

Imo, since he was picked for the first Test, England should stick with Bopara for the rest of the series to see where he's at at this stage of his career.

by tac Fri 07 Dec 2007, 03:45

Henry wrote:I think we should back guys like Cook, Bell, and Bopara. These three will more than likely be the backbone of the English batting for the next 10 years, so we should tolerate the odd failure from them here and there.

Imo, since he was picked for the first Test, England should stick with Bopara for the rest of the series to see where he's at at this stage of his career.

Boy, it's gonna be a long wait for those ashes back . . .

by furriner Fri 07 Dec 2007, 05:03

tac wrote:
furriner wrote:Damn. You guys should just burn a few effigies like I do.

More satisfying; helps the local economy unless I burn something else with it; great bonding if done together.

Bad for the environment . . . and you subis should stop your farkin cows from farting as well!

Not if you burn effigies made of cow 'patties'.

Also, we are willing to take lessons from Australia in how to stop cows farting. Vote them out of power like you guys did recently?

by Mick Sawyer Fri 07 Dec 2007, 05:38

furriner wrote:
tac wrote:
furriner wrote:Damn. You guys should just burn a few effigies like I do.

More satisfying; helps the local economy unless I burn something else with it; great bonding if done together.

Bad for the environment . . . and you subis should stop your farkin cows from farting as well!

Not if you burn effigies made of cow 'patties'.

Also, we are willing to take lessons from Australia in how to stop cows farting. Vote them out of power like you guys did recently?

They were counts, not cows that we tossed out F.

by tac Fri 07 Dec 2007, 05:50

Mick Sawyer wrote:
furriner wrote:
tac wrote:
furriner wrote:Damn. You guys should just burn a few effigies like I do.

More satisfying; helps the local economy unless I burn something else with it; great bonding if done together.

Bad for the environment . . . and you subis should stop your farkin cows from farting as well!

Not if you burn effigies made of cow 'patties'.

Also, we are willing to take lessons from Australia in how to stop cows farting. Vote them out of power like you guys did recently?

They were counts, not cows that we tossed out F.

Fark, you guys should marry . . . . What a pair of drivelling arsewipes you make.

by G.Wood Fri 07 Dec 2007, 06:05

for a fair man you are awfully harsh

by Invader Zim Fri 07 Dec 2007, 06:11

Geezus, Mick may be many things but being called an arsewipe isn't one of them.

Looks like tac is chocka bloke full of the angry pills.

by Mick Sawyer Fri 07 Dec 2007, 06:20

Cheers boys

by G.Wood Fri 07 Dec 2007, 06:33

Mick Sawyer wrote:Cheers boys

phurt I said he was harsh, not wrong

by Mick Sawyer Fri 07 Dec 2007, 06:48

G.Wood wrote:
Mick Sawyer wrote:Cheers boys

phurt I said he was harsh, not wrong

harsh but fair, right?

by furriner Fri 07 Dec 2007, 17:37

****** off tac.

by WideWally Fri 07 Dec 2007, 19:09

Ross wrote:Test players are in bold:

RT Ponting 60.56
L Pomersbach 60.10
PA Jaques 56.88
DJ Hussey 55.81
MEK Hussey 54.79
SM Katich 53.67
ML Hayden 53.42
JL Langer 50.67
ML Love 49.92
BJ Hodge 48.62
CJL Rogers 47.49
MTG Elliott 47.40
SR Watson 47.05
AC Gilchrist 44.68 (keeper)
MJ Di Venuto 44.66
MJ North 44.03
DJ Thornely 42.96
MJ Clarke 42.80
A Symonds 42.79
BJ Haddin 41.17 (keeper)
CL White 39.96
TR Birt 39.74
MJ Cosgrove 39.42
JP Maher 39.40
PJ Forrest 39.30
AC Voges 38.52
LR Butterworth 38.33
N Jewell 38.17
DJ Marsh 37.55
GJ Bailey 36.76
MS Wade 36.66 (keeper)
L Ronchi 36.09 (keeper)
MG Dighton 36.07
CT Perren 35.75
CJ Ferguson 35.30
GB Hogg 34.90
GJ Mail 33.30
SE Marsh 33.29
EJM Cowan 32.92
AB McDonald 32.33
AJ Nye 32.22
SA Deitz 31.81
JR Hopes 31.35
LR Mash 30.03

The top four in the Test team are in the top seven of this list while Gilly's average is obviously the best of the 'keepers. Token and the Kiddie have a dozen batsmen ahead of them but even they still have FC averages in the low-40s

Comparisons of many of these with their Pura Cup career averages
RT Ponting 60.56 PC 63.63
L Pomersbach 60.10 PC 60.10
PA Jaques 56.88 PC 47.09
DJ Hussey 55.81 PC 43.73
MEK Hussey 54.79 PC 41.87
SM Katich 53.67 PC 56.66
ML Hayden 53.42 PC 54.95
JL Langer 50.67 PC 52.06
ML Love 49.92 PC 44.90
BJ Hodge 48.62 PC 44.39
CJL Rogers 47.49 PC 48.89
MTG Elliott 47.40 PC 47.99
SR Watson 47.05 PC 42.57
AC Gilchrist 44.68 PC 38.22
MJ Di Venuto 44.66 PC 41.46
MJ North 44.03 PC 42.96
DJ Thornely 42.96 PC 45.99
MJ Clarke 42.80 PC 42.77
A Symonds 42.79 PC 37.17
BJ Haddin 41.17 PC 41.64
CL White 39.96 PC 30.47

by tac Sat 08 Dec 2007, 01:29

Invader Zim wrote:Geezus, Mick may be many things but being called an arsewipe isn't one of them.

Looks like tac is chocka bloke full of the angry pills.

by Fred Nerk Sat 08 Dec 2007, 01:36

"Looks like tac is chocka bloke...."

In case you're wondering (which you most likely aren't), Zim might be calling you an Italian. They were called 'choco's' when I was at school.

by tac Sat 08 Dec 2007, 01:39

I thought it was another festive spiv jibe gone wrong . . .

by LeFromage Thu 20 Dec 2007, 17:24

Bump this back up just to remind everyone that only three of England's current world-beaters even average over 40 in FC cricket (and two of those three can't run between the wickets or field).

by Eric Air Emu Thu 20 Dec 2007, 18:52

They're still better than the bowlers though who are just a glorified enabling mechanism for opposition batsmen.

by Zat Thu 20 Dec 2007, 20:52

81. Snigger.

by Sponsored content