England v India, 4th Test, Old Trafford, 7-11 August, 2014

Yes - he hurt his ankle during T2. Think he was off the field for quite a portion of the game.

I would have thought Meaker would be worth a go. Not sure Finn is quite ready to come back yet.

Finn's back?? Welly well well.

He'll probably scythe throught the Bannies like a big scythy thing.

Dello wrote:Robson looks very good through the on-side. And his straight driving is decent enough.

Just a bit of white knuckle ride with his off-side play. Some sweet cover drives, some loosey goosey wafting.

I think he's a reasonable investment who'll probably make one more meaningful score in the series. A work in progress.

Yeah, he's been picked as one for the future so was always likely to get a decent run unless he did spectacularly badly. I know some here think Compton and Carberry were harshly treated but as an older debutant you have to average 40 plus from day one as there's no real improvement potential, you have to prove you're the best player for the slot at this moment in time. Whereas while there's no guarantee a younger player will develop, picking him is an indication that the selectors believe it's likely. Robson has been no more and no less than "OK" so far and I'd like to see a more aggressive foil for Cook at the top of the order but he's done enough to be persisted with over the winter at least.

Lyth and Hales are the more aggressive openers out there. But style of play doesn't seem to be taken into account by these England selectors.

Henry wrote:I would have thought Meaker would be worth a go. Not sure Finn is quite ready to come back yet.

Are you kidding?
Finn is more than ready to "come back" !
Seen him several times in both the CC and the mickey mouse games over the past three weeks.
He's bloody quick (90+ metronomic), accurate (William Tell on an off stump line) and aggressive
(almost, but not quite rivalling Jimmeh).

He's a Fraser (now a selector of course!) shoe-in by the looks of things ... and rightly, he should play ahead of
Jordan (and Meaker and Bresnan and Woakes and...) .

Robson, on the other hand, ought to return to the CC. He really has done nothing of note since his ton vs the
Lankans a long time ago now.

Merlin wrote:

Henry wrote:I would have thought Meaker would be worth a go. Not sure Finn is quite ready to come back yet.

Are you kidding?
Finn is more than ready to "come back" !
Seen him several times in both the CC and the mickey mouse games over the past three weeks.
He's bloody quick (90+ metronomic), accurate (William Tell on an off stump line) and aggressive
(almost, but not quite rivalling Jimmeh).

Didn't bowl 90 clicks once when I saw him. 86mph tops. As for metronomic accuracy, he's going at nearly 4 runs per over in FC cricket this season. Worse than Chris Jordan, worse than Chris Woakes, worse than Liam Plunkett - and they all have a better s/r, as does Ben Stokes, although at an inferior economy.

I know he's Middlesex, therefore you automatically get a tingle in your dingle when his name crops up, but I don't think he's fully back on track and wouldn't be surprised (if he plays) to see many of his previous failings resurface in a scattergun, erratic showing. He's getting there, but it feels like he's being rushed back ahead of schedule, which would do more damage than good, I think.

Happy to be proved wrong - I'm a fan of Finn.

Dello wrote:

Merlin wrote:

Henry wrote:I would have thought Meaker would be worth a go. Not sure Finn is quite ready to come back yet.

Are you kidding?
Finn is more than ready to "come back" !
Seen him several times in both the CC and the mickey mouse games over the past three weeks.
He's bloody quick (90+ metronomic), accurate (William Tell on an off stump line) and aggressive
(almost, but not quite rivalling Jimmeh).

Didn't bowl 90 clicks once when I saw him. 86mph tops. As for metronomic accuracy, he's going at nearly 4 runs per over in FC cricket this season. Worse than Chris Jordan, worse than Chris Woakes, worse than Liam Plunkett - and they all have a better s/r, as does Ben Stokes, although at an inferior economy.

I know he's Middlesex, therefore you automatically get a tingle in your dingle when his name crops up, but I don't think he's fully back on track and wouldn't be surprised (if he plays) to see many of his previous failings resurface in a scattergun, erratic showing. He's getting there, but it feels like he's being rushed back ahead of schedule, which would do more damage than good, I think.

Happy to be proved wrong - I'm a fan of Finn.  

FFS Dello

Merlo is a middlesex fan ...he wants Finn out and Robson in and Cook's England can go ****** themselves

embee wrote:

FFS Dello

Merlo is a middlesex fan ...he wants Finn out and Robson in and Cook's England can go ****** themselves

Aaaaaggrrrhhh!
It's t'other way round FFS ...

And you call yerself an umpire?!

PS - Your right about Cook though not about England.

Nice to have options for your team. I wonder how that feels.

furriner wrote:Nice to have options for your team.  I wonder how that feels.

What are you on about? For the fifth bowler we've got a choice between Binny and Dhoni.

tricycle wrote:

furriner wrote:Nice to have options for your team.  I wonder how that feels.

What are you on about? For the fifth bowler we've got a choice between Binny and Dhoni.

With or without the gloves on?

Heard Finn has stopped worrying about knocking over the stumps and will take it on the chin if he gets a wicket off a no ball. Bloke is a massive prick, though, so he'll fit in with the other haircuts.

Knicks in a twist this morning, Monkeh?

Yes, if twisted knicks means telling the truth about a player's on-field (and probably off-field) personality.

Did somebody say Meaker instead of Finn for the 4th test?

Okay I know it's a hit and giggle 50 over gig ...
but here's Meaker's contribution against Kent......

Stuart Meaker     10 ov  1 md   83 runs  1 wkt      3 wides  26 dots

Merlin wrote:Did somebody say Meaker instead of Finn for the 4th test?

Okay I know it's a hit and giggle 50 over gig ...
but here's Meaker's contribution against Kent......

Stuart Meaker     10 ov  1 md   83 runs  1 wkt      3 wides  26 dots

Happens.

Southee: 10 - 0 - 105 - 0 (vs India, Christchurch 2009)
Muralitharan : 10 - 0 - 99 - 0 (vs Aus, Sydney 2006)
Malinga: 7.4 - 0 - 96 - 1 (vs India, Hobart 2012)
Anderson: 9.5 - 0 - 91 - 1 (vs India, Bangalore 2011)
Anderson: 10 - 0 - 91 - 1 (vs Aus, Sydney 2011)
Steyn: 10 - 0 - 89 - 0 (vs India, Gwalior 2010)

Dello wrote:

Merlin wrote:Did somebody say Meaker instead of Finn for the 4th test?

Okay I know it's a hit and giggle 50 over gig ...
but here's Meaker's contribution against Kent......

Stuart Meaker     10 ov  1 md   83 runs  1 wkt      3 wides  26 dots

Happens.

Southee: 10 - 0 - 105 - 0 (vs India, Christchurch 2009)
Muralitharan : 10 - 0 - 99 - 0 (vs Aus, Sydney 2006)
Malinga: 7.4 - 0 - 96 - 1 (vs India, Hobart 2012)
Anderson: 9.5 - 0 - 91 - 1 (vs India, Bangalore 2011)
Anderson: 10 - 0 - 91 - 1 (vs Aus, Sydney 2011)
Steyn: 10 - 0 - 89 - 0 (vs India, Gwalior 2010)  

Yeah, well ...
But we're talking 2nd Divvie Kent ... not India or Oz.

Meaker isn't really a short-form bowler. He's capable of getting on a role and taking wickets in bursts in the longer form, though. He's skiddy, he's quick, he swings it, he's Saffie- He could be England's Dale Steyn. I can only assume England don't like his attitude, because he should be well and truly in the mix. Did he criticise Kevin Shine and the other drips at the Performance Centre?

Henry wrote:I can only assume England don't like his attitude, because he should be well and truly in the mix. Did he criticise Kevin Shine and the other drips at the Performance Centre?

No conspiracy that I can find. Meaker got into the limited overs set up, played a couple of ODIs in India, and was on course to break into the Test squad (if not first XI) for the home Ashes the following summer, but was bowling through too many injuries which eventually took their toll. He couldn't really get his season going last year, and when rest and rehab didn't cure his ills, had to go under the knife - knee and shoulder surgery - which ruled him out of contention for the whole winter too.

Started this season so-so with Surrey, got a minor injury, couldn't get back in the side as Matt Dunn and Tom Curran came in and looked exciting, let off steam with a few choice words of frustration at his situation on Twitter, which suggested his relationship with Surrey had broken down and he'd be looking for a new county. Then Curran was ruled out for the season, Meaker returned to the first XI, took 11 wickets in his comeback game, backed it up with 4/30 in the next match (T20) and seems in a good place again. Albeit getting some tonk in the 50 over stuff which is now all anyone's playing.

If he stays fit and finishes the season well, I'd imagine he's half a shot at making the Windes tour. Depends. Outside of Anderson and Broad, England have a raft of "maybe" bowlers pecking at the fringes. If Plunkett, Woakes, Jordan, Finn and Stokes step up, there's not going to be a lot of room for anyone else to force their way in.

You look at his first class record and his average and strike rate are as good as Finn's. Let's hope he gets a chance at some stage.

bring back Sir Darrel Hair, he will stick it to those subis, remind them of their place in the scheme of things.

Can anyone recall an actual fair dinkum cricket comment from the Fark-knuckle?

Why is he here?? Is this the only forum that hasn't banned him??

Onto more important matters, how's the Mancunian weather looking for the Test?

Darrel Hair isn't fair dinkum cricket ?

I mean what other professions did Darrel Hair have apart from cricket ?

Next talking of Sir Mike Deaness or Sir Chris Broad will cease to be fair dinkum cricket.

But no arguments regarding James "f***ing p**ck" and a "f***ing c**t" Anderson, for he is the purest form of cricket.

this is the distilled essence from the purest exponent of the purest form of the game.

Anderson didn't contest the charge that he called Jadeja a "f***ing p**ck" and a "f***ing c**t".

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-india-2014/content/story/766457.html

skully wrote:Can anyone recall an actual fair dinkum cricket comment from the Fark-knuckle?

Why is he here?? Is this the only forum that hasn't banned him??

Onto more important matters, how's the Mancunian weather looking for the Test?

Thursday is ok, Friday is shoite, and apparently the remnants of Hurricane Bertha are heading our way for Sunday!