West Indies v England, 2nd Test, North Sound, 31 January - 4 February, 2019

Any changes for England? Sturat to return?

skully wrote:Any changes for England? Sturat to return?

Really hope Lady Di gets a go. Looking forward to seeing him bat at square leg against military mediums.

Chances are Rashid and perhaps Moeen will be dropped. Jennings under pressure but with only untried journeyman Denly waiting in the hutch as an alternative, looks likely to get at least one more match.

They really should at least fly out a couple of batting reinforcements to send out a message.

Drop Jennings, all the main batters move up one, Broad takes the spare place. Maybe replace Rashid with Leach.

Playing two spinners again is surely out of the question? One part-timer will do the trick, let Root step up and grab an 8-for

Jennings replaced by Denly.

Leach replaces Rashid.

Broad back in the 12.

I think Leach will miss out, Denly and Root between them can bowl the second spinner' s overs.

I'd much sooner Denly and Root scored the number of runs expected from an opening batsman and (allegedly) one of the top half-dozen batsmen in world cricket.

I don't hold out much hope for the other matches this series. The Ashes will be interesting. Aus aren't quite as village as we are - but we're at home and (hopefully) have Jimmy fit and raring to go.

What I'd really like to see is Hameed recover the form and confidence he had before his broken fingers and rack up a pile of runs over the summer.

Growler wrote:I'd much sooner Denly and Root scored the number of runs expected from an opening batsman and (allegedly) one of the top half-dozen batsmen in world cricket.

I don't hold out much hope for the other matches this series. The Ashes will be interesting. Aus aren't quite as village as we are - but we're at home and (hopefully) have Jimmy fit and raring to go.

What I'd really like to see is Hameed recover the form and confidence he had before his broken fingers and rack up a pile of runs over the summer.

Hmmnn. Not so sure your mob is more village than ours. Our coach is the full frontal village idiot plus we are sure to select the gcspoc, who makes Pig Stokes look a passable human being.

I doubt Seasick Steve will find his former groove and none of the other bats look capable of scoring regularly and heavily. I expect Langer will have his way and one both Marsh kids will get a tour.

Our bowling is ok but unremarkable.

The Aus touring XI is shaping as akin to the 89 Ashes squad i.e. "the worst team to arrive in England in X years".

Some young, perhaps promising but unproven bats, the reliable old head, and a serviceable bowling attack.

We can but hope that Ashes 2019 somehow mirrors the famous Ashes 1989.

So, Plan W for the England opening slot is a 32-year-old journeyman who played a few JAMODIs a decade ago, and doesn’t even open for his county at the moment.

I’ve been saying for ages that we need to be radical and employ a pinch-hitter as nothing else is working... but seems they’re just going to keep going down the same list of uninspiring options.

250 might be a good score on this track.

Gabriel gone in the fetlock?

Burns gone: 4/1

Wicket
Denly
Shiteness rating of shot played: 9.3

I'm all for pitches that encourage the bowlers, but a track like this where the bounce is so inconsistent is not the way to go imho.

This is not a test quality pitch even though my almost 15 years young lad warrants a place in THAT crap batting line up. People tell me we are going to beat Australia? Really? They are having a laugh and a not very funny one. The team aiming for the top of world test cricket not so long ago look like the Banglas or Ireland 11 on overall quality.
A number 8 scoring 200+ not out against us was bad enough, but, what the hell, maybe someone else can suggest why we are this bad? Taipan? You usually see things pretty clearly sir.

Buttler gone. Went for a walk down the pitch and nicked it. He tried to be too cute. Should have stayed where he was and played it off the back foot.

whitburn wrote:This is not a test quality pitch even though my almost 15 years young lad warrants a place in THAT crap batting line up. People tell me we are going to beat Australia? Really? They are having a laugh and a not very funny one. The team aiming for the top of world test cricket not so long ago look like the Banglas or Ireland 11 on overall quality.
A number 8 scoring 200+ not out against us was bad enough, but, what the hell, maybe someone else can suggest why we are this bad? Taipan? You usually see things pretty clearly sir.

You think the Aussie batsmen will outscore ours against our bowlers with a Duke ball, even with Smith and Warner back? Recent history suggests otherwise.

Bairstow has got the right idea by giving it a thump.

50 to Jonny B.

78/5, Bairstow gone dammit. 

Is Denly a keeper or a spin bowler?

Commentators: Moeen's batting has deteriorated as he is concentrating on his bowling.

As an disinterested observer he is shite at both.

taipan wrote:Commentators: Moeen's batting has deteriorated as he is concentrating on his bowling.

As an disinterested observer he is shite at both.

34 wickets in his last tests

Basil wrote:

taipan wrote:Commentators: Moeen's batting has deteriorated as he is concentrating on his bowling.

As an disinterested observer he is shite at both.

34 wickets in his last tests

?