Kirtley FFS

Well let's all hope that that experiment is over. RIP.

Well yeah, I was hopeful. Not sure why. Unless the pitch is well pacy, I'd go for Broad, Dimi and Fred. Then Snape and Schofield.

I hate it when an ageing player who wasnt considered good enough even when he was in his prime is recalled when he's past his best. What's the point? Apart from the fact that Peter Moores has had some late night company on his first tour with the England team.....

He was one of the 'specialist' picks that a lot of fanboys of T20 were screaming out for.

Yeah,Because he can bowl yorkers at the death. Why the hell didnt we bowl first then? If we bat first then his role in the side has the potential to become somewhat limited if the opposition get away to a good start.

Also, if the guys job is to bowl yorkers, then im not sure what Matt Prior was doing up at the stumps to him.

Aye. One has to admit that a Kirtley + Schofield "experiment" looks highly "Ladbroke-centric".

More Sussex cronyism as far as I'm concerned, 'cause James Kirtley has always been shit.

Well. To be fair. He's got totally blinding statistics this season. Posted them elsewhere can't beef-hooked to find them.

He's done it on big occasions and at times it's better to go with winners, which he is.

So, to some extents, it was a no brainer.

He did pretty well in 2003 when picked for the tests, his FC form last year was shocking though. This year has been better as Batfink says.

S F Barnes wrote:He did pretty well in 2003 when picked for the tests

My grandma could've taken wickets on those tracks. And she's dead...

JKLever wrote:

S F Barnes wrote:He did pretty well in 2003 when picked for the tests

My grandma could've taken wickets on those tracks. And she's dead...

Pffft ... I can't remember the specifics of how he bowled I just remember him getting a 6-pack. But you are probably right, even R L Johnson got wickets during that summer.

S F Barnes wrote:I can't remember the specifics of how he bowled

Bent arm.

He was stunning. His conditions, as shoeshine said, bent arm, was spot on.

He's still a chucker and an average one at that.

Still, the opposition need 12 to win, last over to be bowled for England. Who would you want Kirtley or Anderson.

That's right! The correct answer is neither of them.

But of the two Kirtley would be the most likely to close the game out.

Gary 111 wrote:He's still a chucker and an average one at that.

Still, the opposition need 12 to win, last over to be bowled for England. Who would you want Kirtley or Anderson.

That's right! The correct answer is neither of them.

But of the two Kirtley would be the most likely to close the game out.

Depends if you count the 12 no balls or not.

Did i see Prior standing up to him today?

Must have some rare pace?

S F Barnes wrote:
I can't remember the specifics of how he bowled I just remember him getting a 6-pack.

I can remember the specifics.

He made his Test debut against SA on an absolute minefield of a pitch - by the 4th innings, the ball was scooting along the ground at ankle height. Then the next delivery - pitched in exactly the same spot - would smack the batsman in the ribs.

Barring 'that' Sabina Park pitch, I can't think of a worse Test track I've ever seen. It was a case of win the toss, bat first, win the match. Taking wickets on that shoddy excuse for a pitch was no achievement.

taipan wrote:Did i see Prior standing up to him today?

Must have some rare pace?

In reality he's not that quick, it's just his bent arm that creates an optical illusion.

Neil D wrote:

S F Barnes wrote:
I can't remember the specifics of how he bowled I just remember him getting a 6-pack.

I can remember the specifics.

He made his Test debut against SA on an absolute minefield of a pitch - by the 4th innings, the ball was scooting along the ground at ankle height. Then the next delivery - pitched in exactly the same spot - would smack the batsman in the ribs.

Barring 'that' Sabina Park pitch, I can't think of a worse Test track I've ever seen. It was a case of win the toss, bat first, win the match. Taking wickets on that shoddy excuse for a pitch was no achievement.

Aye that track was very much a ' darn we're 1-0 down and we have Jimmy Anderson leading our attack, we're being outgunned - lets do something about it ' type pitch

Neil D wrote:

S F Barnes wrote:
I can't remember the specifics of how he bowled I just remember him getting a 6-pack.

I can remember the specifics.

He made his Test debut against SA on an absolute minefield of a pitch - by the 4th innings, the ball was scooting along the ground at ankle height. Then the next delivery - pitched in exactly the same spot - would smack the batsman in the ribs.

Barring 'that' Sabina Park pitch, I can't think of a worse Test track I've ever seen. It was a case of win the toss, bat first, win the match. Taking wickets on that shoddy excuse for a pitch was no achievement.

I've not seen a pitch "go" that quickly in England before or since. It was right up there with Headingley in 1972

It was a shocker. Apparently after the game South Africa were of the opinion that "we didin't lose the game, we just lost the toss".

Never a truer word said. Pitches like that are a waste of a Test.

But it helped England draw a series they had no right to given the quality of cricket they played, thus denying sooky Smith a series win.

So, all's well that ends well...

Um Dello, what's with the pink avataar? Did you lose a bet?

True.

We were utter cack in that series. At one stage, IIRC, our bowling 'attack' consisted of Anderson, Kirtley, Bicknell and Kabir Ali.

How did they not beat us 5-0?