England test squad for the UAE

Borthwick looked OK to me.

Fat Sam ...welcome back

embee wrote:Fat Sam ...welcome back

....averaging 21 with the bat and 31 with the ball... living the dream.

Brass Monkey wrote:

embee wrote:Fat Sam ...welcome back

....averaging 21 with the bat and 31 with the ball... living the dream.

Good grief.

What a forward thinking decision that is.

When you were in your prime (i.e. about 8 stone overweight) you were pretty ordinary, as Monkey's stats show, now you're past your best, and I use that term 'best' advisedly, you get a recall.

So, young spinners in the county game don't be too despondent - whilst you may now be showing promise and talent and yet are being ignored, console yourself with the knowledge that once you're past it you'll probably be wheeled out for a few tests.

He wasn't a spinner before he made his debut and he isn't now. Not sure how he ever got picked as one although IIRC he was averaging 50 bat/40 ball before his debut; those are technically "all-rounder" stats I guess. And he is all round.

Not sure who else they could seriously pick (who they'd actually select in the team) though. Any other option would be the professional tour drayman. Pack your yellow bib, kid, you're going to Arabia...

I'm speechless.

Found wanting with the bat at test level? Check. Found wanting with the ball at test level? Check. Average County season? Check. Fat? Check. Not really prepared to do anything about being fat? Check.

Yeah, pick the f*cker for England again.

I always thought Liam Dawson was a decent cricketer. Nothing flash. but tough, and performs when needed. Good, solid cricketer who I think would do a dependable job in the right conditions for him. Can't think how he's feeling knowing that he's been passed up for a plate of jelly.

Dawson: 29 with the bat, 28 with the ball... better, but he's only bowled 200 overs this season.... is THAT what you really want?

Dawson is The New Gashley, isn't he?

While Patel impresses as The New Eddie Hemmings.

lardbucket wrote:Dawson is The New Gashley, isn't he?

One wicket per match at an average of 36... He's never torn up trees... he used to have youth as a caveat, now he has nothing.

Brass Monkey wrote:Dawson: 29 with the bat, 28 with the ball... better, but he's only bowled 200 overs this season.... is THAT what you really want?

He's not the messiah, but imo a better all-round (if slightly smaller) package than Patel. The type of cricketer that Duncan Fletcher would have quickly fallen in love with, and considering Ansari/Dawson/Patel would have been/will be just a back up squad member, that type of no nonsense, no whinging, good fielding cricketer could have been perfect.


Borthwick could have been worth a punt to put a bit of pressure on Rashid. He doesn't bowl anywhere near enough up at Durham, but he has a bit of ability and in the right conditions he could have been a good 'wildcard' option. His batting is improving every season as well.

Borthwick has bowled 150 overs and he's played almost every match. He's got 14 wickets @44. Dread. Bring back Samit Patel! Oh...

No, he's not - Dawson's a very naughty boy.

I probably missed it, but who would you have chosen (to replace Ansari), Danny?

In fact, let's float that for anyone who cares to respond. ...

To front up, I suppose I'd've gone with Roy or Compton. Depending on priorities (blooding, or blocking an end up).

PeterCS wrote:I probably missed it, but who would you have chosen (to replace Ansari), Danny?

In fact, let's float that for anyone who cares to respond. ...

No-one. They're underperformers. Why pick some underperformer on the basis that they bowl spin? The highest wicket-taking spinner this year was Ansari (44), followed by Gareth Batty (36) - the only two to take more than 30 wickets this season. Bollocks. Bollocks to that. If you HAD to take a spinner, go for one of the completely green spinners like Mason Crane or Matt Parkinson. England won't need three spinners.

PeterCS wrote:To front up, I suppose I'd've gone with Roy or Compton. Depending on priorities (blooding, or blocking an end up).

Compton?

Guess Beamer won't be back anytime soon.

England won the toss & batted against Pakistan A.
England currently 46/1

Big Dog wrote:England won the toss & batted against Pakistan A.
England currently 46/1

Cook got his ton yet?

taipan wrote:

Big Dog wrote:England won the toss & batted against Pakistan A.
England currently 46/1

Cook got his ton yet?

CrocInfo isn't updating but as England got their 46 from eighteen overs, i doubt it.

crab ton for cook

somehow the belf managed to throw it away before he made a lovely twenty

embee wrote:crab ton for cook

somehow the belf managed to throw it away before he made a lovely twenty

So I was only slightly premature.

Jesus. Jonny Bairstow's inking himself into the middle order.

Or maybe he can keep wicket - Buttler made his customary f*ck all.

Buttler must be a real worry. LBW to a spinner again. You can probably assume it was a straight ball and he just planted his foot half forward and missed it.

Dello wrote:Jesus. Jonny Bairstow's inking himself into the middle order.

Or maybe he can keep wicket - Buttler made his customary f*ck all.

It's OK, unnecessary across-the-line hacks are much more viable over there. He can ink himself right in for South Africa .

Re. Dawson (hmmmm, multiquote..... hmmm) - he got sent out on loan from Hampshire and also had a whine about not being picked. For not being very good. But at least he appears to take being a professional sportsman somewhat seriously.