Ashes Series 2021-22

Disappointed that Root didn't get the heave-ho. He was joined at the hip with Silverwood in terms of selectorial and tactical howlers. He is by some distance the most unimpressive captain we have had in a long while. He makes Chef look like Brearley.

Collingwood is getting named as a possible interim coach for the Windies tour. Just so long as it really is "interim".

Basil wrote:Disappointed that Root didn't get the heave-ho. He was joined at the hip with Silverwood in terms of selectorial and tactical howlers. He is by some distance the most unimpressive captain we have had in a long while. He makes Chef look like Brearley.

I guess the issue would have been over-burdening Stokes at this point in time, there’s really no other candidate unless we go really leftfield and outside the current squad. But if we lose in WI and/or start the summer badly he may well fall on his sword, or another coach may have different ideas. I still suspect the next permanent England captain wasn’t part of this Ashes tour party.

I was thinking more along the lines of Broad. If we could get another's 12 or 18 months out of him. Then maybe it will be Stokes' time or possibly someone like Crawley or Pope might emerge from the pack.

Basil wrote:I was thinking more along the lines of Broad. If we could get another's 12 or 18 months out of him. Then maybe it will be Stokes' time or possibly someone like Crawley or Pope might emerge from the pack.

Guess the issue with Broad is the question of durability, can he play every match, and also he and Anderson just seem to be “turn up and bowl” special-teamers who aren’t really in the leadership group these days. And then there’s DRS

Would be an option as a stopgap if we needed one, but not sure what it would really achieve in a team progression sense.

I would choose Broad even as a stopgap because it gives the new permanent coach a chance to have a say about the long term options.

Anyway, Brendan McCullum for coach.

Basil wrote:I would choose Broad even as a stopgap because it gives the new permanent coach a chance to have a say about the long term options.

Anyway, Brendan McCullum for coach.

Think he would be terrific.

horace wrote:

Basil wrote:I would choose Broad even as a stopgap because it gives the new permanent coach a chance to have a say about the long term options.

Anyway, Brendan McCullum for coach.

Think he would be terrific.

Possibly the most influential cricketer of the last 20 years or so.

Basil wrote:

horace wrote:

Basil wrote:I would choose Broad even as a stopgap because it gives the new permanent coach a chance to have a say about the long term options.

Anyway, Brendan McCullum for coach.

Think he would be terrific.

Possibly the most influential cricketer of the last 20 years or so.

Is he a Test coach though, or do we need someone a bit more “back to basics”?

Certainly sowed the seeds of a great NZ era, seemed like he retired too soon but surprisingly they’ve pushed on even further since.

Colly does get the interim role, a permanent appointment might not be made before the summer starts.

Now for the task of picking a squad, and who exactly has responsibility/input for that. I’d say we need some fresh faces, give some of the burnt-out bubble players a rest, and save Anderson and Broad for the home season.

beamer wrote:Colly does get the interim role, a permanent appointment might not be made before the summer starts.

Now for the task of picking a squad, and who exactly has responsibility/input for that. I’d say we need some fresh faces, give some of the burnt-out bubble players a rest, and save Anderson and Broad for the home season.

Aye, the other seam bowlers need to stand up and be counted. Not sure I would take Robinson. He clearly did not follow the instruction to improve his fitness, so I would be tempted to make him sit this tour out. But that would be harder if neither Broad or Anderson go.

Other big question, other than top three, is spin… hard to make a decision on the right man to go forward with and develop when we have a temporary regime in place. I guess the question is whether the pitches there will require a specialist spinner.

Root can provide some fill in overs, should we pick an all seam attack, but that always seems to end in tears.

Basil wrote:Root can provide some fill in overs, should we pick an all seam attack, but that always seems to end in tears.

If we don’t have a spinner who’s good enough, and/or the conditions don’t suit, there’s no point picking one and essentially playing with 10 men though.

Key thing with all-seam attacks is variety, we all too often play 4 or 5 RFMs.

beamer wrote:

Basil wrote:Root can provide some fill in overs, should we pick an all seam attack, but that always seems to end in tears.

If we don’t have a spinner who’s good enough, and/or the conditions don’t suit, there’s no point picking one and essentially playing with 10 men though.

Key thing with all-seam attacks is variety, we all too often play 4 or 5 RFMs.

Excluding Wood, that's all we have. England don't seem to want to take a punt on Garton.

Basil wrote:

beamer wrote:

Basil wrote:Root can provide some fill in overs, should we pick an all seam attack, but that always seems to end in tears.

If we don’t have a spinner who’s good enough, and/or the conditions don’t suit, there’s no point picking one and essentially playing with 10 men though.

Key thing with all-seam attacks is variety, we all too often play 4 or 5 RFMs.

Excluding Wood, that's all we have. England don't seem to want to take a punt on Garton.

not surprising, because he's crap!

Anderson and Broad left out. Beginning of the end, or just giving them a break in a series they don’t really need?

a chance for foakes stokes woakes and 8 jokes to play

In addition to the senior seamers, other members who featured in the Ashes but don't make the cut are Buttler, Malan, Burns, Hameed, Billings and Bess

bit stiff for malan billings and bess

embee wrote:In addition to the senior seamers, other members who featured in the Ashes but don't make the cut are Buttler, Malan, Burns, Hameed, Billings and Bess

bit stiff for malan billings and bess

Bess is not an off-spinner's arse, he will not be missed. But I'm sorry for Malan, I think he deserved to go.

beamer wrote:Anderson and Broad left out. Beginning of the end, or just giving them a break in a series they don’t really need?

It's the beginning of the end I think. This has echoes of the 89/90 tour when Gower and Botham were dropped.

Basil wrote:

embee wrote:In addition to the senior seamers, other members who featured in the Ashes but don't make the cut are Buttler, Malan, Burns, Hameed, Billings and Bess

bit stiff for malan billings and bess

Bess is not an off-spinner's arse, he will not be missed. But I'm sorry for Malan, I think he deserved to go.

He could well have chosen not to, after having missed his daughter’s birth while in Australia. And I suppose age-wise there’s no real future in him. But an entirely new top 3 from that which started the Ashes is a big upheaval, even if not altogether surprising. Who bats 3, then?

I don't suppose Pope is being taken so that he can carry the drinks, in which case he will bat at six. That leaves Bairstow or Lawrence at 3. Bairstow it is then.

According to the Daily Heil, Root has been "told" to bat at 3.

So, I expect Jonny will make one century and a bunch of 20s against a middle of the road WI attack, which will book him the slot for the summer. He might well end up with the gloves at some stage, as well…

Basil wrote:According to the Daily Heil, Root has been "told" to bat at 3.

He should “tell” them he’s sodding off to the IPL then.