England v Australia, 3rd Test, Headingley, 6-10 July, 2023

Could be the making or breaking of Brook.

He is clearly a talented lad, but the Aussies have already exposed a bit of chink in his armour - the short ball - due to his high keenness to score quickly. He will be peppered.

If he fails at 3, it could be a real set back for him confidence wise. If he succeeds, we are looking at the next superstar of international cricket.

Let's see how this one pans out.

I see Nath's reaction to that ...


Keeper at 5? Well ok. He bats better without the gauntlets, didn't I hear - esp in second innings?

I'm still stumped.

I think the "chink" is as much a drop in form & confidence since heading to India, as anything else.

Chin music rarely brings out the best in a batsman who has lost the core of self-belief he had.

Any sign of the Aus XI?

PeterCS wrote:Chin music rarely brings out the best in a batsman who has lost the core of self-belief he had.

Aye, Peter. "Chin music" is such a blunt instrument, but it has been effective the whole history of our great game, but often to its detriment (i.e. really boring cricket or very short Test matches).

Other than the Brook-at-no.-3 dilemma, I have to say it looks a stronger England side to me.

The batting (Brook's performance yet to be seen) looks no real amount weaker now that Mo's nemesis Lyon is not playing. And the bowling certainly looks stronger with the inclusion of the fresher (and quicker) Woakes and Wood plus Mo.

It will be very interesting to see what sort of deck is serves up in Leeds.

It will be somewhat amusing if this deck turns out to be the one that might have suited Jimmy best, after he laboured so hard but fruitlessly on the flat Bazball-suited decks ordered by Stokes and McCullum. That's the way it goes sometimes though. There's a strong sense that the planning by England's hierarchy hasn't been as careful as it might have been.

Can’t understand how Robinson keeps his place ahead of Tongue, based on Lord’s, unless it’s on sledging potential.

But yeah, it probably will be a Jimmy pitch, and then he will take 0-150 in his farewell appearance on an Oval road.

skully wrote:Could be the making or breaking of Brook.

He is clearly a talented lad, but the Aussies have already exposed a bit of chink in his armour - the short ball - due to his high keenness to score quickly. He will be peppered.

If he fails at 3, it could be a real set back for him confidence wise. If he succeeds, we are looking at the next superstar of international cricket.

Let's see how this one pans out.

Well, if it all falls flat for him, he could swap Bazball for baseball, going by a Youtube video I saw recently, where he seemed to pretty much master Yank Rounders in the space of a day…

lardbucket wrote:It will be somewhat amusing if this deck turns out to be the one that might have suited Jimmy best, after he laboured so hard but fruitlessly on the flat Bazball-suited decks ordered by Stokes and McCullum.  That's the way it goes sometimes though.  There's a strong sense that the planning by England's hierarchy hasn't been as careful as it might have been.

Maybe, despite Horatian conspiracy theiries, doctoring pitches to order is not a particular feature of England cricket ...

beamer wrote:Can’t understand how Robinson keeps his place ahead of Tongue, based on Lord’s, unless it’s on sledging potential.

But yeah, it probably will be a Jimmy pitch, and then he will take 0-150 in his farewell appearance on an Oval road.

You’d think he’ll get a recall in Manchester, which would be a more fitting farewell ... completing The Anderson cycle where it began.

Unless it’s 2-2 after that match, I can’t see him going on beyond that.

lardbucket wrote:

beamer wrote:Can’t understand how Robinson keeps his place ahead of Tongue, based on Lord’s, unless it’s on sledging potential.

But yeah, it probably will be a Jimmy pitch, and then he will take 0-150 in his farewell appearance on an Oval road.

You’d think he’ll get a recall in Manchester, which would be a more fitting farewell ... completing The Anderson cycle where it began.

Unless it’s 2-2 after that match, I can’t see him going on beyond that.

Yeah, guess his home ground bowling from his own end would be more fitting!

Regarding the second part of that statement, I wonder why Ian Bell still hasn’t had an equivalent honour at Edgbaston

PeterCS wrote:

lardbucket wrote:It will be somewhat amusing if this deck turns out to be the one that might have suited Jimmy best, after he laboured so hard but fruitlessly on the flat Bazball-suited decks ordered by Stokes and McCullum.  That's the way it goes sometimes though.  There's a strong sense that the planning by England's hierarchy hasn't been as careful as it might have been.

Maybe, despite Horatian conspiracy theiries, doctoring pitches to order is not a particular feature of England cricket ...

Lol.

Terrible rumour that Mere will replace Green.

Equivalent of match fixing

Yeah, I heard on the wireless that Snot had pulled up sore. Good God, really re: Puddle?? I'd prefer Wank. Is he still in the squad?

Looks like ScoBo will come in for Haze as well.

skully wrote:Yeah, I heard on the wireless that Snot had pulled up sore. Good God, really re: Puddle?? I'd prefer Wank. Is he still in the squad?

Looks like ScoBo will come in for Haze as well.

I'd prefer Neser.

any word on the final make-up of the side?

lol Marsh.

He’s in? FFS

England insert us again

Another greenie?

Dumb Grub. When we need him to stand up, he melts like the softcock that he is.

Questions, questions ...

Why are they holding back Wood? He's not a stock bowler. And when he's a permanent injury worry, spells of 4-5 overs should be the thing.

Instead of which, Carthorse Robbo plays Aussie in nicely. wtf.

Questions, questions.


Let Carthorse prove the doubters (me) wrong ...

skully wrote:Dumb Grub. When we need him to stand up, he melts like the softcock that he is.

Like the farmer and the cowpoke, the good people of Sydney should be friends. ...

It's not just territory folk should stick together,. territory folk should all be pals ...

PeterCS wrote:Questions, questions ...

Why are they holding back Wood? He's not a stock bowler. And when he's a permanent injury worry, spells of 4-5 overs should be the thing.

Instead of which, Carthorse Robbo plays Aussie in nicely. wtf.

Questions, questions.


Let Carthorse prove the doubters (me) wrong ...

Not sure if Wood’s a new ball bowler either though, I might have given Woakes a shot…

Broad’s got his bunny but boundaries flowing too freely here.