Eng V Pakistan

[Leothebear]

What a shame this highly entertaining test had to be spectatorless.

The victory for England was against the odds on a pitch which helped the seamers and the spinners enormously. The determination of Roy and Woakes got England through and Broad didn't panic when called for.

If anything Pakistan were the better side and certainly have a potent bowling attack. Could be a close series.

[PinkDalek]

Unless Roy is a nickname do you mean Root or Buttler?

Enjoyed most of what I heard or saw on CricInfo.

[jackdaww]

Unless Roy is a nickname do you mean Root or Buttler?

Enjoyed most of what I heard or saw on CricInfo.

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buttler surely ?

great win but i think england are weak .

broad and anderson well past their sell dates, archer still unproven .

few spinners , no leggies or lefties.

frail batting , only root , pope , buttler , woakes , stokes look first choice picks.

[Leothebear]

buttler surely ?

great win but i think england are weak .

broad and anderson well past their sell dates, archer still unproven .

few spinners , no leggies or lefties.

frail batting , only root , pope , buttler , woakes , stokes look first choice picks.

Sorry - of course I'm meant Buttler.

I think Broad and Anderson will stiil useful this summer on English pitches but longer term doubtful.
Worth persevering with Archer I think, teamed up with Wood they have the potential to be a handful on fast pitches.

I feel Pakistan still have a good chance of winning this series. They look useful.

[jackdaww]

buttler surely ?

great win but i think england are weak .

broad and anderson well past their sell dates, archer still unproven .

few spinners , no leggies or lefties.

frail batting , only root , pope , buttler , woakes , stokes look first choice picks.

Sorry - of course I'm meant Buttler.

I think Broad and Anderson will stiil useful this summer on English pitches but longer term doubtful.
Worth persevering with Archer I think, teamed up with Wood they have the potential to be a handful on fast pitches.

I feel Pakistan still have a good chance of winning this series. They look useful.

======================

yes archer may come good, wood is great if fit .

i like curran and woakes as second line bowlers who can get runs as well .

[PinkDalek]

Now that Stokes is missing the last two tests for family reasons, I see they’ve drafted in Ollie Robinson to the squad. I’ve been watching his progression since Sussex have nurtured him & it will be interesting if he gets a match or two.

If he teams up with Archer, maybe the latter’s batting promise will eventually come to the fore.

[Alaric]

Now that Stokes is missing the last two tests for family reasons, I see they’ve drafted in Ollie Robinson to the squad.

Presumably Stokes will be replaced by a batsman at 3 with Root, Pope, Buttler and Woakes to follow, leaving the bowling as Woakes and four others.

[didds]

Now that Stokes is missing the last two tests for family reasons, I see they’ve drafted in Ollie Robinson to the squad.

Presumably Stokes will be replaced by a batsman at 3 with Root, Pope, Buttler and Woakes to follow, leaving the bowling as Woakes and four others.

that's how I see it. Stokes real benefit to the team is his middle order batting. As 4th seamer in the side he is easily replacemable - but the balance of the side suffers as a result as weve seen very recently when playing a s abatter a batsmen (Xrawley in reality) has been dropped to accomodate a seamer to repcle stokes bowling.

So with Stokes out completely its a batter that needs adding to the mix so presumably (?) its Crawley to return at #3, Root moves to #4 again. Then the side as before... unless the selctors play with the bowling mix of course.

A year ago I was defending archer as i didnt think England (aka Root) had worked out how to use him best, but whilst to some degree that may still be true nonetheless he seems off the pace 9quite literally at times) and dis-cojjnected. He is undoiutedbly what england 2need" but at the moment for whatever raesons he isnt really performing.

Meanwhile woakes... I doubted his alleged all-rounder potential a few weeks ago, seeing him as a batting Bowler, but it seems batting #7 brings out the best in him (as opposed to #8).

wrt spinners - no lefties? Leach? Or has he faded so fast he isnt in the mix any longer going forward/ I may have missed soemthing here being fair.

I dont disagree that englabnd are far from a finished product but ojhn the whole I think the bowling whilst not being spectacular is decent - yes broad and anderson are heading towards retirmenet, but the likes of Woakes amnd Curran are good bowlers, with Wood and Archer coming through (bnotiwthstandign my comments above and wood's fitness issues. perso9anlly i rate Wood better but he is totally unrelaible for availability purposes)


didds

[77ss]

......yes broad and anderson are heading towards retirmenet....


didds

All players are headed towards retirement - rather like death.

I would suggest that a bowler who can get 22 wickets at 12.05 in three tests, may yet have some value!

Great test - fabulous listening.

[didds]

......yes broad and anderson are heading towards retirmenet....


didds

All players are headed towards retirement - rather like death.

I would suggest that a bowler who can get 22 wickets at 12.05 in three tests, may yet have some value!

Great test - fabulous listening.

some will reach retuirement before others. some wont even getb the chancce to retire...

and thats not to say that until that day of retirement that they are useless obviously

didds

[todthedog]

Buttler had a good knock at last !

Liability keeping, his misses catches and stumping cost more than the runs he scored.

[jackdaww]

Buttler had a good knock at last !

Liability keeping, his misses catches and stumping cost more than the runs he scored.

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the question is , were these lapses a oneoff , a bad day , or is his keeping just not good enough ?

i dont know , just asking .

[todthedog]

You just cannot keep making errors at this level. Viewed as A 'jolly good chap' and the selector's favourite so likely to survive.
Ben Foakes is a way better keeper with a higher test batting average.
Why pick the best keeper when bits and bobs will do and a few rare flashy ODI runs.
This is supposed to be test cricket where the best available are picked.
Walks off muttering

[jackdaww]

You just cannot keep making errors at this level. Viewed as A 'jolly good chap' and the selector's favourite so likely to survive.
Ben Foakes is a way better keeper with a higher test batting average.
Why pick the best keeper when bits and bobs will do and a few rare flashy ODI runs.
This is supposed to be test cricket where the best available are picked.
Walks off muttering

============================

is buttler good enough just for his batting ?

[bluedonkey]

You just cannot keep making errors at this level. Viewed as A 'jolly good chap' and the selector's favourite so likely to survive.
Ben Foakes is a way better keeper with a higher test batting average.
Why pick the best keeper when bits and bobs will do and a few rare flashy ODI runs.
This is supposed to be test cricket where the best available are picked.
Walks off muttering

============================

is buttler good enough just for his batting ?

No, he's not!

[todthedog]

Definitely not!

[todthedog]

Jos Buttler MBE King's College, Taunton, averages 32 in tests and 1st class cricket

A test class bat averages 40+

Ben Foakes Tendring Technology College
test average 41
First class 38

'nuff said.

[bluedonkey]

Jos Buttler MBE King's College, Taunton, averages 32 in tests and 1st class cricket

A test class bat averages 40+

Ben Foakes Tendring Technology College
test average 41
First class 38

'nuff said.

Ed Smith, Tonbridge School. Gentlemen and Players, eh what?

[todthedog]

Spot on old chap more port?

[Leothebear]

When was there a better partnership than Crawley's and Buttler's today?

I only saw BBC2's highlights but what I saw was high quality batting that turned the game. Crawley looks real class. Buttler agan showed his batting alone makes him worthy of his cap. A delight to see them punish a useful Pakistan bowling unit.