Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

Arthur Crabtree wrote:Presume Bairstow will be back for Brook.

Interesting conundrum that one.

I'll bet you Foakes will be looking over his shoulder, because it's the sort of call England would have made in a heartbeat in the past.... did make in a heartbeat.

I rather suspect England will need Foakes next year... especially in India with a lot of glove work required standing up to the stumps.

The most encouraging thing is, for the first time in over a decade, there is a semblance of likability about the team. The captain and coach seem inclusive, Rob Key is a down to Earth likeable guy who knows cricket, and doesnt have to mask his inadequacies in robotic b*llshit talk about baseball sabremetrics he doesnt understand, and the team are playing like a group of wild west mavericks who arent afraid to Clint Eastwood style it.

People think I am negative, but my god this team have been detestable for many years. Over a short space of time, the new management actually leave me with a feeling like a give a toss about them again.

As I have said many a time, I can take loosing if its in the progress of some final goal. English test cricket has been on the path to nowhere for nearly a decade.... at the moment, it feels like its on the way to something special.

Certainly a huge result for England and TEst cricket as a whole.

Does make me wonder where Pakistan cricket is headed at test level though. Huge wake up call for them.

I guess this makes England fav for the ashes.....

yuppie wrote:I guess this makes England fav for the ashes.....

as McCullum said to the journos.... "you guys do this all the time....... Just enjoy the 3-0"

After a decade of crap batting, Harry Brook is a very exciting prospect. Of course it could all go rapidly downhill as it has done in the past, but it's hard to remember a young player making such a big impact so quickly since Cook made his debut.

bigfluffylemon wrote:After a decade of crap batting, Harry Brook is a very exciting prospect. Of course it could all go rapidly downhill as it has done in the past, but it's hard to remember a young player making such a big impact so quickly since Cook made his debut.

Brook has been brilliant in this series. Also looks like a player who learns - and quickly - from his mistakes. Still have to see how he goes in different conditions of course (he has had a wonderful time in Pakistan with both white and red ball ; but he's yet to be tested anywhere else at top level) ; and NZ might give us a more rounded view. Have to fancy his chances though on this showing.

sussexpob wrote:The most encouraging thing is, for the first time in over a decade, there is a semblance of likability about the team.

A big part of England's toxicity was the aloof, corporatised ECB and the client journalists who xeroxed their PR. They seem to be less conspicuous these days.

With new year coming, here's a topical salute to the passing of time. Nine years now since the 5-0 Ashes defeat that ended in KP-gate.

how time flies