English Cricket Thread

[Arthur Crabtree]

Crawley will be back. He's getting a reward for a lot of drink carrying

Probably. But Crawley has been very inconsistent with quite long droughts relieved by brief abundance. A good series by his replacement will make things awkward for the selectors.

Injuries don't come at a good time if your Test average is 33 after 44 games, especially after you've just crashed and burned v the WI.

[sussexpob]

Crawley will be back. He's getting a reward for a lot of drink carrying

Probably. But Crawley has been very inconsistent with quite long droughts relieved by brief abundance. A good series by his replacement will make things awkward for the selectors.

Injuries don't come at a good time if your Test average is 33 after 44 games, especially after you've just crashed and burned v the WI.

I have been critical of Crawley, but his performances in 2023 were good enough to end the debate on his place for a while longer. Crawley seems to benefit from the Bazball approach more than most, because his defensive technique is rubbish, yet he plays shots like a boss. The injury came at a good time, because his form had dipped noticeably. A few games away to get in nick and a rest isn't always bad.

It remains to be seen long term whether his form continues to upturn or downturn. But I think considering the time invested in him, and the faith the coaching staff had in brushing aside any debate in 2022 about him being dropped, I can't see any scenario aside from a disaster run of form where he isnt opening for England down under.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Not even if someone comes in and scores a few hundreds?

[alfie]

Not even if someone comes in and scores a few hundreds?

I make it a rule never to assume anyone is "locked in for the next "X" years " , no matter what they do over a short period. Injuries happen ; form can mysteriously fall off a cliff (the one often leads to the other) ; and new players come along , even as different tours require different team balances... things can change quickly. However I would agree with Sussex that Crawley has a lot of credit in the bank at the moment and it would be a surprise if all the other current bats do so well in his absence that his place were to disappear.

Also without wishing to disparage Sri Lanka in advance one might beware the "Bopara Effect" : runs against Australia and India are arguably worth a bit more than centuries from less heralded attacks...

[Durhamfootman]

Maybe that's why England haven't replaced Crawley with a like for like replacement. They won't have to run the risk of making any difficult decisions later

[sussexpob]

Not even if someone comes in and scores a few hundreds?

There seems a trend in the last decade for England to have opening bats with horrendous techniques that somehow manage to standout in the CC and make runs, but they then come into the team and at a higher level those techniques are just ripped apart.

Adam Lyth couldn't leave the ball alone outside off.
Hameed can't get a bat on anything that swings into his stumps.
Dom Sibley's "glacier melting" accumulation style couldn't survive enough balls to make scores with all of that movement and his head bobbing around all over the place
Jennings.... see above
Stoneman was similar to Jennings, just planted his feet and swung
Rory Burns batted like he was swatting constantly at invisible swarms of bees.

Alex Lees was the only player who came in before the Bazball era who looked like he had a semi-compact technique. He found ways to get out, but he was the only one I'd pick again.

I think the mention of Jennings as the number 1 candidate says all you need to know, because the players scoring runs are past rejects, average county players over 30 who aren't really bashing the doors down....I think the only real opening candidate that is still young and on form is Emilio Gay, who is having a breakout season at Northants. And having watched him bat against Sussex, I wasn't overly sold with his choice of attacking a lot of balls. He scored some runs, but a lot of premeditated attacking shots that were streaky.

Yates made the Lions Squad, so I guess in England's eyes he is the next cab off the rank to work with, but he's only had a few matches of form. Average of 31 in FC suggests he is far from ready.

So its a case of not really having any options.

[andy]

Not even if someone comes in and scores a few hundreds?

There seems a trend in the last decade for England to have opening bats with horrendous techniques that somehow manage to standout in the CC and make runs, but they then come into the team and at a higher level those techniques are just ripped apart.

Adam Lyth couldn't leave the ball alone outside off.
Hameed can't get a bat on anything that swings into his stumps.
Dom Sibley's "glacier melting" accumulation style couldn't survive enough balls to make scores with all of that movement and his head bobbing around all over the place
Jennings.... see above
Stoneman was similar to Jennings, just planted his feet and swung
Rory Burns batted like he was swatting constantly at invisible swarms of bees.

Alex Lees was the only player who came in before the Bazball era who looked like he had a semi-compact technique. He found ways to get out, but he was the only one I'd pick again.

I think the mention of Jennings as the number 1 candidate says all you need to know, because the players scoring runs are past rejects, average county players over 30 who aren't really bashing the doors down....I think the only real opening candidate that is still young and on form is Emilio Gay, who is having a breakout season at Northants. And having watched him bat against Sussex, I wasn't overly sold with his choice of attacking a lot of balls. He scored some runs, but a lot of premeditated attacking shots that were streaky.

Yates made the Lions Squad, so I guess in England's eyes he is the next cab off the rank to work with, but he's only had a few matches of form. Average of 31 in FC suggests he is far from ready.

So its a case of not really having any options.

Compton of kent was mentioned last year as a genuine option and he looked good but sadly his form seems to have gone off a cliff now as well

[sussexpob]

Compton of kent was mentioned last year as a genuine option and he looked good but sadly his form seems to have gone off a cliff now as well

Is he still qualified for England? I seem to remember reading that he went to play in SA domestic cricket last year as a local player, so usually that would mean having to become an overseas player in the CC. He was born in SA, so not sure what his status is

[sussexpob]

Andy Flintoff's boy had his FC debut today... out for 32...

Only 16 years old.

[sussexpob]

Lawrence wont be test opener for long if he wants to prod at those.... angled across, wide enough to leave it, but he has a go and keeper completes it...

67/3.... Things getting interesting

[sussexpob]

Fernando again. Snaffles Root just as England looked like they were pulling away..... Root played for the movement that's been there all day, but this one doesn't move, and he's drove down the wrong line.

125-4.... another quick wicket and Woakes coming in at 7 might look a little light for England

[Durhamfootman]

Less than a year after securing a 2 year central contract, YJB has now been dropped from every squad going

Money for old rope these central contracts. Whoever penned all these deals should be shown the door

[Arthur Crabtree]

How can he not be in the 50 over side!

[andy]

How can he not be in the 50 over side!

Rebuilding for the new 4 year cycle...i dont mind him not being there we have so many talented batters around now he dosen't need to be there...

[alfie]

Perhaps wise to wait and see how some of these "many talented batters " fare against top opposition before deciding who needs to be there...

But Jonny having had a rotten winter touring it makes sense to have him back playing for Yorkshire at this juncture , no ? If he recovers the form he had prior to injury then he's probably not out of the reckoning ; but with these white ball series of little or no consequence it is as good a time as any to have a look at some new blood.