England's Ashes Test Team

[Alistair20000]

Let's look at it this way.

In a 50 over game, the match could be over at halfway if you have a bunch of sloggers with a good eye or your oppo are particularly weak on bowling. Rack up 300+, then bowl defensively and pick up the points even if the oppo score 150/3.

In a timed match, you can go and smash the ball to all parts and score 300+, but you then need to bowl the oppo out so you need to bowl more aggressively. The batsman, on the other hand, knows that with a win out of the question they can deny the oppo the win so, with application and good technique, can see their side home to pick up points for the draw.

So the league being mixed format encourages all forms of the game.

The 50 over game on the domestic scene (Royal London) has delivered some good cricket this year; closer to delivering Test match players than the T20 ever will but it is being dumbed down next year to accommodate the wretched Hundred.

 

[IndoMike]

Let's look at it this way.

In a 50 over game, the match could be over at halfway if you have a bunch of sloggers with a good eye or your oppo are particularly weak on bowling. Rack up 300+, then bowl defensively and pick up the points even if the oppo score 150/3.

In a timed match, you can go and smash the ball to all parts and score 300+, but you then need to bowl the oppo out so you need to bowl more aggressively. The batsman, on the other hand, knows that with a win out of the question they can deny the oppo the win so, with application and good technique, can see their side home to pick up points for the draw.

So the league being mixed format encourages all forms of the game.

I'm not sure if I follow the logic of that, Jason, but I'm feeling particularly dumb today so it's probably me.
All I can say is that limited over cricket is very different from test cricket. The Cricket Board decided to focus on the WC and got it right with a bit of luck added. Perhaps they can do the same for test cricket.

 

[Alistair20000]

I'm not sure if I follow the logic of that, Jason, but I'm feeling particularly dumb today so it's probably me.
All I can say is that limited over cricket is very different from test cricket. The Cricket Board decided to focus on the WC and got it right with a bit of luck added. Perhaps they can do the same for test cricket.

The papers this morning are suggesting the focus will indeed be on creating a winning Ashes team as the utmost priority. Long term job is that mind.

 

[IndoMike]

The papers this morning are suggesting the focus will indeed be on creating a winning Ashes team as the utmost priority. Long term job is that mind.

Good. Yes, it will be a long-term project. It will be interesting to see how they will tackle that.
Btw, the penny just dropped re your nom de plume. It took a while.

 

[Alistair20000]

View attachment 1191

Is that the 6' 4" Adonis that stands in the Big Bank

 

[Jason H]

I'm not sure if I follow the logic of that, Jason, but I'm feeling particularly dumb today so it's probably me.
All I can say is that limited over cricket is very different from test cricket. The Cricket Board decided to focus on the WC and got it right with a bit of luck added. Perhaps they can do the same for test cricket.

I think we've fallen into a trap of believing that white ball specialists can convert across to the red ball game and, as I feared, they have been exposed by what is a very strong Australian attack. I'm pleased Buttler managed to grind out a couple of knocks but he's still very much wanting, as is Roy.

I can only really think of one player in the modern era who has come into the white ball game first as a specialist then made a success of transitioning across to the red ball, and that's David Warner who was selected for the Australian T20 and ODI sides before he'd even played a FC match.

 

[IndoMike]

I think we've fallen into a trap of believing that white ball specialists can convert across to the red ball game and, as I feared, they have been exposed by what is a very strong Australian attack. I'm pleased Buttler managed to grind out a couple of knocks but he's still very much wanting, as is Roy.

I can only really think of one player in the modern era who has come into the white ball game first as a specialist then made a success of transitioning across to the red ball, and that's David Warner who was selected for the Australian T20 and ODI sides before he'd even played a FC match.

Agree totally with your first paragraph.
Warner is a very good batsman but Broad has had him.by the short and curlies during this series. It's been a surprise that he has batted so poorly.

 

[IndoMike]

The selectors are naming an unchanged side for the 5th test. No matter what anyone says, this is a dead rubber. The prize has been won already, so why not try one or two younger players? It's all too cosy at Cricket HQ.

 

[Alistair20000]

The selectors are naming an unchanged side for the 5th test. No matter what anyone says, this is a dead rubber. The prize has been won already, so why not try one or two younger players? It's all too cosy at Cricket HQ.

We can still draw the series as Chap points out and we need to aim to do that. Plenty of time to experiment later.

 

[IndoMike]

We can still draw the series as Chap points out and we need to aim to do that. Plenty of time to experiment later.

I know we can draw the series, Ali, but that means little. The target was the Ashes, and we couldn't get them back. If we win. many will think it was because the Aussies weren't too bothered, because clearly they are the better side.