Idle cricket musing

[Alan Medic]

Hi Oracle........how many times did England beat Australia in a row?

[????]

wot Mr medic said

Oracle my ****

[Otta]

I think he meant 2 in a row IN Australia.

[????]

..he's oracling in the corridor of uncertainty if you ask me

[Loz]

I think that England were a great outfit a couple of years ago, but even then it was rather obvious that, though the bowling cupboard was rather heaving with talent, the batting cupboard was rather bare, save for five of the batsman that were in the team. It was only the amazing ability of those five to rarely get injured or miss tests that covered this obvious problem.

The other issue was the results were becoming completely erratic - beating India at home (an amazing achievement in itself) was followed by a disaster in the UAE against Pakistan and some indifferent results with the Kiwis. Going into the England ashes series, the question was: which England would show up? It turned out to the bad one, but with Australia in disarray and a load of internal infighting pretty much caused by Mickey Arthur's management style, combined with Ian Bell's fantastic batting meant that England grabbed a 3-0 series win. But the difference in the teams was never that wide.

Fast forward to the Australian series and Boof had already managed to get the Aussies back as a team, generally by writing the first Ashes series off and a plan to win the Aussie leg. When that came around, a rather timely injection of Mitch J X-factor and the Gabba test win meant the Aussies had a massive injection of self belief.

At about this point Trott departed, Joe Root was badly mishandled and Ian Bell returned to being human. This showed up the complete lack of batting coming through as there was no one to step up. And, I think the bowling talent has been hugely mishandled - why bring a bunch of quicks if you don't pick them and thus destroy their confidence? And why the hell wasn't Onions in the squad as the third best seamer in the land at the time?

England need to bite the bullet, prepare to lose a lot ove the next couple of years and identify some solid young talent, rebuilding the batting around Cook, Bell and KP. Carberry is not the answer (whereas Rogers, with his huge experience, was a great temporary filler pick for Australia). Stokes is a great number 7, not six. Bairstow is not an international keeper. Monty is the best spinner at the moment.

So, I think England should be looking at:

Cook, AN Other, Bell, KP, Root, AN Other, Stokes, A New Keeper, Broad, Anderson, Monty

Spend a couple of years rebuilding around that template and find the new talent. Look to replace Monty when s useful young spinner comes up. And make sure there are some good reserves available, as KP and Anderson only have a couple of years left in them.

[????]

I think there's a lot of truth in there Loz. I also think Cook's captaincy has been a factor. Basically a disaster - both on his form and on-field decisions (and he's not been good at the tosses too!).

[????]

..I also blame the SAFFAS

*hopes Brendan's lurking*

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

I recall Mike Atherton not being very good at winning tosses too.

Not sure I would keep KP in the side. Despite his useful 49 in the last innings, I just don't think he's a team player and he's too mercurial.

Given Carberry's run rate, might as well have Compton back.

With the exception of Monty (whom I adore), would it be too radical to suggest we start again with a whole new team?

[david_carnell]

Loz - for your AN Other spots I would suggest:

Sam Robson opening

Gary Ballance at 5

Jos Buttler as the new keeper - he can really biff and put fear in bowlers, something England have almost never had - the Gilcrist factor.

Although you only seem to have three bowlers. Stokes can help cover I suppose? Three seamers and Monty enough?

[Mick Mac]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> Hi Oracle........how many times did England beat

> Australia in a row?

Not a clue. Why would I know anything about cricket.

Sounds like Gooch may be a casualty of this series.

[Alan Medic]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Alan Medic Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Hi Oracle........how many times did England

> beat

> > Australia in a row?

>

> Not a clue. Why would I know anything about

> cricket.

You appeared to be claiming such not so long ago. My bad.

[Loz]

david_carnell Wrote:

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> Loz - for your AN Other spots I would suggest:

>

> Sam Robson opening

Except he has not shown his hand yet as to whether he wants to play for England or Australia. CA is making serious attempts to keep him.

> Although you only seem to have three bowlers.

> Stokes can help cover I suppose? Three seamers and Monty enough?

Stokes' bowling has been good enough to play as a third seamer, IMHO. I've been rather impressed by him and I think he's been your best bowler in the series so far. But I just don't think his batting is good enough to be in the top 6. But with him and Butler and Broad, that would give you batting down to 9.

[Mick Mac]

???? Wrote:

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> ..he's oracling in the corridor of uncertainty if

> you ask me

4th stump.

[Mick Mac]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> Mick Mac Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Alan Medic .

>

> You appeared to be claiming such not so long ago.

See the irony Declan my boy. HNY.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

What a shambles.

The best I can find to say is that the stumps were very pretty.

[Mick Mac]

BBC report that some are saying this is the worst ever England performance. Aussies scented blood. 37 wickets for Johnson.

From what I saw the Aussies could always recover from a bad batting start and England never could.

[Otta]

England gave the urn back rather than Australia taking it, that's for sure.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Obviously an England fan:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/25650615

(that's probably in very poor taste but ...)

[david_carnell]

I thought exactly the same! And lo, he was from Cheltenham.

Rumours that Andy Flower continuing in his position had a causal effect are, as yet, unsubstantiated.

[Mick Mac]

Peckhamgatecrasher Wrote:

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> Obviously an England fan:

>

> http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/25650615

>

>

>

> (that's probably in very poor taste but ...)

Sydney Bridge Suicide incident has made a hero of Matt Prior. Not sure about Broad.

Prior said to Broad, lets go over and help this guy, but Broad refused to walk.

[Ted Max]

http://i40.tinypic.com/6z0dnr.jpg

[Mick Mac]

I suspect that's not a compliment.

[Ted Max]

Nothing to worry, about, Mick. Wasn't a bad effort.

[Loz]

david_carnell Wrote:

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> I thought exactly the same! And lo, he was from

> Cheltenham.

My first thought was Prior saying, "Well, you think you've got problems..."

[maxxi]

Loz Wrote:

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> david_carnell Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > I thought exactly the same! And lo, he was from

> > Cheltenham.

>

> My first thought was Prior saying, "Well, you

> think you've got problems..."

and then thinking "If I drop him I'm REALLY screwed."