The Cricket Thread

[officepest]

England all out for fuck all.

Hazlewood bowls Anderson to put an early end to this farce.

[officepest]

What can you say after that? Yes, the toss was key but to bowl, bat and field as poorly as England did in this match is simply staggering.

There are serious questions to be asked about England’s top order as they simply aren’t doing enough to justify continued selection. Bell, Balance and, to a lesser extent Lyth, all have to be under the spotlight.

I’ll give Lyth a bit of slack as he should have been on the Caribbean tour in place of Trott, but other than that he’s been poor so far.

Aussies made their changes by dumping Watson and replacing Haddin, and they look a completely rejuvenated side. England would do well to take notice.

[arseofacrow]

Looked weak mentally as soon as the aussies stepped it up.

I think it's clear that England need help with the wickets and the aussies don't and that might end up as one of the biggest differences.

I do think that if we can get the batting, bowling and fielding right, then we're in with a chance in the series.

[augie]

Do the rules allow a test match to finish in just two days ??

[arseofacrow]

I have a suspicion that we won't see many changes when it comes to the next test match. I think the way this test has gone is a fairer reflection of the two teams current standings in world cricket.

[nut flush gooner]

I have a suspicion that we won't see many changes when it comes to the next test match. I think the way this test has gone is a fairer reflection of the two teams current standings in world cricket.

As pointed out by the experts it does seem madness that Root comes in 5, when he really should be a number 3. Bairstow is knocking on the door and should be added to the squad imo. He was very effective in the one dayers and we need more aggressive cricketers to take the battle back to the Aussies.

Just like in the 2013 tour, we let them bully us over the last 4 days. That can't be allowed to continue.

[northbank123]

England have to make at least one change - psychologically they can't trot out on the first morning of the Third Test with the same XI.

Wouldn't drop Lyth yet - there is just too much of a dearth of good candidates for his spot to consign him to the scrap heap. Trott should never have been brought back (and on a side note personally I think he is a prick for suggesting he was suffering from mental illness in Australia when it wasn't the case) and Lyth should have had an extra two tests against mediocre opposition in the Windies to bed into test cricket. England's selection with The openers has been shocking past few years - not least with Carberry Imo. I'd give Lyth one more test.

Bell has to go. He has never reached the top level in his career because - whilst Al players are prone to dips in form - he has suffered far too many extended barren periods. Ballance I would probably stick with, but another middle order collapse and don't be surprised to see the KP argument raise its ugly head again.

In theory it's not all doom and gloom - England are still level, Clarke hasn't hit his stride and Australia's middle order looks as weak on the pitch as it does on paper. But the momentum from this test combined with the disparity in ability between the sides doesn't bode well.

[officepest]

Bell has to go. He has never reached the top level in his career because - whilst Al players are prone to dips in form - he has suffered far too many extended barren periods. Ballance I would probably stick with, but another middle order collapse and don't be surprised to see the KP argument raise its ugly head again.

I think the problem with Bell is simple; his eyes have gone. He cannot pick the ball up quickly enough wihch is, when facing 90+ mph bowling, problematic. He has been a very good player for England (not least the last ashes series over here) but I think it's time to move him on. I'd be tempted to have a serious look again at Bairstow, who's scoring for fun but, this being the ECB, they'll probably assume Bell will score a triple-ton on his home ground next test.

I agree with you about Lyth, but he is definitely on thin ice. I think he was handed a hospital pass of sorts due to not being selected for the Caribbean but then being asked to hold the Aussies at bay after only a couple of tests to his name, so I’d give him a pass for now and see what transpires at Edgbaston.

My real concern though is Ballance; I don't care what he averages in tests, he has a real technical flaw and has without a doubt been found out by the top pace bowlers. I don't think we can make wholesale changes but I wouldn't have Ballance at three while we continue to have him coming in after 5 - 6 overs.

[Brownie1991]

The real Aussie team showed up at Lords and were too good.

Warner has had the little bit of first class cricket again to get his form back after playing a heap of shorter format games. Add Rogers and Smith who have been in great nick for a while now, our top 3 are really strong. Clarke seems to be a bit off and needs time in the middle. Bowling attack is firing.

As long as Edgbaston doesn't throw up a ridiculously slow pitch, can see a similar result next week.

[northbank123]

Also fair play to Australia - as awful as England were that was a superb and ruthless performance

[arseofacrow]

If the pitch lends itself to seam and swing as a regular English pitch should, then the England bowlers are more than capable of making inroads in to the aussies batting. But they've got a sort the batting out and make some tough decisions.

[northbank123]

Massive runs for James Taylor today. Has put his hat in the ring for the rest of this series - although England are really after a 3 or a 4 rather than 5 or 6 which is where I seem to remember him batting in the past for England.

I understand the clamour for Root to move up the order but he is scoring runs at 5 - he's just about the only batsman who is doing the business so I wouldn't move him around to cover for the failure of others.

[officepest]

Massive runs for James Taylor today. Has put his hat in the ring for the rest of this series - although England are really after a 3 or a 4 rather than 5 or 6 which is where I seem to remember him batting in the past for England.

I understand the clamour for Root to move up the order but he is scoring runs at 5 - he's just about the only batsman who is doing the business so I wouldn't move him around to cover for the failure of others.

Isn’t it his first century this season? I thought he was discarded fairly quickly by England, and I’m not sure why – too short? He's definitely worth looking at again.

[arseofacrow]

Massive runs for James Taylor today. Has put his hat in the ring for the rest of this series - although England are really after a 3 or a 4 rather than 5 or 6 which is where I seem to remember him batting in the past for England.

I understand the clamour for Root to move up the order but he is scoring runs at 5 - he's just about the only batsman who is doing the business so I wouldn't move him around to cover for the failure of others.

Isn’t it his first century this season? I thought he was discarded fairly quickly by England, and I’m not sure why – too short? He's definitely worth looking at again.

Maybe they can;t see him?

[Leyton Gooner]

Bairstow in for Ballance for the next Test then. Good to see a bit of ruthlessness from the selectors. Been scoring runs for fun for Yorkshire and will be interesting to see how he does this time. Certainly needs to have ironed out his problems against the short stuff though.

Probably one Test too early to ditch Lyth but I think it's last chance saloon time for him and Bell, or at least it should be