The attitude of English players annoys me as much as anyone.
I get the mantra of being positive, always, but the constant self-over-rating of their side is pretty disrespectful to their opponents, makes them look delusional, and detracts from actual achievements, like having the best batsman in the world right now.
Having said all of that, you take a 5-1 summer, with the loss coming in a dead rubber, any time.
If it was us, we’d come up with some lame excuse for dropping the last game.
Tired, or too much cricket (which compared to England is a bit silly), or something like that.
I’m more positive about the set up and style because those in charge constantly talk about why they are doing what they are doing, why they make certain decisions, what their overall plans are. There is clear communication to the fans, so it’s a lot easier to be patient and understanding
IIRC he did get one when he was batting and it must have been by the most minuscule margin, when it was declared that the ball pitched outside leg. Very, very close to half the ball pitched inside line. if not more. I don’t know why they stipulate that at least half the ball is in line…that’s got whiskers on it. Should be umpire’s call at least and he’s out.
Stone and Potts look very pedestrian. Woakes can’t bowl over here, and I’m not convinced Bashir will have any success unless they allow catches in the fifteenth row of the members’. Archer struggles with injury, as does Wood to a point. Ollie Robinson bowls pies. Atkinson is an interesting one, looks a decent player.
How about Hull? Swinging the ball bowling mid 130s left arm over in Australia isn’t likely to end well. Mind you his test record after 1 test is a lot better than his first class record after 11 matches.
Their best modern day bowlers of all time got treated with contempt over here and they think a couple of medium pace pie chuckers are going to get wickets here lol.
Archer is their best hope but if it’s over 25 degrees he will bowl 4 overs, pull a heart string and be on the next flight home
Slow build up all right. He last played a test 3 and half years ago and his last first class match was over 3 years ago. I suspect it will be all too hard for him and he will stick to the T20 circuit getting played millions to bowl 4 overs per game.
I’d like to see Archer back playing tests too. He is a game-changer, was over bowled last time he was in the team. Think too much is being made of his attitude and not enough of the mismanagement. I think he’d thrive on being #1 when last time he was probably #3, or at least treated that way.
He has time to get it right in the same way Cummins had time when he was out with injury.
I’d have thought that being in the England set-up would be overall beneficial to him in terms of access to coaching and having a long term plan that being a “T20 player” might not afford him.
We knocked off England in the first T20 game overnight. Trav Head top scored.
The downside is that Xavier Bartlett did a side strain and had to leave the ground mid over and it doesn’t look good.
That follows the losses of Spencer Johnson (side strain) and Nathan Ellis (hamstring tendon) who both had to be withdrawn from the series. Johnson was replaced in the squad by Abbott but we hadn’t even replaced Ellis yet and now Bartlett has gone down.
Hazlewood is basically the last front line quick standing over there lol. Abbott too I suppose.
P.S. Apparently Riley Meredith is in the squad so he’ll now come in to replace Bartlett you’d think.
Sounds like the ump had a shocker.
Stoinis and David out LBW off consecutive balls. Both given not out and Poms reviewed both and the original decision overturned.
Would imagine the ump kept his finger in its holster for the rest of the game
