Paxter Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 The funny thing is that both batting sides are in almost complete disarray at this point. It's a far cry from several years ago when Australia had Ponting, Hussey and Clarke and England had KP, Trott, Strauss and Cook. The batting sides virtually picked themselves. Meanwhile, both sides seem to have enough high-quality bowlers (when fit) to populate two test XIs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeor Posted July 24, 2019 Author Share Posted July 24, 2019 2 hours ago, Paxter said: I’ve noticed that Smith is having a few more troubles with getting lbw or bowled since his comeback. The conventional wisdom when bowling to him is to go fourth or fifth stump to negate his legside run-scoring opportunities. But perhaps England need to target his stumps a lot more this summer. It's a bit of a risk with Smith, because he's very good at scoring on the legside. But before he's got his eye in, it could be good to target the stumps. Michael Atherton wrote similarly about Steve Waugh. Everyone went for the short ball to Waugh because he didn't pull/hook, but Atherton said that he realised although Waugh looked uncomfortable, he didn't actually have a history of getting out to the short ball - the best way to bowl to STeve Waugh was to bowl full and straight early on, even though he was great at tucking the ball off his pads. Then again, it's not as if Athers had a lot of success with that strategy during the 90s... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maltaran Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 I don’t think I’ve ever seen a night watchman at number 1 before Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeor Posted July 24, 2019 Author Share Posted July 24, 2019 1 hour ago, Paxter said: The funny thing is that both batting sides are in almost complete disarray at this point. It's a far cry from several years ago when Australia had Ponting, Hussey and Clarke and England had KP, Trott, Strauss and Cook. The batting sides virtually picked themselves. Meanwhile, both sides seem to have enough high-quality bowlers (when fit) to populate two test XIs. Oh yeah, the batting has really fallen away on both sides. Root and Smith are the only world-class Test batsmen in each team. Of the rest, Warner comes close, but it's then a fair dropoff to the rest of the established players like Bairstow, Stokes, Khawaja etc at least as far as Test batting records go. 7 minutes ago, Maltaran said: I don’t think I’ve ever seen a night watchman at number 1 before Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paxter Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 36 minutes ago, Jeor said: It's a bit of a risk with Smith, because he's very good at scoring on the legside. But before he's got his eye in, it could be good to target the stumps. Michael Atherton wrote similarly about Steve Waugh. Everyone went for the short ball to Waugh because he didn't pull/hook, but Atherton said that he realised although Waugh looked uncomfortable, he didn't actually have a history of getting out to the short ball - the best way to bowl to STeve Waugh was to bowl full and straight early on, even though he was great at tucking the ball off his pads. Then again, it's not as if Athers had a lot of success with that strategy during the 90s... Yeah I think it’s risky too. I always fancied getting him nicking at something he shouldn’t be playing outside off. But the pattern of wicket to wicket dismissals recently is instructive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamjm Posted July 24, 2019 Share Posted July 24, 2019 1 hour ago, Maltaran said: I don’t think I’ve ever seen a night watchman at number 1 before It is unusual, although apparently this isn't Leach's first time opening in a Test, he also did it last year against Sri Lanka, which probably makes him one of England's more established openers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeor Posted July 24, 2019 Author Share Posted July 24, 2019 34 minutes ago, williamjm said: It is unusual, although apparently this isn't Leach's first time opening in a Test, he also did it last year against Sri Lanka, which probably makes him one of England's more established openers. Oh, I was laughing because I thought @Maltaran was describing the openers as nightwatchmen due to their terrible form. I didn't realise they actually used a nightwatchman! I guess it was only for one over. If it were for any more you couldn't guarantee that the specialist batsman wouldn't face. Still, if anyone doesn't need a nightwatchman it should be an opening batsman. If you're an opener who doesn't want to take the last overs in the day then you shouldn't really be opening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philokles Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 Good effort, but you couldn’t expect Burns to hang around with Leach too long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Winged Shadow Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 Leech doesn't look like a night watchment lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paxter Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 Bancroft in the runs in the tour match. Hardly a run in the match for the more fancied Wade, Harris and Burns. I’m not sure where the selectors go with this! Meanwhile all of England’s problems are solved with Leach opening and Roy at 3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljkeane Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 Yeah, Leach has won the opener job for the Edgbaston test now hasn’t he? ETA: So Roy gets some runs but that’s a pretty loose shot to get out to. If he’s going to be losing patience at 72 off 78 balls that’s a bit of a concern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paxter Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 This reminds me a bit of that near first test win for Bangladesh against Australia. Bangladesh had Australia almost on the ropes before Jason Gillespie (in his last test match) came in as night watchman and scored a cool double hundred. Good innings from Roy though - he's a dead cert for Edgbaston. Just an aside: Starc is looking a little ragged in the tour match. He easily has the worst figures for any fast bowler in the match. That's a bit of a concern for Australia as he also struggled against India last summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljkeane Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 The night watchman got 92 and England are still managing to mess this up. Bloody hell England’s test batting is terrible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philokles Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 I’d say that was worse than the first innings. I can understand being skittled by Murtagh in those conditions to an extent. But on a baking hot day where Jack Leach had done the hard part for you, losing 7 wickets for 77 lead runs against a plodding attack is just unacceptable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paxter Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 I have a feeling that the Leach contribution will be enough. 200 run targets are always tricky in the fourth innings and Ireland's batting didn't entirely convince in the first dig. It's probably a little unfair to single out any one of England's batsman...but I do think some serious questions need to be asked about Bairstow's contribution to this team. A pair in this match just underlines the problem. His record under Cook's captaincy was excellent: a 40+ average and continuously improving wicketkeeping. But since Root took over, he's averaging just 30 and has passed 50 on only nine occasions. He keeps moving up and down the order and switches in and out of the 'keeping role. I realise he's only one piece of the broader puzzle in England's test batting, but I think the failure to pin down his role in the team is a big issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamjm Posted July 25, 2019 Share Posted July 25, 2019 9 hours ago, The Winged Shadow said: Leech doesn't look like a night watchment lol Apparently he now the second-highest score by an English opener since Cook's retirement. 8 hours ago, ljkeane said: ETA: So Roy gets some runs but that’s a pretty loose shot to get out to. If he’s going to be losing patience at 72 off 78 balls that’s a bit of a concern. I suspect we may have to get used to that sort of thing. At least he'll have some confidence now going into the Ashes. It's difficult to predict who will win this match, 180+ is the sort of awkward total which is certainly achievable by the Irish batsmen but early wickets could make it a nervous chase. Another 20 or so runs from England's last pair could be very valuable if they can manage it tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeor Posted July 26, 2019 Author Share Posted July 26, 2019 Ugh, 3/20 and Ireland are on the ropes here. Come on Ireland! A target of 182 just needs one hundred partnership and it's basically done... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mosi Mynn Posted July 26, 2019 Share Posted July 26, 2019 This must very weird for anyone who got into cricket after the World Cup. As the BBC live reporters said: Quote England have been bowled out for 85, collapsed twice, had their nightwatchman look their best batsmen with 92, and they're going to win. Cricket. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/cricket/47324464 Welcome to supporting England! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeor Posted July 26, 2019 Author Share Posted July 26, 2019 Well, what's that saying...it's the hope that gets you. Ireland would have thought they were a chance chasing 180ish but England stomped all over that. I fear it's a taster of what might be to come with the Australian batting lineup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paxter Posted July 26, 2019 Share Posted July 26, 2019 A real shame So the Australian Ashes squad has been released. Bancoft and Wade are in, while Burns and Patterson (who each made hundreds in the last test match of the Australian summer) are unceremoniously dumped. It looks like it will be a contest between Harris and Bancroft for that opening slot. Wade is almost a certainty for the remaining middle-order spot - I don't think they'll recall Mitch Marsh for Edgbaston though he may feature later in the series. Marnus will be cover for Usman if the latter is not fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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