Author Topic: Fifth Test  (Read 5289 times)

Michael Rolls

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Fifth Test
« on: Sep 09, 2019, 02:42:03 PM »
England have named an unchanged squad for the Oval. Comment that Stokes' ability to bowl will continue to be assessed, but if unable to bowl expected to play as a specialist batsman with Woakes or Curran coming in (but no indication of at whose expense)
Mike
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Cassandra

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Re: Fifth Test
« Reply #1 on: Sep 09, 2019, 05:18:19 PM »
England have named an unchanged squad for the Oval. Comment that Stokes' ability to bowl will continue to be assessed, but if unable to bowl expected to play as a specialist batsman with Woakes or Curran coming in (but no indication of at whose expense)
Mike

Strangely I might stick with what we've got and hope that Jason Roy can carry on where he left off with wrestling his 'attack every ball' demons. Overtons got to stay, good seam support and the right attitude all round.

Perhaps after wicket inspection (or in reality groundsman's instructions) Leach will stand down and with Ben not bowling, retain four front line seamers and Joe Root as a spinner (always assuming he can bowl to his own field!) :) . I think he's a far better bowler than he gives himself credit for incidentally. In this scenario I'd give Curran, another left armer a go. Don't forget he can bat too!
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Michael Rolls

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Re: Fifth Test
« Reply #2 on: Sep 09, 2019, 09:01:17 PM »
Yes, I'd like to see Curran in. Dare not suggest dropping a batsman, so if Stokes can't bowl (PLEASE let's not do a Jimmy!) I guess sacrifice Leach -  hang about, I said don't drop  a batsman!  ;D ;D
Mike
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zoony

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Re: Fifth Test
« Reply #3 on: Sep 10, 2019, 01:57:33 AM »
..You two are wonderful to listen to, theorizing and using your insight to predict, perhaps, what may happen or not in whichever circumstance England find themselves, win a toss, lose a toss...I don't care particularly. I'm just a fan and I want a good, enthralling game of cricket between two of the greatest cricket nations in the world (Though that's less of a given than it was...) with all the elation and despondency such games engender..Win or lose, "Play up and play the game.."
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Cassandra

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Re: Fifth Test
« Reply #4 on: Sep 10, 2019, 02:49:39 AM »
Above all else I just love to watch the skills and hope for close contest. My critique for the apparent abandon to the discipline of purity I will always respect and proudly retain though.

Cricket and it's wonders to behold have always been the pillars of the game I hold so dear. John Arlott once warned me "If you want to know cricket, don't get to know the cricketers" and there's a lot in that. Thanks to my father (a prominent head of chambers) and his delight to represent many in their various scrapes with the law ('pro bono') I had the wondrous fortune of meeting so many throughout my childhood and early years. Their obvious fondness for him expressed itself as an avuncular attachment. I was particularly fond of Richie Benaud, Peter Richardson and of course 'Uncle's' Trevor Bailey and Gordon Barker. Just being in these circles spread my contacts and in time I inherited my fathers representative role for many of them. I'd have laughed at the fees I never charged in compensation for the wealth of experience, fun, contacts and travel gained by their friendship. Oh and I should add knowing every bar that's free in most places these peripatetic professionals adorn with their skills!

I've represented just about every Nationality that the game embraces, from speeding tickets and divorces to compensation, nothing criminal, resulting mostly to 'on the steps' settlements. Exclusively and I speak for the years 1972 thereon until 2005 I have never encountered a bad one and they all keep in touch. I'm saddened when some like dear Graham Dilley pass on so prematurely, or my mothers favourite Brian Luckhurst, whom she continuously chided about the ills of smoking. Dear friends departed but their memories are everywhere of course.

It's late and my poor little dog has his head on my keyboard snoring away, so we're off to the county of Bedfordshire!
My Little Dog - A heartbeat at my feet ...

Michael Rolls

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Re: Fifth Test
« Reply #5 on: Sep 10, 2019, 04:34:25 AM »
Love the image of doggie on keyboard!
Mike
Thank you for the days, the days you gave me.
The older I get, the better I was!

Michael Rolls

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Re: Fifth Test
« Reply #6 on: Sep 10, 2019, 08:13:28 AM »
Can't help wondering if Warner will keep his place - eight innings to date for a total of 8 runs at a rather poor (!) average of 1.00.
Of course, now that I have said that, they'll keep him and he'll score a century in each innings!
Mike
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The older I get, the better I was!

Michael Rolls

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Re: Fifth Test
« Reply #7 on: Sep 10, 2019, 09:14:00 AM »
It seems to be a given amongst the commentators that Australia have the better pace attack - but then, they haven't had to bowl at Smith. OK, they slaughtered England in the first innings at Headingley, but England won in the end - and no coincidence that Smith wasn't playing, and I can't help feeling that in that first innings were guilty of effectively dismissing themselves much of the time - as a prime example, Stokes' dismissal (but to be fair, he rather made up for it in the second knock!). Seemed more like mass hysteria than sensible batting - and it was only a week or two earlier that they were dismissed for 85 by Ireland - and with all due respect to Murtagh and company, I wouldn't see them as being in the same class as the Aussie pace attack
Mike.
Thank you for the days, the days you gave me.
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Cassandra

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Re: Fifth Test
« Reply #8 on: Sep 10, 2019, 10:21:58 AM »
Can't help wondering if Warner will keep his place - eight innings to date for a total of 8 runs at a rather poor (!) average of 1.00.
Of course, now that I have said that, they'll keep him and he'll score a century in each innings!
Mike

Like Root a quality player and they must persevere, also a limited stock to draw from, when your

1) On tour and

2) Don't have much to draw from anyway as far as quality goes!

Perhaps after you've been booed and spat on (I here at Old Tafford) for months it gets in your head, when your not a genius like Smith. I wish him well, he's good to watch in full flight. Bygones are bygones, I'm beginning to tire of the 'football' antics from beer sodden oaths (Its getting too much like Parliament).

Mind you they don't have to worry, Smith is worth five ordinary batters in one go!
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Michael Rolls

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Re: Fifth Test
« Reply #9 on: Sep 10, 2019, 10:28:32 AM »
So true re Smith - and like you, I don't like the loutish booing - this isn't soccer, after all!
Mike
Thank you for the days, the days you gave me.
The older I get, the better I was!

Cassandra

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Re: Fifth Test
« Reply #10 on: Sep 10, 2019, 10:55:49 AM »
It seems to be a given amongst the commentators that Australia have the better pace attack - but then, they haven't had to bowl at Smith. OK, they slaughtered England in the first innings at Headingley, but England won in the end - and no coincidence that Smith wasn't playing, and I can't help feeling that in that first innings were guilty of effectively dismissing themselves much of the time - as a prime example, Stokes' dismissal (but to be fair, he rather made up for it in the second knock!). Seemed more like mass hysteria than sensible batting - and it was only a week or two earlier that they were dismissed for 85 by Ireland - and with all due respect to Murtagh and company, I wouldn't see them as being in the same class as the Aussie pace attack
Mike.
I'd agree, I think Australia have a fine squad. Overall they're quicker with far more variety, seam, swing, right left, attacking and defensive. Broad's still excellent as a fast medium bowler at the height of his craft, but his support is limited. Archers young and inexperienced yet and Woakes indifferent last time. Stokes is crocked and Overton principally the stock seamer, who could develop I feel. All the Aussies look likely to get wickets and they're fielders hold catches, which helps. They're leadership and direction has been much better too. Paine's had a good series and well done Tim. The Aussies always blood their young pace bowlers early. I personally remember Graham Mackezie celebrating his twentieth birthday at Lords in 1961 by taking 5 English wickets, because I was there. No-one had ever heard of him. Archer for example is 24. Quick's basically have two careers what they have in Pace early on, is replaced with guile. Fred could blast players out in 1952, aged 21 in '61 at Headingley he got 11 in the match at little more than medium. Overton's now 25 and will never be quick but he's accurate and has a nasty 'glove banger'. Anderson's finished, sad but it happens. We must move on, we can't rely on 38 year olds in this line of business, both Statham and Tyson were gone internationally at 34 and 35. You don't see too many Pensioner hod carriers around (yet) :)
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Michael Rolls

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Re: Fifth Test
« Reply #11 on: Sep 10, 2019, 11:39:44 AM »
At least - and especially if Sam Curran comes in, we have a bit more variety that at times in the past.Can't remember the match, but England's seamers were struggling, the batsman looked untroubled and were ticking along nicely. On TMS BJ was wondering about a bowling change and Fred piped up with 'trouble is, he can change his bowlers but he can't change his bowling - they're all the same!' - and they were - all right arm over, no great pace, no great movement.
Wish I could remember the match.
Mike
Thank you for the days, the days you gave me.
The older I get, the better I was!

Cassandra

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Re: Fifth Test
« Reply #12 on: Sep 10, 2019, 12:29:15 PM »
At least - and especially if Sam Curran comes in, we have a bit more variety that at times in the past.Can't remember the match, but England's seamers were struggling, the batsman looked untroubled and were ticking along nicely. On TMS BJ was wondering about a bowling change and Fred piped up with 'trouble is, he can change his bowlers but he can't change his bowling - they're all the same!' - and they were - all right arm over, no great pace, no great movement.
Wish I could remember the match.
Mike
It might have been against India in the first Test of 1986 v India. John (JK) Lever from Essex then played in his last test at Headingley the next fixture and got 6 wickets aged 37. I remember because I was there and heard Fred expressing his pleasure at seeing him via TMS. Plenty of the 'I told you so' professional Yorkshireman remarks of course - God bless him.

He was scathing about poor Derek Pringle though;
... "Can you imagine facing Roberts, Holding, Croft and Garner and threatening 'em with a Radford or a Pringle I really don't know, I give up, I do" ...

If Sam and Craig play, we'll have perhaps 2 left arm seam bowlers with right alternative via Weekes and Broad. Craig would be my 4th seamer with Curran and Broad opening, Weekes first change.
My Little Dog - A heartbeat at my feet ...

Michael Rolls

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Re: Fifth Test
« Reply #13 on: Sep 10, 2019, 01:41:52 PM »
No Archer? Don't tell me he's injured, please?
On Derek Pringle, I'll never forget (well, I forget the game, but not the comment) dear old BJ somehow including Derek as one of England's fast bowlers.Fred nearly had an apoplectic fit.'FAST? Call 'IM FAST?' I do wish I could type with a Yorkshire accent!
Forgetting games but not comments, always reminds me of the saying attributed to Hilaire Beloc -'I forget the village, I forget the girl, but the wine was Chambertin!'
Mike
Thank you for the days, the days you gave me.
The older I get, the better I was!

Michael Rolls

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Re: Fifth Test
« Reply #14 on: Sep 10, 2019, 02:00:36 PM »
On the subject of Chambertin – if I may be permitted a digression – back around 1959/62 I still lived at home with mum, bro and sis (dad died in 1952) and went to work by bus from Hampton to Kingston. The bus route passed Hampton Court Palace and opposite the Lion Gate, next to the entrance to Bushy Park was a lovely little restaurant – by my standards a bit pricey, but well worth the extra. Once a month I would treat myself to a meal there – always a steak of some sort and always accompanied by a bottle of red. One day I chose a red a bit more expensive than my normal choice. It was superb – far outstripping the reds I had drunk previously, so it was my wine of choice until, in 64 or 65 the end of the bin was reached and they never replaced it with a successor, saying it was too expensive.
It was a 1955 Bouchard Pere et Fils Chambertin and I kid myself that I can still remember the taste of it. I looked B&F up recently, and they still offer a Chambertin – one problem - £270 a bottle
Mike  :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
Thank you for the days, the days you gave me.
The older I get, the better I was!