RugbyRebels

Banquo wrote: ↑Mon Jul 17, 2023 1:46 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Mon Jul 17, 2023 1:45 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Mon Jul 17, 2023 11:41 am

Bad decision keeping the non keeping keeper tho.

I am resigned to him being retained all series. They are showing faith - it worked for Crawley (for certain values of worked, although I don't necessarily mind an opener who continuously and consistently gets between 20 and 45 - rather that than one that gets four 0-10s and then gets a 150 every so often. At least Crawley can be relied upon to last long enough to take some shine off the ball for the middle order), so they'll keep trying with Bairstow.

Puja

The issue with Bairstow is that he’s literally cost at least one test…..and is in severe run debt and we have a demonstrably better option.

Stom wrote: ↑Tue Jul 18, 2023 12:28 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Mon Jul 17, 2023 1:46 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Mon Jul 17, 2023 1:45 pm

I am resigned to him being retained all series. They are showing faith - it worked for Crawley (for certain values of worked, although I don't necessarily mind an opener who continuously and consistently gets between 20 and 45 - rather that than one that gets four 0-10s and then gets a 150 every so often. At least Crawley can be relied upon to last long enough to take some shine off the ball for the middle order), so they'll keep trying with Bairstow.

Puja

The issue with Bairstow is that he’s literally cost at least one test…..and is in severe run debt and we have a demonstrably better option.

I agree with this.

Also, and I don't get overlooking this...Bairstow is a pretty damn good outfielder. If he was a specialist batsman, he'd be a shoe in considering his work in the field.

Puja wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2023 9:02 am I'd call yesterday a par day, neither good nor bad in the general scheme of things. Get the last two wickets done in the first half hour and for under 20 runs, it's a solid first innings. If Australia hold on for a chunk of the morning, it's a disaster (whether they score or not - time is not our friend).

Decent catch by Bairstow, but he's got a lot of redeeming to work in and, frankly, we already knew he can pull off the occasional stunner - it's the nuts and bolts keeping, especially up at the stumps, that worries.

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2023 11:10 am Should've been all out for 300, only for the last wicket to be called back for another no ball. Our third wicket lost to nb this series - shocking for something that's eminently fixable.

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2023 12:10 pm Just seen the Duckett wicket - it's a good ball from Starc. I don't know whether that's better or worse than him getting out doing something stupid.

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2023 12:25 pm We appear to be playing very cautiously so far, which is slightly worrying. I don't know we've got the skills to be defending and seeing off the bowlers before accumulating (especially with Australia's breadth of bowling options this test). We've already edged a few that could've gone to hand with a bit worse luck. The point of Bazball is to knock the stuffing out of the bowlers, or at least to get a quick 30 before getting a ball that's too good for you.

I am concerned that we'll end up with Moeen taking 50 deliveries to get 11 and then getting out anyway, when a more swashbuckling approach might see some of the pressure taken off.

Puja

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2023 12:35 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2023 12:25 pm We appear to be playing very cautiously so far, which is slightly worrying. I don't know we've got the skills to be defending and seeing off the bowlers before accumulating (especially with Australia's breadth of bowling options this test). We've already edged a few that could've gone to hand with a bit worse luck. The point of Bazball is to knock the stuffing out of the bowlers, or at least to get a quick 30 before getting a ball that's too good for you.

I am concerned that we'll end up with Moeen taking 50 deliveries to get 11 and then getting out anyway, when a more swashbuckling approach might see some of the pressure taken off.

Puja

Hmm still scoring at nearly 4 an over despite losing a very early wicket

Puja wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2023 12:56 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2023 12:35 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2023 12:25 pm We appear to be playing very cautiously so far, which is slightly worrying. I don't know we've got the skills to be defending and seeing off the bowlers before accumulating (especially with Australia's breadth of bowling options this test). We've already edged a few that could've gone to hand with a bit worse luck. The point of Bazball is to knock the stuffing out of the bowlers, or at least to get a quick 30 before getting a ball that's too good for you.

I am concerned that we'll end up with Moeen taking 50 deliveries to get 11 and then getting out anyway, when a more swashbuckling approach might see some of the pressure taken off.

Puja

Hmm still scoring at nearly 4 an over despite losing a very early wicket

And Moeen looks to have very much got his eye in (although no doubt he'll get out if I take too long writing this comment). I reserve the right to be wrong at all times and it looks like I'm going to have to use it here.

Puja

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2023 1:03 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2023 12:56 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2023 12:35 pm
Hmm still scoring at nearly 4 an over despite losing a very early wicket

And Moeen looks to have very much got his eye in (although no doubt he'll get out if I take too long writing this comment). I reserve the right to be wrong at all times and it looks like I'm going to have to use it here.

Puja

Think they've been smart trying to see off three of the best pace bowlers of the era- we do forget how good that trio are.

Puja wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2023 1:08 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2023 1:03 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2023 12:56 pm

And Moeen looks to have very much got his eye in (although no doubt he'll get out if I take too long writing this comment). I reserve the right to be wrong at all times and it looks like I'm going to have to use it here.

Puja

Think they've been smart trying to see off three of the best pace bowlers of the era- we do forget how good that trio are.

It's the problem when there's three of them though - if there's one or two, then you can see them off, but when there's three they can just rotate on and off and there's very little respite. We're lucky they lost Lyon to injury - if they had him able to hold down an end, then they could just be rotating their dangermen the other end and barely even need to touch their all-rounder(s).

Puja