Cricket

[47er]

Crawley out for 5 this time? Surely he needs a big rest.

[jim mk2]

Crawley is a walking wicket. Time to go, one good innings in 10 isn’t good enough. Stokes injured again too. 

[wilsdenrover]

13 hours ago, jim mk2 said:

Crawley is a walking wicket. Time to go, one good innings in 10 isn’t good enough. Stokes injured again too. 

One good innings in 10 would be a vast improvement for him.

[jim mk2]

England capitulated pretty quickly as expected. They must have had more important things on their mind. What time were they teeing off in the afternoon? 

[Mattyblue]

Crawley 54 Tests, average scraping over 30, but will he be playing next summer and in the Ashes? Probably. It’s harder to get out this side than in it (Pope’s not much better).

[47er]

1 hour ago, Mattyblue said:

Crawley 54 Tests, average scraping over 30, but will he be playing next summer and in the Ashes? Probably. It’s harder to get out this side than in it (Pope’s not much better).

Aussies will have him for breakfast.

[onlyonejackwalker]

23 hours ago, 47er said:

Aussies will have him for breakfast.

In 2024 we won 9 and lost 8. Our fourth heaviest loss in history in the last test in New Zealand. This shit or bust strategy is a tad one dimensional for me.

Re Crawley. Against New Zealand, Crawley has played 11 matches, 21 innings, high score of 43, runs 219 with an average of 10.42. How is that going under the radar from selectors?

In my opinion he is being badly handled. This is a talented shotmaker, but a bit brain dead with little cricketing intelligence, who obviously should be batting at 5 or 6.

If he's going to open he should seek advice from Gooch. Play a lot straighter, especially when driving, miss nothing on the leg side and only hook, pull and cut when well set. All this caught at cover, mid off and mid wicket crap needs to stop immediately.

If he fails at 5 or 6 ditch him. But having given him 53 tests we are almost forced into trying to rescue him.

Ironically, he may get a game against Australia averaging 43.06. But that's because he made 189 in one innings. In the other 14 he's at 32, similar to.his 53 match test record.

The openers set the scene and its depressing seeing Root walking out at 4 in the first ten overs. Might as well make him open. At least he'll be able to prepare mentally and avoid rushing to pad up.

[jim mk2]

Pope is the same. One good innings in 10. And they're talking about restoring him to No 3. Same technical problems that get exposed by the best bowlers. England look as fragile as ever, just as likely to lose badly as win easily. Bazball mentality. It's not Test cricket to my mind.