It's just not cricket

[DRT]

I would prefer you to refer to number 3, third man makes me think of the field placing.

Wilco. My education continues.

[DRT]

Mrs T has control of the TV. Cricket not yet available. What are the team changes?

[LGTrotter]

Cook, Carberry, Bell, Pieterson, Balance, Stokes, Bairstow (wk) Borthwick, Broad, Anderson, Rankin. Cook won the toss and has put Australia in.

[DRT]

Nice to see some balance in the team selection.

Sorry.

[DRT]

I just remembered about the wonder that is "Sky Go", so now have it live on my MacBook

[DRT]

A question for the experts where did England go wrong? In particular, arrange the following in order from ‘wrongest’ to ‘least wrong’: •Â batting; •Â bowling; •Â fielding.

1)Batting
2)Batting
3)Batting

I’m convinced.

So am I!

Screen Shot 2014-01-02 at 23.49.48.png (375.91 KiB) Viewed 3558 times

[djewesbury]

WICKET!
Is this the beginning?

[LGTrotter]

And it's Warner, the irksome nobody.

[DRT]

WICKET!
Is this the beginning?

Yes. Must be.

[LGTrotter]

And Broad, of course.

[LGTrotter]

WICKET!
Is this the beginning?

Yes. Must be.

Is this a prediction from mystic Derek?

[DRT]

WICKET!
Is this the beginning?

Yes. Must be.

Is this a prediction from mystic Derek?

No. They are going to get hammered. Again.

[djewesbury]

"Rankin looks somewhat like a lamp-post on holiday"
Thank you Blowers

[DRT]

A seed of doubt has just been planted in relation to the "batting, batting, batting" theory. Sky have just revealed that only 5% of England's bowls have been on the wicket in the entire series. I don't know what good looks like, but the commentator seemed to be suggesting that 5% isn't it.

[LGTrotter]

A seed of doubt has just been planted in relation to the "batting, batting, batting" theory. Sky have just revealed that only 5% of England's bowls have been on the wicket in the entire series. I don't know what good looks like, but the commentator seemed to be suggesting that 5% isn't it.

Daniel made a point earlier about Anderson being a bit pants this series, it is a good one.

[DRT]

Have they explained why Root was uprooted?

[LGTrotter]

Can anyone explain why Stoakes is the first change bowler rather than Rankin, who the Australians don't know and would seem more immediately threatening? New skipper wanted.

[djewesbury]

Can anyone explain why Stoakes is the first change bowler rather than Rankin, who the Australians don't know and would seem more immediately threatening? New skipper wanted.

Agreed.

[LGTrotter]

Have they explained why Root was uprooted?

Pusillanimous. I can only think they are trying to protect the youngster from another drubbing. Hardly the most positive selection.

[DRT]

New skipper wanted.

Agreed.

I knew you would both come round eventually.

[DRT]

Pusillanimous.

I very much believe in Darwin. He should have been left to prove himself or be eaten.

[DRT]

New skipper wanted.

Agreed.

I knew you would both come round eventually.

Have either of you considered Bell for the job?

[djewesbury]

New skipper wanted.

Agreed.

I knew you would both come round eventually.

Have either of you considered Bell for the job?

I have. Owen would rather cheer for Australia.

[LGTrotter]

Pusillanimous.

I very much believe in Darwin. He should have been left to prove himself or be eaten.

And what if England win? Do they drop the brightest young thing I have seen for a while?

And Rankin despite being all over the shop looks like he is doing a bit with the ball.

Bell is the vice captain. And if he is given promotion I shall expect a contribution from both of you towards having him assassinated for the sake of my mental stability.

[DRT]

And what if England win? Do they drop the brightest young thing I have seen for a while?

Not sure I understand your point, Owen. My reading of your rationale for him being dropped this time is that he has been a bit of a girl and hasn't shown that he has the balls to slug it out at this level. I can see how young players can learn some tricks to play with the big boys, but courage is something that you either have or you don't, especially when you are young. I wonder if the selectors ever felt the need to protect Botham by not playing him?

Bell is the vice captain. And if he is given promotion I shall expect a contribution from both of you towards having him assassinated for the sake of my mental stability.

Probably best arranging this one by PM

[DRT]

Does this session quality as "deadly dull"?

[djewesbury]

No I think Owen feels like dropping Root is a big mistake.. He's been in the wrong place in the order, he's not a first-wicket batsman, dropping him is a bad move. Plenty of players have had unpromising starts to their careers: Flintoff was dropped for ages. Swann only got back in by chance. And Botham was one of England's truly awful captains, since you mention him.

[djewesbury]

Does this session quality as "deadly dull"?

Not at all - great bowling and England on top!

[DRT]

Did you notice that I caused both of the wickets to fall?

Let me know when you want another one.

[LGTrotter]

And what if England win? Do they drop the brightest young thing I have seen for a while?

Not sure I understand your point, Owen. My reading of your rationale for him being dropped this time is that he has been a bit of a girl and hasn't shown that he has the balls to slug it out at this level. I can see how young players can learn some tricks to play with the big boys, but courage is something that you either have or you don't, especially when you are young. I wonder if the selectors ever felt the need to protect Botham by not playing him?

Exactly. Root is going to be part of the England set up for a long time. So why drop him if not to protect him? The argument is going to be that they had to do something different and decided to let Carberry have another go.

Another wicket...

[DRT]

And Botham was one of England's truly awful captains

It is never a good idea to make your best player captain. Never.

[LGTrotter]

No I think Owen feels like dropping Root is a big mistake.. He's been in the wrong place in the order, he's not a first-wicket batsman, dropping him is a bad move. Plenty of players have had unpromising starts to their careers: Flintoff was dropped for ages. Swann only got back in by chance. And Botham was one of England's truly awful captains, since you mention him.

Thank you Daniel, I do indeed think he should be given a bit of latitude at 5ish.

[LGTrotter]

And Botham was one of England's truly awful captains

It is never a good idea to make your best player captain. Never.

Are you trying to suggest Bell again? I shall go to a corner and rock.

[DRT]

Root is going to be part of the England set up for a long time. So why drop him if not to protect him? The argument is going to be that they had to do something different and decided to let Carberry have another go.

I have to say I haven't seen anything in Carberry that explains why he is on the tour. Is he Bell Mark II? Has he had a previous short spell where he hit a few runs?

[LGTrotter]

Root is going to be part of the England set up for a long time. So why drop him if not to protect him? The argument is going to be that they had to do something different and decided to let Carberry have another go.

I have to say I haven't seen anything in Carberry that explains why he is on the tour. Is he Bell Mark II? Has he had a previous short spell where he hit a few runs?

A good first class season I think. Looks a good bat but a bit old to be starting out.

[DRT]

And Botham was one of England's truly awful captains

It is never a good idea to make your best player captain. Never.

Are you trying to suggest Bell again? I shall go to a corner and rock.

No. I just think that truly talented sportsmen should be allowed to get on with what they do best. Exactly the same mistakes happen in business when people who are good at a job are made to be a manager and have no clue what to do next.

[djewesbury]

Do you wish you weren't a manager?

[LGTrotter]

There is a expression for it. What is it? Where people are promoted to one step above their ability.

[LGTrotter]

Are Australia as guilty as England were this summer of deliberately preparing wickets to suit them? I don't think so but these are very flat fast tracks.

[DRT]

Do you wish you weren't a manager?

I was never any good at pensions so I'm in the ideal job

[DRT]

Are Australia as guilty as England were this summer of deliberately preparing wickets to suit them?

Isn't that just normal? Similar things happen in golf and football, and probably other sports.

[djewesbury]

Are Australia as guilty as England were this summer of deliberately preparing wickets to suit them? I don't think so but these are very flat fast tracks.

This one's just a bit green. I think in the main the pitches have been what we expected.

[djewesbury]

Do you wish you weren't a manager?

I was never any good at pensions so I'm in the ideal job

[DRT]

My new prediction is a draw.

[LGTrotter]

My new prediction is a draw.

I would stick to your first one.

[LGTrotter]

Are Australia as guilty as England were this summer of deliberately preparing wickets to suit them? I don't think so but these are very flat fast tracks.

This one's just a bit green. I think in the main the pitches have been what we expected.

True but I thought the SCG did a bit usually.

[LGTrotter]

That'll do!

[djewesbury]

That'll do!

78/3! that's more like it...

[DRT]

That'll do!

That guy Bell looks like a safe pair of hands.

[djewesbury]

And Jim Maxwell starts going on about how bad England have batted this series. Typical Australian.