smashing the Aussies all over the place. 4-0 up in the series :-)
smashing the Aussies all over the place. 4-0 up in the series :-)
Funny that the Aussies can't handle are spinners though - Root bowling 10 overs for 44 and Rashid taking wickets with rank long hops :)
This will make you mad though - they've been trialling the white Duke ball in County 2nd XI cricket. The main complaint is that it swings too much - and this is coming from the bowlers who can't control it. Useless ****s
Well you have the basic problem that the Kookaburra balls do far too little to make for interesting cricket, while the Duke balls arguably go too far in the other direction. However, I think it's fair to say that Duke balls make for better balanced matches generally.
I am beginning to think that Root should consider ducking out for a while and concentrating on tests. His contributions in the one day game seem to see him steady early on but then struggling to up the pace and getting out.
Hales played a nice sensible innings yet and made sure he was there at the end. When Stokes comes back, I am not convinced you really need Root in there.
Ridiculous - sorry utterly ridiculous - the man has more one-day centuries than any Englishman bar Trescothick. Stokes is another basher though of course he comes back in - at some point England are going to need an accumulator even in these days (see Pakistan last year). By all means change the order when needed but give me a batsmen like Root rather than the all-too-often brainless Hales (and yes he played well yesterday) any day of the year
I am just saying maybe he should duck out for a bit and sort his game out. My bigger concern here is for the test side. Root has been underperforming (for him) for a while and there is a definite confusion in his game. This becomes more evident in the one day game. He can get stuck at one end early in his innings but lately his ability to up the pace once he settles seems to be lacking.
Yesterday a patient innings was fine, given the situation. It was Hales who did it- Root got himself out as soon as he tried to go through the gears.
I want Root to focus on his test game and start scoring horrifically dull double hundreds.....
Yeah - take your point on concentrating on the Test side but I think the captaincy is more of an issue there not that he is playing one-day cricket. My rant was more directed at an idiot on Twitter yesterday who I refrained from engaging with, who said that picking Root was a throwback to 90s cricket. Don't think Root has been that out of touch in the one-day game though - only been a few games since he scored a ton (in NZ) and a fair few other decent scores besides
And I should probably clarify that, fair or not, I dont judge Root by the same standard as everyone else. Sorry, but he is better than that and we need him to be.
I dont see a problem with letting him sit out a few games and maybe having a look at someone else. He has a great game in both formats but at present I think he is fumbling slightly in both. We are talking about a bloke who is as good as anyone in the world.
Looking ahead to the World Cup, I am not questioning his place. But we are a way off yet.
Can we take bets on when the 500 will happen?
Would be interested in Never.
Sorry or should that be Surrey - purely trolling now. Played some of the greatest knocks on all time for England - that one at the Rose Bowl to beat Australia is on a par with anything Pietersen ever did. Helped change the way England play, 10 centuries and countless 50s - I think he holds the record for most consecutive ones