Yes it is cyclical. But whereas SA and Australia oscilate between being the best and say 4th at worst, we rarely trouble #1 and are usually at 3 or 4, sometimes a good deal lower. Australia were probably at their poorest in that fairly recently series in Aus where we beat them 3-1, and I reckon they were 4th best in the world. Even if they were 5th, they hadn't been anywhere near as bad as that in 30 years. Our cycle takes us back to that standard in less than half the time.
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[Cricket] 1st Test: England vs New Zealand @ Lords
- Thread starter pasty
- Start date
Yes it is cyclical. But whereas SA and Australia oscilate between being the best and say 4th at worst, we rarely trouble #1 and are usually at 3 or 4, sometimes a good deal lower. Australia were probably at their poorest in that fairly recently series in Aus where we beat them 3-1, and I reckon they were 4th best in the world. Even if they were 5th, they hadn't been anywhere near as bad as that in 30 years. Our cycle takes us back to that standard in less than half the time.
Uncle Buck
Ghost Writer
- Jul 7, 2003
- 28,075
Putting Root at the top of the order was a disaster.
Hales is a one day opener, but not in the longer form.
Only option I can see if Ballance opening, but again round hole, square pegs.
Cook the player is not the issue, Cook the captain more so.
Bold Seagull
strong and stable with me, or...
We can't know, because every time a new player comes in, they are the scape goat for an opening failure. In particular Compton and Carberry were outscoring Cook when they got dropped.
He's become an immovable object. Lyth, Carberry, Robson, Compton all made good cases, and still bat will in the county game. Seems that they all get dropped batting around Cook.
2 years he's been out of form now averaging 35 or so. You have to go back to the winter of 2012 for his last bit of form when he got 3 big centuries in India.
spring hall convert
Well-known member
No.
nwgull
Well-known member
I bet we win this 3 match series.
Bold Seagull
strong and stable with me, or...
Cook the captain is.
Uncle Buck
Ghost Writer
- Jul 7, 2003
- 28,075
The only one that was hard done by in that list is Compton, suspect he was too much of a loner for that set up at the time (wrong I know). He is limited, but uses what he has well.
Carberry should not have been brought back and Robson is a shotless crab who got worked out very quickly.
Also Cook's recent form is not that shabby if you go from the India test at Southampton to the test at Barbados.
Bold Seagull
strong and stable with me, or...
Bold Seagull
strong and stable with me, or...
Carberry top scored in Australia, he only played 6 matches, what did he do wrong?
Actually, I don't think I'm saying he should be dropped, but him being untouchable is a real concern to me. In teams no one should be indispensable, and if form deserts someone, then sometimes you have to say they take a step back for a few matches.
spring hall convert
Well-known member
I think it is A problem.
An equally sized, if not bigger problem is a seam bowling attack that is one paced and not skillful enough, with the exception of Anderson (but only then when the ball is swinging) and the complete lack of a test standard spinner.
spring hall convert
Well-known member
I thought he was VERY unlucky to be dropped. His age clearly counted against him.
That dolly he dropped was funny though.
Uncle Buck
Ghost Writer
- Jul 7, 2003
- 28,075
Carberry never kicked on from reasonable starts.
I suspect he was seen as too close to Pietersen as well (as was Tremlett, although he was also a busted flush pace wise).
I did not really understand why Carberry was picked to start with. Especially as Compton had got better scores but was discarded.
Root survives very close LBW on review. Phew!
spring hall convert
Well-known member
What an absolutely terrible shot from Root there. Unbelievably lucky to still be there, I would have given him for the shot.
Bold Seagull
strong and stable with me, or...
Which is crap thinking. Australia bought Rogers back because he was in form. Didn't matter to them how old he was. Get the job done, and he's been excellent for Warner. That is the BIG thing for me and why we need a 'manager'. It's not always about picking the best players, it's about getting the right mix. Rogers on his own might not be a choice for the future, but is an excellent choice for Warner.
nwgull
Well-known member
A tie then, as we're always shit at lords.
Anyway, I was going away from my original point about how you can hardly call the England team arrogant when this summer's schedule was probably organised 2 years ago around the time England were in the process of winning their 3rd straight Ashes series.
spring hall convert
Well-known member
I think in retrospect we underrated the New Zealand bowling attack he was undone by, though having said that he looked hopelessly out of form when he was dropped.
spring hall convert
Well-known member
I was going to mention exactly the same thing about Rogers.
Bold Seagull
strong and stable with me, or...
Well, your describing a general malaise around England. 5 of Carberry's tests were in Australia against an on fire bowling attack. To say he didn't 'kick on' when no one else did in the team is amazingly harsh. I agree with you on Compton too.
These players are getting dropped for one reason only - they're not complimenting a struggling Cook. Not only do each of these openers coming in need to play for themselves, they're playing for Cook too. The pressure on them with the experienced guy at the other end scratching around must be ridiculous.
I'm not saying Cook should be dropped, but we should stop thinking he is undroppable. Many great players got dropped and came back stronger. It wouldn't be the end of the world.
England 103-4 (24.3 overs) 
Last 50 has come at a run a ball!
Last 50 has come at a run a ball!