2nd Test match v Pakistan @ Abu Dhabi

[Seagull kimchi]

Jesus!

 

[fleet]

Trott had the trots.

but not enough runs

 

[Barrel of Fun]

but not enough runs

Brilliant test match. We won three out of four days, but still lost the match!

Seems we need someone to coach us how to play spin.

 

[vulture]

morgan needs to be dropped out of his depth at test match level I would put prior in at at six and pick another bowler

 

[HAILSHAM SEAGULL]

morgan needs to be dropped out of his depth at test match level I would put prior in at at six and pick another bowler

Why would you need another bowler, they bowled them out twice for 471 runs.
They need batsmen that arnt like rabbits in headlights when a spin bowler comes on.
KP, Bell and Morgan have scored 94 runs between them in 12 innings.
Fair enough Ajmel is a bit of a mystery bowler/chucker, but Rehman is a standard lefthand spinner, hardly Mushy they are facing.
The batsmen should hang their heads in shame

 

[fleet]

Why would you need another bowler, they bowled them out twice for 471 runs.
They need batsmen that arnt like rabbits in headlights when a spin bowler comes on.
KP, Bell and Morgan have scored 94 runs between them in 12 innings.
Fair enough Ajmel is a bit of a mystery bowler/chucker, but Rehman is a standard lefthand spinner, hardly Mushy they are facing.
The batsmen should hang their heads in shame

This - average bowler on a pitch that didn't do that much really made to look very very good by very bad batting

 

[ezzoud]

KP, Bell and Morgan have scored 94 runs between them in 12 innings

I think Bell can be forgiven as he's been in such good form in the last year that a dip is bound to occur at some point but Pieterson seems to be mentally gone and I've not seen much to convince me that Morgan is a test match player.

Who do you replace them with, Bopara? James Taylor?

 

[vegster]

Changes need to be made, there were no real demons in the pitch but when we were put under some pressure , we folded ! Even at 6 down we should have had enough nous to eke out the remaining runs required. KP has been struggling for some time although the stats say his average is still very good, Bell can't read Ajmal and as such is shot, Morgan .... well why ? Bell and KP can come back in the summer so lets take them out of the firing line before they are both shattered.

I'd be inclined to steal either Bedwetter or Bairstow or even both,from The Lions tour in Sri Lanka. Both are plucky and pugnacious and I'd like to think, at least have a go. Remember, these are both future long term Test Players.

 

[sten_super]

I'd be inclined to steal either Bedwetter or Bairstow or even both,from The Lions tour in Sri Lanka. Both are plucky and pugnacious and I'd like to think, at least have a go. Remember, these are both future long term Test Players.

What's to say they are long term Test players? That's what everyone was saying about Morgan 12 months ago. I'm not sure that Kieswetter has got the temperament for Test matches, and I've not seen enough of Bairstow to comment. For me James Taylor is the 'next cab off the rank', and I can see him batting 4, so maybe look to him as Pietersen's replacement. 6 is probably about right for Bopara, and as he's the only other batsman in the squad I'd certainly bring him in for Morgan for the last Test.

 

[Bold Seagull]

We can all blame KP, Bell, Morgan, but the damage was done by Strauss and Cook starting the innings at less than a run an over and giving Pakistan all the impetus and confidence they needed.

Such an English mentality that you think you bat for an hour then your in and can score runs. It doesn't work like that on the subcontinent, hence why are batsman have failed on so many occasions. You're never really in and it's essential you rotate the strike, and hit the bad balls.

Cook and Strauss's ponderous start, what was it, 6 runs from 60 balls at one point? Was lamentable from the captain who should have set the tone for the innings. Even when Cook went, Strauss could do nothing to change the momentum of the innings and looked more scared of losing his own personal wicket than taking the game to the bowlers.

Only Prior when he eventually came in showed how it should have been done, probably from the off, only it was too late by then.

When the Aussies were no.1 would Hayden and Langer batted like that? Of course not, they may have got out, but they'd have probably stuck a quick fire 30 on the board which puts the opposition completely on the back foot.

Fact is, our top 6 batsmen had 24 innings between them and scored 2 50's. Out of a total of 40 wickets for the team, we scored only 4 50's. It's been a woeful batting display, and I wonder, as good as Flower and the coaching team are, whether we are over complicating and over thinking our game.

 

[mikeyjh]

We can all blame KP, Bell, Morgan, but the damage was done by Strauss and Cook starting the innings at less than a run an over and giving Pakistan all the impetus and confidence they needed.

I kind of agree, but I think they're all as much to blame for adopting such a defensive mindset that allowed the bowlers to get on top - as, to an extent were the Pakistan bats - They don't seem to be able to see the middle ground of controlled agression, it's either 'go in to your shell' (Cook, Strauss) or try a one handed halfway down the ptich reverse grip loft over mid on (Pietersen).