Test squad v Ireland

[Oldhasbeen]

... that's not to mention Stokes & Tom Curran in the all-rounders category ... we do have some depth to our seam resources now. 

[Andy]

It all comes with experience, Dennis Lillee was all out pace when he started but as he got older he cut his pace & moved the ball more, let it work for him & became a better rounded bowler, hopefully Jamie will acquire this as he progresses.

Twas a long time ago, but I remember Dennis Lillee in 1972  as pretty much the complete article (within a year or so of his Test debut), terrifyingly fast and with the ability to move the ball off  the seam. A few years later having a chap called Thompson at the other end didn't do him any harm, either. Like Michael Holding, Lillee only cut his pace later in his career, out of bodily necessity - if anyone's got any evidence to the contrary, I'd be interested to hear it.

Regarding Stone, I'm surprised he's been picked so soon after returning from injury (I'd have preferred Jamie Overton), but I can see the logic.   The team has Curran, barely above medium pace,  with Broad & Woakes at F-M, someone to provide real pace - especially if Lords proves to be a fast, bouncy wicket - should be of great value,even if he leaks more run than most. I couldn't see the point of selecting another medium-fast man (Gregory).  And it'll be good to get some first test nerves out of the way before the Aussie Tests.

Going in to this summer's Tests with a seam attack of identikit medium-fast men would no doubt delight Nat, but not half as much as it would delight the Aussies, with Starc, Hazelwood and Cummings all read to give our guys some serious 90mph pounding including a good helping of chin music.

Let's see what Stone can do in the next 4 days. My guess that that however he does he'll be behind Archer & Wood in the queue for remaining bowling places against the Aussies tests - Anderson & Woakes, if fit, pick themselves,IMHO. Not so sure about Broad.

Only recently I've seen clips of both FoT and Hadlee bowling in around 1971/2 and both had somewhat different actions (even to my untrained eye).  I would describe them both as looking a bit like the bowlers I saw later years, but rather straining in their run ups and actions.  This would provide a real object lesson for any up and coming quick because both bowlers could hustle batsmen when they chose to.

[Valentines Park]

Always thought England missed a trick by not picking Murtagh for Lord's tests.

Well done on belatedly making the honours board.

[nat]

Always thought England missed a trick by not picking Murtagh for Lord's tests.

Well done on belatedly making the honours board.

Yep he's as English as you or me.

[Oldhasbeen]

Fine display of seam bowling by Murtagh, good support from Adair & Rankin, but abysmal stuff by our lot. Particularly dreadful from Bairstow, but  lot of other awful shots. What happened to "see it early, play n late" when the ball's swinging? Too much one-day cricket and/or complacent attitudes?

One tiny bright pot: Curran and Stone at least showed a bit of fight - and technique! -  at the end.

The batting line-up always looked flaky, Bairstow (keeping) at 5 & Moeen at 6 just won't do. I was surprised the latter was picked, his batting has been rubbish for quite a while.

Graham Thorpe has got his work cut out.
 

[terryb]

In this all change England Test Match team, perhaps Peter Such was appointed batting coach for this Test and Graham Thorpe bowling coach.

[Postman]

Good news-I’ve just deleted my 15 line post bemoaning the lack of batsmen who can graft their way to a decent score in red ball cricket, attributing this to the deliberate devaluation of proper cricket by the ECB and ending with a call to dump Graves, Harrison and their wretched Hundred in a deep hole to be filled with quicklime.
It’s still true though.....

[Andy]

The batting line-up always looked flaky, Bairstow (keeping) at 5 & Moeen at 6 just won't do. I was surprised the latter was picked, his batting has been rubbish for quite a while.

Graham Thorpe has got his work cut out.

Another ex-England star from the dark days of English cricket.  I thought we'd learnt by now to get proper (i.e. non-English) coaches in?

[Valentines Park]

Another ex-England star from the dark days of English cricket.

That's no way to talk about Nasser's best mate.

I bet it's a laugh a minute when those 2 get together.

[nat]

The batting line-up always looked flaky, Bairstow (keeping) at 5 & Moeen at 6 just won't do. I was surprised the latter was picked, his batting has been rubbish for quite a while.

Graham Thorpe has got his work cut out.

Another ex-England star from the dark days of English cricket.  I thought we'd learnt by now to get proper (i.e. non-English) coaches in?

I'm living proof of good English coaches. Just check out my CV ...
...
Successfully obdurate opening batsman e.g. I could empty a ground on a sunny day
Unique leg spinner e.g. No two balls were bowled with the same action
Successful captain of multiple teams e.g. Led Ibis 4XI to 7 successive wins despite the 3XI nicking my best players
Talent spotter without parallel e.g. Cook jnr
Talent-less spotter without parallel e.g. Big Saj
Qualified coach e.g. no convictions
Successful coach e.g. kids kept returning week after week despite the beatings
Qualified umpire e.g. constantly in demand because I don't charge a fee
Own set of training cones
Innovative training routines e.g. another jealous coach nicked my equipment

I can't understand why I don't get an international gig.

[Valentines Park]

Talent-less spotter without parallel e.g. Big Saj

Surely the talentless spotter without parallel is the guy who signed him?

No rubbish cricketer knowingly unsigned.

[Oldhasbeen]

Jack Leach to open in the first test against the Aussies?

At least he seems to know where his off stump is - unlike Rory Burns.

Never mind, our guys have got a week of 20:20 between Tests to help them get prepared for the Aussies, so all should be well!

[JasonP]

Fine display of seam bowling by Murtagh, good support from Adair & Rankin, but abysmal stuff by our lot. Particularly dreadful from Bairstow, but  lot of other awful shots. What happened to "see it early, play n late" when the ball's swinging? Too much one-day cricket and/or complacent attitudes?

One tiny bright pot: Curran and Stone at least showed a bit of fight - and technique! -  at the end.

The batting line-up always looked flaky, Bairstow (keeping) at 5 & Moeen at 6 just won't do. I was surprised the latter was picked, his batting has been rubbish for quite a while.

Graham Thorpe has got his work cut out.
 

Moeen has a decent record in England as a bowler coming in at 8.  When Buttler and Stokes are back that's where he'll bat.  They're treating this match as a little bit of a practice match thinking they'd win pretty easily no matter what and it didn't go well on day 1!

[JasonP]

The batting line-up always looked flaky, Bairstow (keeping) at 5 & Moeen at 6 just won't do. I was surprised the latter was picked, his batting has been rubbish for quite a while.

Graham Thorpe has got his work cut out.

Another ex-England star from the dark days of English cricket.  I thought we'd learnt by now to get proper (i.e. non-English) coaches in?

I'm living proof of good English coaches. Just check out my CV ...
...
Successfully obdurate opening batsman e.g. I could empty a ground on a sunny day
Unique leg spinner e.g. No two balls were bowled with the same action
Successful captain of multiple teams e.g. Led Ibis 4XI to 7 successive wins despite the 3XI nicking my best players
Talent spotter without parallel e.g. Cook jnr
Talent-less spotter without parallel e.g. Big Saj
Qualified coach e.g. no convictions
Successful coach e.g. kids kept returning week after week despite the beatings
Qualified umpire e.g. constantly in demand because I don't charge a fee
Own set of training cones
Innovative training routines e.g. another jealous coach nicked my equipment

I can't understand why I don't get an international gig.

Your talent spotting when it came to Harmer wasn't too great!

Very underwhelming. His record is average at best and there are better options in the UK.

[Valentines Park]

They're treating this match as a little bit of a practice match thinking they'd win pretty easily no matter what and it didn't go well on day 1!

Murtagh knows the Nursery End like the back of his hand & a lot of the Irish side have played county cricket.   

They were fired up & England (Curran & Stone aside) were complacent.