4th Test

[Andy]

A table was produced showing how far Root is lagging behind the other 3 amigos. I’m wondering if he is actually still worthy of his ranking of 4th best now. I have no idea who our 5th best batsman in, if you take Stokes occasional antics out of the equation, but they are probably way down the rankings. Now, with Anderson in decline, we could slip back further as a test match force though I sense that standards have dropped generally.

If we played on the first day like we play on the last day of test matches we wouldn't have lost the Ashes.  ECCC had been like that for years in the CC, and still are to a certain extent. However, the best players/teams exert their authority from the moment they step out on the pitch.  We got lucky in the World Cup - could've easily not made it to the semis let alone final.  Had we not got to the final we'd be looking for a new chairman of selector goons. At least losing the Ashes has stopped Smith's ingratiating grimace. Joe Root makes Owain Morgan look like a Mike Brearley (tactics wise).

[IlfordEagle]

Excellent pace bowling from Aussies especially Hazlewood & Cummins to win this Test & Ashes.The T20 commentators should really listen to Bumble to see how to be fair & how to commentate on games whoever is on top instead of clearly showing bias towards one team against another.
Some solid late resistance late on from Eng alas too late, interesting how often tailenders show better technique & application than so called superior batsmen.

[Postman]

As usual the excellent George Dobell has summed it all up- see https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/27571263/england-not-good-think-are.
He observes incidentally that Denly could easily have been out this morning playing a replica of the awful shot with which he got out to Simon Harmer for Kent v us back in May.
There is clearly a contempt for county cricket in the decisions of the selectors-Roy and Denly opening being the obvious examples. The former has never opened for Surrey, the latter hasn't opened for years for Middlesex or Kent. Archer, though with excellent bowling potential, has not played enough first class cricket to learn game awareness, as his dismissals at Headingley and OT showed.
You cannot have players trying to learn the job in Test cricket when they haven't done so in county cricket.
But who cares, when next year we'll have the Hundred to entertain us?

[LeedsExile]

Excellent post Postman. I agree with every word.

[Andy]

Excellent post Postman. I agree with every word.

Yes, both Postman and 'Droopy' Dobell (who would make a far better commentator than most ex-players on the TMS/S@Y rosta).

[Oldhasbeen]

Excellent post Postman. I agree with every word.

Agreed.
And I suspect I'm not the only one dismayed to see an unchanged squad. Although maybe guys like Foakes & Pope are thinking they've dodged a bullet and missing out on this one improves their chances of making the winter tour squad.

[nat]

Excellent post Postman. I agree with every word.

Agreed.
And I suspect I'm not the only one dismayed to see an unchanged squad. Although maybe guys like Foakes & Pope are thinking they've dodged a bullet and missing out on this one improves their chances of making the winter tour squad.

Tend to agree but I suppose it will finally end the Test careers of a couple of players, Roy and Buttler.

[JasonP]

Excellent post Postman. I agree with every word.

Agreed.
And I suspect I'm not the only one dismayed to see an unchanged squad. Although maybe guys like Foakes & Pope are thinking they've dodged a bullet and missing out on this one improves their chances of making the winter tour squad.

I was surprised but the problem is the other players have been playing T20 cricket over the last 6 weeks, with 1 CC match inbetween.  It's hardly great preparation for a one off Test match appearance.

[Bath Hammer]

What I can’t understand is why with all their undoubted talent these two batsmen haven’t had the intelligence to learn the technique for red ball cricket. I thought Butler had done so which is particularly disappointing. The same also applies to Bairstow. I think they have to build a batting line up from younger players who are not quite so entrenched in the white ball game & give them time to adapt. The above mentioned three have really not learned despite the ECC sticking with them.

[Valentines Park]

Bairstow has talent but he simply has to be told he can't keep wicket.

[IlfordEagle]

Some very good comments by various posters, sadly all true, George Dobell as usual is also very perceptive, pity the Selectors have a blinkered outlook & cannot see the problems, mind you they probably don't watch CC cricket.

[Andy]

How many of England 1 cap wonders have been drafted into a lost series then disappeared without trace? I too would like to see changes but I suspect the only one would be bringing in Curran minor for Buttler to cover for Stokes' injury.

As for the inability to adjust from white to red ball, well England players (apart from a very few like Gooch) are borderline retarded and lack cojones compared to their Aussie opponents.

[nat]

Too much coaching and not  enough wrestling crocs or wild pigs in the outback (somewhere like Luton for instance)

[Oldhasbeen]

Bairstow has talent but he simply has to be told he can't keep wicket.

And if he throws his toys out of the pram, don't pick them up. Foakes is a better keeper and whether Bairstow is one of the best 3 middle-order potential England batsmen is a moot point.

[honkytonk]

Bairstow has talent but he simply has to be told he can't keep wicket.

And if he throws his toys out of the pram, don't pick them up. Foakes is a better keeper and whether Bairstow is one of the best 3 middle-order potential England batsmen is a moot point.

Bang on