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Silly Point - the Cricket Thread

la vie en rougela vie en rouge Purgatory Host, Circus Host
in The Circus
Here's your brand new thread for discussion of cricket.

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  • SipechSipech Shipmate
    Thanks la vie en rouge.

    First topic: who should be starting in the final test of the Ashes?
    Given Sydney needs a spinner and the closest we have is Bashir, I'd play him, even though I have no confidence in him. Even a mediocre spinner can take wickets at the SCG.
    I would have dropped Jamie Smith and given the gloves to Ollie Pope, but drop him down the order to number 6, giving Bethell another chance at 3. Then that leaves a pace attack of Tongue, Potts, Carse and Stokes.
  • TurquoiseTasticTurquoiseTastic Kerygmania Host
    I cannot believe they have named Jacks again. On the other hand I think it will be good to give Bashir a chance. So my final XI would be:

    Crawley
    Duckett
    Root
    Brook
    Stokes
    Bethell
    Smith
    Potts
    Carse
    Tongue
    Bashir

    N.B. why will Root not go in at #3? It is unfair on newcomers like Bethell and previously Pope who are forced to occupy that spot when they would be better at #6.
  • TurquoiseTasticTurquoiseTastic Kerygmania Host
    I mean, when I say it will be good to give Bashir a chance I am assuming that they had reasonable expectation that he would be able to bowl quite well when they selected him. He has bowled acceptably in the past. But if he is really out of form and they know he is not good enough at the moment then they should never have brought him on tour!

    There is no point playing a bad spinner just because you feel you ought to have a spinner. (Exhibit A Ian Salisbury). If you really need the best spinner in England then what you have to do is whatever it takes to persuade Adil Rashid to un-retire from Tests. If that is impossible then just play an all-seam attack with Root for occasional variation.
  • SandemaniacSandemaniac Shipmate
    A splendid choice of title, @la vie en rouge !

    I took the opportunity this evening to stroll across the Parks (nearly got locked in which would have been interesting), and took a couple of pics.

    I'm always astounded that a lad from a tiny village with possibly the most inbred team ever (we once put out an 11 with two pairs of brothers, who were cousins to the other pair, and the husband of another cousin), with bowling that put the Village Filth into Village Filth, could somehow end up playing - just once, but once is enough! - on a ground that has been graced by the gods of the game. Me, treading in the footsteps of Grace, Hobbs, Hutton, Verity, Imran Khan.... HTF? So I have a massive soft spot for the place.

    https://flic.kr/p/2rPVDKJ
  • SipechSipech Shipmate
    No room in either team for a frontline spinner. Most unusual for the SCG.
    Surprised the Aussies left out Jhye Richardson; he bowled quite nicely at Melbourne.
  • SandemaniacSandemaniac Shipmate
    The first time since 18-yes, 1888 Australia haven't played a spinner at Sydney apparently. Meanwhile, Bashir must be thinking about working at the Oktoberfest this year, he's gained so much expertise at carrying the drinks. Yet apparently its a season where spinners are doing well in the Sheffield Shield.

    The weather less of a surprise, though it seems it got brighter before the abandonment. Are the lightning rules too stringent? I certainly wouldn't want to see a game like one I recall on TV where the camera zoomed in on Alan Mullaly's hair all standing on end, and I was shouting at the tele to get them off before somebody got zapped (the heavens opened a minute or two later IIRC) - but is half an hour after the last strike, or the distance criteria too limiting? Bear in mind I have no experience of Australian weather here.
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