The Cricket Thread. - Page 480

**CalumH** · August 8th, 2017, 02:56 AM

Take it all as seriously as you like, but...

Moeen Ali, bowled Keshav Maharaj, caught Jonny Bairstow... now that's some damned entertaining cricket, & one of the reasons why I love this game

**DB83** · August 8th, 2017, 12:33 PM

"Win does not paper over the cracks"

Not my words but from Trevor Bayliss. Clearly recognising that certain positions are still not cemented.

He mentions 2, 3 and 5 yet then goes on to say that, for example, Jennings could still find himself down-under given that they probably need 3 openers.

Now that guy - forget his name right now - who comes in at 4 had better get some runs else he could find himself slumming at 3.

**countjimmoriarty** · August 8th, 2017, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DB83

Well I did say it would take a miracle to snatch MOTH from Jimmy and that miracle was in the shape of Moeen.

But that same team was harking on just how good a No.8 he is which you can also turn around saying that he was not so good in the other 6 or more positions he has played.

Good grief - give the guy a break! What does he have to do to satisfy you? First man EVER to score 250 runs and take 25 wickets in a 4 test series. Always been a quality batsman and developing into a top class off-spinner. Maybe the problem has been the way he has been shunted up and down the batting order.

**victor meldrew** · August 8th, 2017, 04:14 PM

It looks like goodbye Otis Gibson as he is in line to become the Saffers top dog. I understand Jimmy Anderson is interested in the position of England bowling coach, so could it be he is ready to quit test match cricket. Unfortunately for Jimmy, Jason Gillespie is expected to replace young Otis.

**DB83** · August 8th, 2017, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by countjimmoriarty

.......... Maybe the problem has been the way he has been shunted up and down the batting order.

Maybe it is. But doesn't he bat higher up the order in county cricket ?

But then he is not the first to be found wanting in his usual position.

I do not watch cricket with rose-coloured glasses. But I do look for consistency. Again, he is not alone in that respect.

The opinion is not mine alone. Others in this topic have questioned whether he is a batsman who can bowl. Or a bowler who can bat. And sometimes not very good at either.

**victor meldrew** · August 8th, 2017, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DB83

The opinion is not mine alone. Others in this topic have questioned whether he is a batsman who can bowl. Or a bowler who can bat. And sometimes not very good at either.

When Moeen first arrived I thought the same as you but I believe it is safe to say he has come to terms with Test cricket and once you have won that battle your place should be secured. He has far out done all the "specialist" spinners and his return with both bat and ball in this series has been phenomenal, just leave him where he is.

**countjimmoriarty** · August 10th, 2017, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by victor meldrew

It looks like goodbye Otis Gibson as he is in line to become the Saffers top dog. I understand Jimmy Anderson is interested in the position of England bowling coach, so could it be he is ready to quit test match cricket. Unfortunately for Jimmy, Jason Gillespie is expected to replace young Otis.

Jimmy Anderson merely said that he would be interested in helping out with coaching, not that he wanted the bowling coach job. He plans on playing for at least 2 more years. Jason Gillespie is equally unlikely, considering that the reason he left Yorkshire was to spend more time with his young family at home in Australia.

**scoundrel** · August 12th, 2017, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by victor meldrew

When Moeen first arrived I thought the same as you but I believe it is safe to say he has come to terms with Test cricket and once you have won that battle your place should be secured. He has far out done all the "specialist" spinners and his return with both bat and ball in this series has been phenomenal, just leave him where he is.

I agree with this. Moeen is a very good spinner and would be my first choice regardless of his batting; Adil Rashid could still become the automatic choice for second spinner on a spinning track but will never hold down an end for two sessions on a good batting track, whereas Moeen has proven he can do that against a good batting side at Test level. Batting him at number 8 seems a tad wasteful but I think we have strong batsmen at the moment and he should not bat in front of Jonny Bairstow. But he is an excellent No.8 and a very valuable insurance policy against failure higher up the order.

It took a while for me to warm to Moeen Ali but I am certainly convinced by him now.

**DB83** · August 17th, 2017, 06:10 PM

I am 'Old School' and my dad (he is 91) is even more 'Old School'

yet he raised a question which I could not answer. Which went like this:-

If they can play ODI or 20/20 (which is often played quite late) why can they not play this Day-Night test with the white ball and not with a pink un which everyone is expected to perform devilishly once the 'night' comes in to effect. Unless that is part of the cunning plan ?

And as I write this there is commentary of another item which I could not get my head around:-

Play starts at 14:00 and then there is (err) 'lunch' some 2 hours later and then there is 'tea' when the players would be thinking of putting their feet up for the evening. So why not just have 2 sessions given that it was reported that the players still have their real lunch before the play actually starts.

And as for the actual play, Stoneman probably got the one good ball that has been bowled today. The No2 curse continues.

**old alal** · August 17th, 2017, 10:29 PM

An interesting day sorry day/night, sorry really day/evening, nevermind. Would have been better with a half decent opponent. Sorry West Indies, or as they seem to be now Windies, you are not up to muster.

On the bowling coach thing, back in my day, the senior bowler was the bowling coach.

I've watched the first half of the T20, great knock Adam Lyth. Looking forward to the reply.

August 8th, 2017, 02:56 AM	#4791
CalumH Vintage Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 890 Thanks: 3,766 Thanked 16,525 Times in 894 Posts	Ali: b. Maharaj; c. Bairstow Take it all as seriously as you like, but... Moeen Ali, bowled Keshav Maharaj, caught Jonny Bairstow... now that's some damned entertaining cricket, & one of the reasons why I love this game __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

August 17th, 2017, 10:29 PM	#4800
old alal Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: UK Posts: 3,197 Thanks: 22,904 Thanked 35,082 Times in 3,165 Posts	An interesting day sorry day/night, sorry really day/evening, nevermind. Would have been better with a half decent opponent. Sorry West Indies, or as they seem to be now Windies, you are not up to muster. On the bowling coach thing, back in my day, the senior bowler was the bowling coach. I've watched the first half of the T20, great knock Adam Lyth. Looking forward to the reply. __________________ Old alal's First Rule Of Breasts To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. When you've seen one pair of breasts.........you want to see every pair of breasts!

August 8th, 2017, 12:33 PM	#4792
DB83 Vintage Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,472 Thanks: 1,948 Thanked 12,019 Times in 1,458 Posts	"Win does not paper over the cracks" Not my words but from Trevor Bayliss. Clearly recognising that certain positions are still not cemented. He mentions 2, 3 and 5 yet then goes on to say that, for example, Jennings could still find himself down-under given that they probably need 3 openers. Now that guy - forget his name right now - who comes in at 4 had better get some runs else he could find himself slumming at 3.

August 8th, 2017, 04:14 PM	#4794
victor meldrew Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: At the bottom of an empty glass Posts: 15,778 Thanks: 531,920 Thanked 180,038 Times in 15,766 Posts	It looks like goodbye Otis Gibson as he is in line to become the Saffers top dog. I understand Jimmy Anderson is interested in the position of England bowling coach, so could it be he is ready to quit test match cricket. Unfortunately for Jimmy, Jason Gillespie is expected to replace young Otis.

August 17th, 2017, 06:10 PM	#4799
DB83 Vintage Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,472 Thanks: 1,948 Thanked 12,019 Times in 1,458 Posts	I am 'Old School' and my dad (he is 91) is even more 'Old School' yet he raised a question which I could not answer. Which went like this:- If they can play ODI or 20/20 (which is often played quite late) why can they not play this Day-Night test with the white ball and not with a pink un which everyone is expected to perform devilishly once the 'night' comes in to effect. Unless that is part of the cunning plan ? And as I write this there is commentary of another item which I could not get my head around:- Play starts at 14:00 and then there is (err) 'lunch' some 2 hours later and then there is 'tea' when the players would be thinking of putting their feet up for the evening. So why not just have 2 sessions given that it was reported that the players still have their real lunch before the play actually starts. And as for the actual play, Stoneman probably got the one good ball that has been bowled today. The No2 curse continues.