Cricket Thread

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Badger Mar 2015 10:52am, 5 Mar 2015 4,782 posts	0 Badger Cumulative averages aren't really the point, if we're talking about whether the runs he's likely to get now make up for whatever friction putting him back in the team might cause. Year by year is more illuminating of how form is running. Can't quickly get that from Cricinfo, but you can get the reverse cumulative average. Which for KP: stats.espncricinfo.com shows numbers in the 30s way back into 2012 and, to be fair, for Cook stats.espncricinfo.com would be worse back to 2012 without the India tour numbers. I think the big difference, though, is what they add to the team beyond the runs, and Cook isn't the one who seems to have left every side he's been in with a kit-thrown-off-the-balcony incident. Not like we haven't been querying whether Cook should be dropped for his form, either.
The Teaboy Mar 2015 11:21am, 5 Mar 2015 12,574 posts	0 The Teaboy This is all reflective of a deeper malaise though, surely? It's easy to paper over cracks when the side is winning and everyone is playing well. When things go badly, then all the other issues get magnified. There were a number of players in that 2011-2013 period whose form dipped - Finn, Bresnan, Prior, Swann, Trott (for various different reasons) as well as Cook & KP. Broad and Anderson have had varying spells too and the problem of replacing Strauss/Collingwood wasn't properly resolved in this period. Going forward, Ballance, Root, Buttler and Ali have done well, but we still haven't found a second opener, Broad's/Finn's form at test level remain a worry as does the question of whether Ali will be a good enough spinner to carry the side in the long term or whether we need another option. Jimmy Anderson is also closer to retirement than we would like and there don't seem to be many obvious attack leaders coming through the counties. This is even before we discuss whether Cook's style of captaincy is good enough.
Chrisity Mar 2015 2:58pm, 5 Mar 2015 14,259 posts	0 Chrisity If we go on cumulative average the Aussies would still pick Bradman. With KP you also have to consider the effect on other members of the team. for example does it take the pressure off others for their scoring rate and does it stop the press picking them to pieces as they've enough copy to write already? Personally I would only consider him for the one day team if he were available for selection.
Scorge Mar 2015 6:16pm, 5 Mar 2015 33 posts	0 Scorge would be gobsmacked if KP gets anywhere near an england shirt again. if he'd kept his mouth shut and piled on the runs in CC, then he might have had a case: provocatively publicising then publishing a whinefest in hardback last year will have killed his chances for good IMO. successful dressing rooms are based on implicit trust above all, and no-one can trust KP anymore. shame, because there's rarely been a more naturally gifted player. oh, and well done kyle coetzer. top innings. we're never going to win a CWC game, in the same way we'll never see the second round of the fitba world cup, bah.
rf_fozzy Mar 2015 11:13pm, 5 Mar 2015 6,724 posts	0 rf_fozzy Scotland batted well last night - they just have nothing in the way of bowling. Maybe I should have pursued a career in scottish cricket - reckon my off-break bowling might have been ok - for a start I actually turn the ball! Add that with some medium pace away-swing bowling and a semi-decent fielder....
Chrisity Mar 2015 5:38am, 6 Mar 2015 14,262 posts	0 Chrisity Talk us through how you would deal with Dale Steyn or Mitchell Johnson Fozzy
The Teaboy Mar 2015 7:45am, 6 Mar 2015 12,576 posts	0 The Teaboy Back away to leg (making it look as if you are going to carve over extra cover) but succumbing to the full, fast, straight delivery.
Wriggling Snake Mar 2015 8:26am, 6 Mar 2015 8,937 posts	0 Wriggling Snake Morgan, as captain, a mistake, surely a mistake......Balance at number 3, a mistake, no Hales, a mistake, as for the bowling, who else do you pick?
TRO Saracen Mar 2015 9:27am, 6 Mar 2015 10,199 posts	0 TRO Saracen Moores as coach...a mistake...keeping Cook as ODI captain throughout the build up...a mistake. Ironic that batting has been our main issue for the last few years, but suddenly there seems subject to form etc and for test matches only a reasonable amount of depth there, but bowling looks utterly threadbare. Horrible, horrible feeling that both Jimmy and Broady has lost their nip, which makes the cupboard bare....and that old worry of how we will tale 20 wickets.
The Teaboy Mar 2015 9:30am, 6 Mar 2015 12,578 posts	0 The Teaboy Well that and the habit of the England bowling coaches destroying everyone who comes into the team. Finn by now should have been crunching everyone. Instead he's desperately trying to hang onto whatever little bit of self-confidence he can. Rankin seemed to go rather backwards too...