Topic: England's Summer of Cricket 2017 South Africa and West Indies Series

[voodoo ray]

He's a funny one.

He can be very annoying, but I do miss him when he's not there.

warne or botham?

I don't mind warne myself. But he does like banging on about seamers having "a man at bat pad"

[Fiasco]

warne or botham?

I don't mind warne myself. But he does like banging on about seamers having "a man at bat pad"

Warne is a bit of a dickhead, but he's a dickhead that I can't find myself to dislike. If that makes sense



It makes me laugh when he says 'Phwoar! Shot!'...Only for the ball to go straight to the nearest fielder.

[voodoo ray]

Warne is a bit of a dickhead, but he's a dickhead that I can't find myself to dislike. If that makes sense



It makes me laugh when he says 'Phwoar! Shot!'...Only for the ball to go straight to the nearest fielder.

haha he does do that with seeming regularity but he's not the only one there though.

"good running.........or maybe not he's been run out!" was a personal favourite. I can't remember who it was now though.

[voodoo ray]

well I stopped watching that football match. seen jimmy get 5 and 6 though, which is nice.

[Durlmints]

I think I'll join you.

[TepidT2O]

The end of an era.

Henry Bloefeld finished his final stint on TMS (probably).

Huge ovation from the crowd. 

The world of cricket commentary will be less colourful.

[Yorkykopite]

The end of an era.

Henry Bloefeld finished his final stint on TMS (probably).

Huge ovation from the crowd. 

The world of cricket commentary will be less colourful.

Agreed - though there are still some fine commentators left.

Cricket so much better than footy for this of course.

[Skeeve]

Agreed - though there are still some fine commentators left.

Cricket so much better than footy for this of course.

The pace of cricket gives their commentators so much more chance to bring the entire thing to life, unlike in football where they either have to keep up with play or add the other stuff.

[Robinred]

Ben Stokes certainly gets up opposition noses. Windies nominated Jimmy as England's man of the series. Fair enough I suppose, but surely Stokes' batting plus his 6/22 made him the logical choice?

[voodoo ray]

blowers got a lap of honour. brilliant.

[Skeeve]

Ben Stokes certainly gets up opposition noses. Windies nominated Jimmy as England's man of the series. Fair enough I suppose, but surely Stokes' batting plus his 6/22 made him the logical choice?

Even without the additional boost of his 500th, you could hardly argue against Anderson's figures from the series either.

[dudleyred]

Thoroughly enjoyable day at lords. Didn't miss much in Manchester by all accounts!

The spontaneous ovation for Blowers when he signed off at 4ish was worth being there for

[Filler.]

Thoroughly enjoyable day at lords. Didn't miss much in Manchester by all accounts!

The spontaneous ovation for Blowers when he signed off at 4ish was worth being there for

A great thing to be there for. Very jealous. Sad day. He really looked good today

[Robinred]

Even without the additional boost of his 500th, you could hardly argue against Anderson's figures from the series either.

Oh absolutely.

I'm just remembering the Marlon Samuels "salute", and other demonstrations of Stokes's competitiveness resulting in his being less than endearing to the opposition.

[RobinHood]

Cook
Stoneman
Root
Stokes
Malan
Bairstow
Moeen
Woakes
Crane/Rashid
Broad
Anderson

That would be my team for Brisbane, Root has to move up the order for me, even if he doesn't really want to. Can't help but feel Moeen is wasted down at 8, I've not got much faith in the batting ability of Broad and Anderson so he's going to be in danger of running out of partners.

 Also leggies tend to have more success in Australia than offies do, so Rashid or Crane I would play purely to take 4th innings wickets.

[Welshred]

Stokes at 4? That's insane.

[Crosby Nick]

Stokes at 4? That's insane.

Does seem too high but he has batted at 5 hasn't he? Him, Bairstow and Moeen all seem quite interchangeable but I wouldn't have any of them above 5.

[Yorkykopite]

I'd put Bairstow at 4. He's batted there with success for Yorkshire. I'd certainly go with Root 3. And I'd reintegrate Hameed and hoped he shows enough net form to command the other opener spot.

I'd let Stoneman and Westley watch the Ashes from their living rooms, and I not sure I'd waste an air ticket on Malan either. But I would take Alex Hales.

[Crosby Nick]

Stokes at 5 and Moeen at 6 or would you put another batsman lower down?

[TepidT2O]

I'd put Bairstow at 4. He's batted there with success for Yorkshire. I'd certainly go with Root 3. And I'd reintegrate Hameed and hoped he shows enough net form to command the other opener spot.

I'd let Stoneman and Westley watch the Ashes from their living rooms, and I not sure I'd waste an air ticket on Malan either. But I would take Alex Hales.

A tough gig to keep all day and then come in at four?

Where did Stewart bat when he kept?  Five wasn't it? (Although I seem to remember him opening a few times too).

[Crosby Nick]

A tough gig to keep all day and then come in at four?

Where did Stewart bat when he kept?  Five wasn't it? (Although I seem to remember him opening a few times too).

Stewart batted everywhere but opened with Atherton a lot, made two hundreds in Barbados opening I think (although Jack Russell might have kept when Stewart batted at the top of the order).

[Yorkykopite]

Stokes at 5 and Moeen at 6 or would you put another batsman lower down?

No, that would be my option. I'm a great believer in disciplining batsmen by giving them proper positions in the order. Bairstow, Stokes and Mooen are all serious batsmen. You have to treat them as such. Once they start coming in at 8 something slips in their mind if you know what I mean. And Woakes makes a very handy 7 anyway.

[Yorkykopite]

A tough gig to keep all day and then come in at four?

Win the toss and solve (half) of the problem then!

You have a point of course. But I'm wondering how many times Bairstow at 7 has had to bat with the tail and then swap pads immediately and keep wicket? That's tough too.

[Crosby Nick]

I can't see Woakes doing much with the ball in Aussie conditions but I might be doing him a disservice (wouldn't be the first time!). With Stokes, Ali and Woakes in the top 7 you'd have 7 frontline bowling options which seems overkill.

[Yorkykopite]

I can't see Woakes doing much with the ball in Aussie conditions but I might be doing him a disservice (wouldn't be the first time!). With Stokes, Ali and Woakes in the top 7 you'd have 7 frontline bowling options which seems overkill.

So who's your other middle order batsman Nick?

[Crosby Nick]

So who's your other middle order batsman Nick?

No idea!

Just playing Devil's Advocate really, I have more questions than answers! Think Malan might get another crack. Hameed did make runs the other day.

I was one batsman missing but would have Cook, Hameed, Root at three. One other batsman, then Stokes, JB, Ali, Rashid, TRJ, Broad Jimmy.

[Yorkykopite]

No idea!

Just playing Devil's Advocate really, I have more questions than answers! Think Malan might get another crack. Hameed did make runs the other day.

I was one batsman missing but would have Cook, Hameed, Root at three. One other batsman, then Stokes, JB, Ali, Rashid, TRJ, Broad Jimmy.

You're playing Dick Advocaat? Yeah, why not? Everyone else has had a go, and the Dutchies do play a bit of cricket.

[asim173]

Cook
Stoneman
Hameed
Root
Stokes
Bairstow
Ali
Broad
Rashid
Roland Jones
Anderson

That would be the XI for the Ashes IMO.

[Sangria]

Win the toss and solve (half) of the problem then!

You have a point of course. But I'm wondering how many times Bairstow at 7 has had to bat with the tail and then swap pads immediately and keep wicket? That's tough too.

Or in the case of Dravid, keep for several days whilst captaining, then swapping keeping gloves for batting gloves and batting all innings and carrying his bat, then open again in the second innings. The Oval 2011 was as close to an Atlas performance as I've seen in any sport.

[dudleyred]

Cook
Stoneman
Hameed
Root
Stokes
Bairstow
Ali
Broad
Rashid
Roland Jones
Anderson

That would be the XI for the Ashes IMO.

I just can't see Hameed at three. If he comes back in it'll be to open.

My money is unchanged side starts next test

[voodoo ray]

Unchanged? I'm not convinced Westley will be in the side. He might not even get on the plane.

[dudleyred]

Unchanged? I'm not convinced Westley will be in the side. He might not even get on the plane.

Not sure that last knock helped the selectors

If there's a change you could put woakes in for westley and shove bairstow and Ali up the order

[asim173]

Not sure that last knock helped the selectors

If there's a change you could put woakes in for westley and shove bairstow and Ali up the order

I don't think Westley should make it, that last knock just wasn't enough.
RE Woakes - do we actually need him? If I was to take another seamer, it would be Wood but he isn't 100% fit so I'd rather another batsmen than another seamer.

[Gerry Attrick]

I don't think Westley should make it, that last knock just wasn't enough.
RE Woakes - do we actually need him? If I was to take another seamer, it would be Wood but he isn't 100% fit so I'd rather another batsmen than another seamer.

Very unlikely Woakes gets left out. He has some experience of playing in Australia, even though it was only T20 I suspect it will count for something. 

[Yorkykopite]

Yes, I'd definitely take Wood if he's fit. We need some genuine pace.

I know the selectors have said that they won't be taking anyone who's not yet been tried. I also realise I'm biased. But....my fantasy selection is Ben Coad, Yorkshire's young seamer. Wicket to wicket bowler, quick, accurate and gorgeous action. And 43 wickets at 19 each isn't a bad return for a debut season.

[Crosby Nick]

His stats are very good, is he quick Yorky? Know nothing about him but Porter at Essex has also taken a lot of wickets this season.

Bowling in Australia on flat pitches with non swinging balls can be tough. That's why in 09/10 we were lucky to have Tremlett to dig it in, less fortunate to have Boyd Rankin try and so the same 4 years later!

[Yorkykopite]

His stats are very good, is he quick Yorky? Know nothing about him but Porter at Essex has also taken a lot of wickets this season.

Bowling in Australia on flat pitches with non swinging balls can be tough. That's why in 09/10 we were lucky to have Tremlett to dig it in, less fortunate to have Boyd Rankin try and so the same 4 years later!

He's the second quickest at Yorkshire, marginally behind Plunkett. But he gets more lateral movement than Plunkett. Tall lad, high arm. And 6 for 25 v Lancashire!

[SP]

Yes, I'd definitely take Wood if he's fit. We need some genuine pace.

I know the selectors have said that they won't be taking anyone who's not yet been tried. I also realise I'm biased. But....my fantasy selection is Ben Coad, Yorkshire's young seamer. Wicket to wicket bowler, quick, accurate and gorgeous action. And 43 wickets at 19 each isn't a bad return for a debut season.

Surely the Lions tour to Australia would be a better bet? He would benefit more from playing than carrying the drinks. Having the Lions tour in the same country is actual joined up thinking for once.

[CheshireDave]

The end of an era.

Henry Bloefeld finished his final stint on TMS (probably).

Huge ovation from the crowd. 

The world of cricket commentary will be less colourful.

Some good stuff available as a podcast. There is a Q&A with Henry and him picking his 'Top 5 TMS moments'.

[Sangria]

Some good stuff available as a podcast. There is a Q&A with Henry and him picking his 'Top 5 TMS moments'.

This is a good one.

When Geoffrey Boycott met Alice Cooper

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPyMTIjEYYA