Cardiffdaffs
Well-known member
Stokes OUT
Bethell IN
Bethell IN
England v India 5th Test
- Thread starter Cardiffdaffs
- Start date
changingman
Well-known member
Atkinson, Overton, Tongue in for Archer, Carse and Dawson too?
Zoophonic
Well-known member
As mentioned in opening OP. Absolutely unsurprising.
Abel Tasman
Well-known member
Am surprised Dawson has been dropped. Not a spinners track I guess.
On The Bob
Well-known member
I think we learned why his chances have been so few and far between over the years. Decent county bowler, very good in the shorter format but didn’t look like taking wickets on a day 5 pitch.
Appreciate the pitch didn’t completely implode but he had a lot of rough to work with to the left handers. He never got his length right in the 4th innings. I’d argue that even Leach would have offered more with the ball.
No recognised front line spinner this time. The team selection doesn’t fill me with confidence looking at the bowling line up, with the exception of Atkinson.
Abel Tasman
Well-known member
Bethel and Root part time spin at least.
With Stokes injured, then Bethell had to come in to strengthen the batting.
You bring in the 3 fresh seamers, which was always likely, and then make a call between Woakes and Dawson as the extra bowling all-rounder, do you want more seam or more spin. Given Bethell bowls left arm spin same as Dawson, then even though Woakes looks v tired, its probably the least bad call, especially given Atkinson has had so little cricket of late
indeedido
Well-known member
I watched Stokes with Dawson a lot.
There was frustration from Stokes and a lot of discussion which Dawson didn't like.
Stokes asked Dawson to bowl at the end and he seemed to refuse. He even asked him "Please" to which Dawson shook his head and walked off.
I expected this decision after watching that.
There is frailty in England's top order bar Root. They shouldn't have to play 6 batters a strong w/k batter and have to rely on just 4 bowlers, but Crawley, Pope and Brook are vulnerable right now.
There was frustration from Stokes and a lot of discussion which Dawson didn't like.
Stokes asked Dawson to bowl at the end and he seemed to refuse. He even asked him "Please" to which Dawson shook his head and walked off.
I expected this decision after watching that.
There is frailty in England's top order bar Root. They shouldn't have to play 6 batters a strong w/k batter and have to rely on just 4 bowlers, but Crawley, Pope and Brook are vulnerable right now.
atypical_boro
Well-known member
Bethell's first class batting average is 28, and bowling average is 70. He's never made a century or taken a Michelle in any format.
From that he should be batting at about #8, and bowling very occasionally (which of course would mean he shouldn't be playing).
It seems like doing well in white ball cricket is enough nowadays.
From that he should be batting at about #8, and bowling very occasionally (which of course would mean he shouldn't be playing).
It seems like doing well in white ball cricket is enough nowadays.
On The Bob
Well-known member
True. I’m just not a huge believer in fielding a side with no front line spinner. Seen it backfire a few times over the years.
We will see.
changingman
Well-known member
This is where the lack of tifo in cricket could be improved. Some sort of groundsman based image as the players emerge tomorrow.
Je Suis Groundsmen?
However he averages 52.00 batting and 25.66 bowling in tests, albeit from 3 games in New Zealand., which suggests he maybe a little bit better than his FC stats suggest?
atypical_boro
Well-known member
Its a very small sample.
I've watched him in white ball cricket a lot and he is useful for sure, and I suppose in the 'Bazball' era potentially explosive batsmen will always be considered, but I am just pointing out really that first class averages seem to mean nothing anymore.
And that we don't really have a spinner.