The Winter Cricket Thread

[DMR]

Oh bejesus. Case in point as to why we need KP in the side.

[Saxondale]

As KP is such a good player of spin isnt he.

[Nemo]

He really is a brilliant player of right arm spin. And not as bad against left arm spin as people make out, watch the innings of him slaughtering Kerrigan in the CC earlier in the year.

The KP issue is besides the point though, the team we have out should be capable of playing orthodox off spin.

[fittons_coaching_badge]

India to win test series v England 4-0 me thinks.

The way they played the spinners yesterday was verging on the criminal!  Didnt even turn much.  Play straight you stupid fuckers!

True India dont have an Ajmal but the other two spinners to cause all sorts of shit were Rehman and the Sri Lankan left arm spinner whos name illudes me right now.

Englands main hope is to bat first and bat long 450+ and apply pressure that way.  India bat first get a big total, then India get men round the bat, then its when England get rolled over not if!

[Nemo]

FCB, you realise that probably one and max two of the top 7 will play in the tests?

Won't be 4-0, I have India as slight favourites but only slight.

[fittons_coaching_badge]

FCB, you realise that probably one and max two of the top 7 will play in the tests?

Won't be 4-0, I have India as slight favourites but only slight.

Say the top 7 will be ....

Cook, Root, Trott, Bell, Morgan, Bairstow, Prior ......

You've got 3 players there at the beginning of there test careers.  Bairstow based on the cricket he has played in the sub continent has a question mark over how he plays the turning ball.  Morgan's reputaion against spin is based on the trick shots he plays in the one day game which is going to be more difficult with men around the bat.  I havent seen much of Root.  The other 4 have issues being carried with them from last years sub continent tours and I believe Bell may miss one of the tests for some reason.

Also the ball wasnt really turning yesterday, the England batsmen managed to make it look like a bunsen!

Maybe 4-0 is a bit ambitious, but I expect India to win and comfortably!  Ashwin and Ohja will definately play for India and I wouldnt be massively surprised if they tried to get a 3rd spinner in there.

[DMR]

As KP is such a good player of spin isnt he.

Yes

[fittons_coaching_badge]

Just had a look at the super 8 groups:

England .. Sri Lanka .. New Zealand ..West Indies/Ireland
Australia .. India .. Pakistan .. South Africa

Well if England could hand picked their super eight group thats what they would have gone with.

Dangers as I see it ...

Sri Lanka .. Mendis/Matthews/Dilshan
New Zealand .. McCullum/Vettori
West Indies .. Gayle/Pollard/Narine

Game to be played at Pallekelle, which turns more than Columbo so obvious dangers are Mendis and Nariane.

[DMR]

Great group imo, think we'll stuff the Windies and NZ.

If the Aussies and the Saffas can get shot of India for us, I think we have a good chance.

[slinky]

When is England's next game?

[fittons_coaching_badge]

When is England's next game?

Thursday at 3pm vs either W Indies or Ireland I believe

[slinky]

Thursday at 3pm vs either W Indies or Ireland I believe

Cheers pal.  Looks like I have picked a good week to have off work. 

[fittons_coaching_badge]

Englands Super 8 Fixtures:

27th Sept - Eng v WI/Ire 3PM
29th Sept - Eng v NZ 11AM
1st Oct - Eng v SL 3PM

[TheMajorSTFC]

That's a really good super 8 group for England to win!...I think we'll do it, even though we got stuffed yesterday!

I can see us stuffing WI or Ire, beating NZ and potentially losing to SL due to the Mendis brothers who spin to win! I think 2 wins and NRR will be key to getting out of the group if it comes down to it!

[Nemo]

Yep, that's a bloody good group for us and as has been mentioned, I'd quite like Aus and South Africa through to the semis as I think we have a much better chance against either of them than against India/Pakistan.