GRcade

Balladeer wrote:And give Burns a chance!

He'll be opening with Cook for the Lions vs. India A in 10 days time.

I saw that! Glad the Lions are finally paying attention to him. Shame there's nobody with real pace in the squad (e.g. Olly Stone), but this is a decided bonus.

Hope he's still batting when Cook, Gubbins, and Malan are all out.

Balladeer wrote:Hope he's still batting when Cook, Gubbins, and Malan are all out.

I reckon Malan, if he doesn't impress, might be a goner. Any idea when the test squad is announced? Presumably after that match I suppose.

Not a clue. It's a shame because I rather like Malan, but as a competent county batsman rather than a Test player.

Heard this live last summer but this is the first time I've seen the desk-cam footage of it. Well worth a watch - absolutely classic TMS

Ah, I’m sorry I missed that! When you posted it, I mean - as a TMS aficionado I’d already heard it several times before. Great moment.

Lots of cricket on today! Rabada dismantling Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh no doubt looking completely out of their depth against a surging WI side later on, and then a fun hitabout between the top two pyjama party cricket teams. It’s all good.

England in being annihilated by spin non-shocker.

In similarly shocking news, Buttler is England’s best white ball batsman.

God’s sake Ben HIT THE BALL

EDIT: Good thing I don’t believe in jinxes.

Very pleased to see James Taylor has been appointed as the independent selector.

Also, South Africa were skittled for 126 in their first innings at Galle. Doesn't bode well for our trip to Sri Lanka later in the year.

Oh here we go again

Taylor was a quality shout. What are this place’s thoughts on Ed Smith? Prevailing view seems to be that it was a ‘bit of an odd one’.

Never mind Sri Lanka: I’m dreading the trip to the Windies!

Incidentally Root has just hit a fifty and will, I’m sure, be out soon.

Rooty tooty!

Smith was a left field selection for me. Most of the TMS folks held a similar opinion and they worked with him.

Yeah... Thoughts were he’d use ‘moneyball’ to revive the English team, but so far he’s just gone and brought back Jos. Granted, that seems to be working well so far.

Nice to see Joe back in some sort of form... Still reckon England will lose.

...well we all make mistakes.

Drumstick wrote:

Balladeer wrote:And give Burns a chance!

He'll be opening with Cook for the Lions vs. India A in 10 days time.

F*CKED IT RORY

Balladeer wrote:...well we all make mistakes.

Drumstick wrote:

Balladeer wrote:And give Burns a chance!

He'll be opening with Cook for the Lions vs. India A in 10 days time.

F*CKED IT RORY

Oh FFS. Hopefully the selectors won't place too much emphasis on this one match, doesn't help his case that Gubbins has sailed past 50 unbeaten.

Balladeer wrote:...well we all make mistakes.

It was the best kind of mistake to make, though.

Just looked at the upcoming ODIs... 5 each in Sri Lanka and West Indies. If Root plays well he could get 3 or more tons out of those... he is going to pound every England ODI record into oblivion. He was the third fastest player ever to 4000 ODI runs in terms of innings played (behind Amla and Viv).

I’m not too upset! Would be nice if this was Root getting back into form. A real shame to see a player of his obvious class making naff-all in recent times. Upset the whole balance of the ‘Four Young Greats’ too.

Drumstick wrote:Oh FFS. Hopefully the selectors won't place too much emphasis on this one match, doesn't help his case that Gubbins has sailed past 50 unbeaten.

They like Gubbins much more than he deserves. I like most of this team, but Gubbins is weird and Fisher is weird. I’d rather see Northeast/Foakes and a man of genuine pace/bounce.

Don't think Northeast is good enough. Scored most of his runs in Div 2 and still doesn't average 40. Foakes on the other hand...

I’ve always had a soft spot for him that may or may not be justified. He seemed to be about to justify it, racking up a merry century at Hampshire... then he crocked himself.

The good news is that Cooky batted all day. Bad news is Malan is looking more and more likely to retain his spot.