GRcade

Mini E wrote:

Balladeer wrote:I thought it was a painting - nope, actual topless female.

Very strange huh?!

She looks like Maxine Peake.

Even in these warm ups Jennings seems ropey. Burns and Bairstow got runs which is good.

Jennings has always been bad against pace but good against spin. They were right to play him in Sri Lanka, but playing him... anywhere outside Asia, really, is a liability. Similar to playing Malan in the Northern Hemisphere.

twitter.com/AaronFinch5/status/1087971805380382726

Big Bash has been an absolute farce this year in places but this photo is really something positive to come out of it

So all the talk has been about 4 quicks and a lone spinner, day before the first test and that's been turned on its head now the pitch has been seen. It doesn't look great. Seems like it's gonna be Curran or Broad and Leach or Rashid. I'd prefer Leach and Curran.

Curran because he is left arm and his angle creates lots of rough for Moeen and Leach, and he bats better than Broad. Leach for the aforementioned reason and because he is a tighter bowler than Rashid, meaning the quicks can have longer rests.

Curran and... ooh I don’t know. I reckon Leach is the better spinner, but Rashid might provide a touch of magic that the attack as it stands is lacking. Glad I don’t have to pick!

Shame it’s come to this in a way. West Indian pitches are at their best when really quick bowlers are pelting it through at throat height.

Potentially useful thread:

twitter.com/mashstpaddy/status/1087686980861865984

I could probably have written 80% of that, tbh.

Lose the toss, lose the match?

Curran ahead of Broad and Rashid gets the second spinner role.

Lots of think pieces on what next from Broad this morning, but if anything I think Curran's relative underperformance yesterday strengthened his case.

Plus, he'll be a definite pick for the Ashes in any case because England aren't going to go with two spinners

Bleah. I keep seeing pieces on how Es gained some pace back. If so, fine, but England doesn’t really need two right-arm fast-medium swing bowlers, and Jimmy’s chuffing ace.

Curran did not have a good day, but it’s one bad innings, and he does offer a different angle. I’m not saying he’s the answer, but I am saying that a top bowling attack needs different styles of bowlers. Less so at home, maybe, but still so (Cardiff, Oval).

I don't think the issue here is Curran over Broad, it's Rashid over Broad. I want Curran in the team for his different angle, to create rough for Moeen Ali and for his batting.

I would (presently) be very happy with this line up for The Ashes: Burns, Jennings, Bairstow, Root, Stokes, Buttler, Foakes, Moeen, Curran, Broad, Anderson.

Agreed, although I thought Rashid actually bowled better than Moe yesterday.

Here comes the fear...

Radio silence until the Windies second innings then lads.

Are we allowed to swear when Jennings gets out playing a stupid shot?

As long as you don't post here.

(muffled swearing)

Oh come on, it hardly counts as jinxing when it’s Jennings vs. seam.

Balladeer wrote:(muffled swearing)

Oh come on, it hardly counts as jinxing when it’s Jennings vs. seam.

Quite. It's like blaming someone for the sunset because they closed their curtains slightly early. A definite lack of causality when it's Jennings vs seam.