Richard
Cricket Web Staff Member
Not really.watching the aussies play spin recent times mgiht help ECB decide on the choice of 2 spinners.even mediocre spinners have looked good against australia.
Not really.watching the aussies play spin recent times mgiht help ECB decide on the choice of 2 spinners.even mediocre spinners have looked good against australia.
The fact that neither MSP nor Rashid are Test material currently should hopefully see one spinner tops picked at all times.^ Though give Monty's ridiculously bad start to the season (I thought he'd have a great start when I mentioned he will play in the 1st test earlier in the thread) I think Rashid may get the nod.
The fact Rashid can bat will (unfortunately) help his cause.
Leg spinners generally like bounce though and even though he is more akin to Kumble than Warne, I'm sure he'd like a bouncy surface to bowl on.
Other details have not escaped Exton’s eye: he has installed wider sightscreens so as to accommodate the angle of Mitchell Johnson, the Australia left-arm fast bowler.
Thought he might have installed them to accommodate Flintoff's girth tbh.Article on the Swalec:
Groundsman who could have Australians in a spin - Times Online
Good to see attention to detail:
Think they might be for hiding the murray mint silo behind, thinking about it.Thought he might have installed them to accommodate Flintoff's girth tbh.
Pretty sure they played one season together - 2003. Might be wrong about that though.^^ LOL.
I'm slightly concerned about Hussey against spin. He seems to be getting out either lbw or nicking to slip without getting his feet to the ball and playing down the wrong line.
Their are some big duels expected, but one of the ones I'm looking forward to the most is Hussey vs Swann.
Am I right in thinking that they played County Cricket together??
the current aussie side have a lot players who are not playing spin well at the moment-ponting,Hussey ,watson have looked bad recently.Depending on the pitch i would like England to go with 2 spinners.Not really.
Ja, but the fact Cardiff is generally SO slow, it won't fill seamers wit confidence. I can see Rashid getting the nod for the 1st test.The fact that neither MSP nor Rashid are Test material currently should hopefully see one spinner tops picked at all times.
Na, but he at least showed promise at the infancy of his career. It was a case of "he's bowling well but not getting the rewards". Now I think it's the case of he's just not bowling well enough.BTW MSP's bad start to the season is nothing remotely new - exact same thing happened in 2007 and 2008 as well, and he still had his usual yearly Old Trafford wondermatch.
I don't mind Old Trafford not being given an Ashes test since it's forced them into a £300m re-development which I'm sure will see them be a staple for the Ahes series from 2013.Only thing is there's no Old Trafford Test this year - we've a Swalec one instead...
Poor-quality spin bowling won't cause undue difficulties. There's just no point in picking a spinner, even on a turning pitch, just because he's a spinner. You have to bowl good lines, lengths and trajectory - turning the ball alone is not enough.the current aussie side have a lot players who are not playing spin well at the moment-ponting,Hussey ,watson have looked bad recently.Depending on the pitch i would like England to go with 2 spinners.
Spinners need some pace too y'know. But either way, as I say, there's no point picking spinners just because seamers will be in a less-than-ideal situation. Seam almost always has a better chance of success than spin with both disadvantaged.Ja, but the fact Cardiff is generally SO slow, it won't fill seamers wit confidence. I can see Rashid getting the nod for the 1st test.
Well as regards the county performances of 2007 and 2008 - we don't really know what it was because Northamptonshire aren't exactly a well-watched county. We know MSP has bowled very poorly in recent Tests; but that is unconnected to his county form. Right now, I'd not back MSP to do the job in a Test, at all, under any circumstances. So thus, to pick him would be plain silly.Na, but he at least showed promise at the infancy of his career. It was a case of "he's bowling well but not getting the rewards". Now I think it's the case of he's just not bowling well enough.
Pace and bounce moreso for conventional leggies (Warne liked Brisbane for that reason). I'm sure Swann would like lack of pace and bounce as long as there is turn. He bowled better than his figures show in India (against batsmen used to spin- offies in particular) and Australia struggled against Harbhajan by and large.Spinners need some pace too y'know. But either way, as I say, there's no point picking spinners just because seamers will be in a less-than-ideal situation. Seam almost always has a better chance of success than spin with both disadvantaged.
We have to trust the ECB scouts weren't spining us a line and I can't see any spinner being picked if they bowl as poorly as Panesar has this season y all reports.Well as regards the county performances of 2007 and 2008 - we don't really know what it was because Northamptonshire aren't exactly a well-watched county. We know MSP has bowled very poorly in recent Tests; but that is unconnected to his county form. Right now, I'd not back MSP to do the job in a Test, at all, under any circumstances. So thus, to pick him would be plain silly.
Can't judge the pitch properly until both teams have bowled on it, but my impression during the first session was that it was a crap pitch.Now people have seen a bit of the pitch & ground what do you think?
The pitch seems to be exactly what I expected. Doesn't seem to be much atmosphere from what others have said and listening on the radio.
hahahahaSo other than the usual stuff about how disgraceful it was to award a Test to a venue that is worse in every single imaginable way than Riverside, Glamorgan have been docked two points for preparing a substandard surface at the ground.
Cricinfo - Cardiff pitch under scrutiny
So expect Panesar to suddenly be proclaimed as England's saviour when he can barely get a wicket for his county. Personally I expect the Test to be more of a dead draw pitch (cue excuses made about the weather hampering preparations) and I'd much rather see England go for someone like Rashid who offers far better balance and can actually buy wickets. I think one specialist finger spinner is more than enough. A bad second one who can't bat or field doesn't appeal to me.
Yes it was pretty poor. I was watching on telly and it may be that the effects mic didn't pick up the atmosphere particularly well. But it seemed very flat and lacking in atmosphere, and the soulless look of the place didn't help.Doesn't seem to be much atmosphere from what others have said and listening on the radio.
I disagree. Lord's has a wonderful and unique atmosphere. What it lacks are musical instruments, the Barmy Army and fancy dress. And while those things perhaps have their place, they are hardly essential to the experience of watching the cricket, and are often detrimental to it.The atmosphere certainly got better in the final session and lets face it compared to Lords (where the first match has been played recently), it was practically rocking.
Well I tend to find Lords anaemic, and the pitch doesn't generally help. Think it's been fairly shocking of late, generally the worst Test match venue, despite it's unique feel.I disagree. Lord's has a wonderful and unique atmosphere. What it lacks are musical instruments, the Barmy Army and fancy dress. And while those things perhaps have their place, they are hardly essential to the experience of watching the cricket, and are often detrimental to it.