International cricket thread

Really no cricket of an interesting / ultra top level competitive range in any format, anywhere in the world until June and the England vs New Zealand series…disappointing but suppose with everything happening in the world it’s a minor complaint…

The quality of the streams are excellent, pretty much broadcast quality.

IPL I’ve always struggled with I dunno, franchise cricket, the elaborate costumes, the theatrics along the boundary…£$£$£$

probably a bit cynical I dunno.but, the competition hasn’t gripped me as maybe I thought it would.

Good for Root to be rid of it. You can't polish a turd. Next captain won't fare any better until they can get a consistent top six that average 40 plus and a quality spinner.

Not sure about burdening a character like Stokes with it. Too injury prone and add his recent mental health problems. Broad hasn't been a regular for a few years now. Rory Burns or Buttler would have been two decent candidates. When Lees was selected it was mentioned that he captained the Lions and his county but doubt he's an option this time.

Just seeing the Root news, probably inevitable. Stokes the obvious choice but not sure that's the best move. Maybe Broad as a short term solution to see if someone else emerges, he's not guaranteed a place in the team but probably stands a better chance in home test matches.

The Morgan idea is thrown around but in a team that's already struggling for runs, adding someone who hasn't played Test Cricket for nearly a decade doesn't seem like a great move.

It seems Rob Key is getting the Managing Director role. That looks like a good move, it may also have hastened Root's decision.

The ECBs mantra over the last number of years was to get influential people off TV and within the system.

Strauss started commentating and the ECB got him straight back into the system because his words carry weight. They found roles for James Taylor and Trescothick as soon as they picked up mics too.

Key has been commentating for a few years, wouldn't have been high profile when he first started but grew into an influence. They basically want him off the TV and the know he has made a lot of friends within the media, so they may not be quick to criticize him.

Stokes as captain seems a terrible idea to me. He's your star player who both bats and bowls, plays all formats and has only recently taken a chunk of time off to protect his mental health. He clearly doesn't need the burden of captaining the team on top of all that.

Personally I'd give it to Broad for 18 months and then see where things are after that. He would seem a steady short term solution and I don't think he should have been dropped in the first place. Practically nobody other than Root, Stokes and Robinson (definitely not captain material) are guaranteed a spot in that team these days so I think appointing someone as long term captain is pointless right now.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/apr/17/stuart-broad-distances-himself-from-interim-england-cricket-captain

It doesn't sound like it'll be Broad anyway. As I said above I don't think it's a good idea but I imagine it'll go to Stokes now. Retiring him from T20s would probably be a good idea if he's to captain the test side but I doubt you'll get him to do that before the world cup next November.

Who would you have gone for?

Mr steal a living is bowling pies again in the IPL, Chris Jordan

Rashid Khan is great fun to watch when he gets going with the bat.

Cruel luck, a game of inches, no one states the obvious, pie chucker Jordan strikes again, every time I watch that man I wonder what does he do? A taxi driver who has no passengers is a driver, he’s a bowler who often goes for loads, hate to be paying his wages 0/58 today, and the commentator says the opposition has found a way to get over the line, 50 off his last 17 balls from Jordan was the way, last time I watched international cricket he was destroyed in a T20 series in the Caribbean, and the time before that he was bowling in South Africa, and the only bowler worse than him was also bowling for England, Tom Curran, how do they get selected?

Yeah I’m not slating the chap coz I dislike him, but I just think he’s a poor cricketer, him Tom Curran, and I never took to Jason Roy, ungainly slogger, I’d watch Kane Williamson all day, and my favourite England player is James Vince, but he’s frustrating sometimes

Roy , talent there, just too many times you see the guy and it’s technique, just a rank bad shot around the corner. He as often gets himself out as others get him out.

Vince, I think is just too far away from an international cricketer in 13 tests, 22 innings and averages 24.90 with the bat. Had his opportunity, not taken it. 3 50’s in 22 innings, guy is 31 .. test debut 6 years ago… hmmmm… spent the peak of his career underachieving, 22 innings and only an average the mid ‘20’s…. First class average is 39.31 which isn’t really all that… thing with Vince is in FC cricket when he goes big it’s usually BIG.. 240 his top score for Hampshire… but need to convert domestic form, consistency and ability into the international landscape… has his chances, didn’t do it…. Next

We interviewed twelve Ben Stokes,and in the end we decided Ben Stokes was the best of those we interviewed.

Thankless task at present and hopefully his mental health isn't adversely effected.

Relying on a near 36 and 40 year old to save things says it all. I'd have thought this was the best time to rebuild rather then act like your in a "win now" mode. This isn't a decision that Stokes should have been allowed make.

I agree with this, they are almost always coupled together as Broad and Anderson, but Jimmy Anderson is a class act, and Broad has looked like he’s filling in time, also for a man who once made 169 in a test against Pakistan, he’s turned into a complete rabbit, an odd 20 or 30 wouldn’t hurt.

No brainer to bring Jimmy and Broad back into consideration. The so called red ball reset was needed for the top seven and spinner. Seamers always tried hard often having to bowl twice in the same day. And having countless catches dropped.

On Fisher, thought he didn't look out of place in the game he played. Was accurate at decent pace. Similarly with Mahmood, he looked good in that West Indies series also and he too with a modest first class career so far.

Having the attributes needed for test level is more valued to selectors as stats can be skewed by the super bowler friendly conditions they tend to have at times.

Enjoy the IPL in the background, coverage isn't bad and most of the commentators are decent, Kevin Pietersen is terrible though. But all of them sound great (:pac:) when it's time for the Swiggy five or a nice chat about how lovely the Tata SUV thing looks.

Brendan McCullum apparently new England Test coach. Another media friendly appointment, quite like him as a player but not convinced he's a good choice.

Awful sad news Andrew Symonds has died in a car crash. Just 46 years old. He was only in the news the other day after Stokes beat his record for most sixes in a county innings. Clue as to what kind of ball striker he was. One of the all time great fielders. Really distinctive with the hair, the zinc and his imposing physique. That pitch invader that time picked the wrong shoulder to run into.

Often the best part of watching BBL games. The impression of Boycott he did was spot on. That's him and Warnie gone from that commentary box now.

ban cut as he claimed he took his old man’s heart meds accidentally…ICC believes him apparently…

on realising that I’d have called my GP and cricket South Africa, but he didn’t… I’d be struggling with his version of events to put it diplomatically….quite a limp wristed response by the ICC….

The ICC integrity unit with not much integrity.

Archer out for the entire summer now, he has to be a bit of a worry for them at this stage.