< 1 minute readAs a result of Cricinfo’s redesign, we don’t actually know that a Sri Lanka v India Test is taking place and therefore cannot comment on who has scored hundreds and who has been dismissed for three. We will instead restrict ourself to an observation that England will be picking at
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Monumental rant about Anya Shrubsole narrowly averted
< 1 minute readWe properly went off on one there for a minute. Internally. An onlooker wouldn’t have noticed a thing, but inside we were seething. Anya Shrubsole took 6-46 (plus a run-out) to win the World Cup for England and she wasn’t even player of the match. They gave it to a
Continue readingNeed to bring solidity to your top order? You need a Stoneman
< 1 minute readGary Ballance’s pink, fat lips let go a scream. His left index finger was fractured. He isn’t made of stone. England will therefore call up someone who might be in a bid to solidify their top order. Mark Stoneman, now of Surrey – but on some level eternally of Durham
Continue readingThe natmeg was the difference
< 1 minute readJust a single sighting of the natmeg in the World Cup semi-final by our count – but it secured two runs and was therefore, by all measures, decisive. England passed South Africa’s total with just two balls to spare. You can’t honestly suggest that the natmeg wasn’t the difference. With
Continue readingEngland are a team utterly without breadth
2 minute readEngland are a limited batting side. Most of the players have plenty of shots and they’re seemingly limited to a style of play where they use them all. This article isn’t going to be a paean to the blocker. It’s about a lack of flexibility; a lack of range. England
Continue readingLiam Dawson is getting carted
2 minute readWe’ve been wondering whether Liam Dawson will become a player we hate for being kind of dull or a player we love for being kind of dull. We haven’t yet reached a conclusion, but what we are a little more certain of is that he’s utterly failing to do the
Continue readingIs Joe Root brave enough to bowl Gary Ballance?
< 1 minute readThe great tragedy of England’s six-man bowling attack is that Gary Ballance never gets to bowl. We reckon that Joe Root and Keaton Jennings are likely to get on before him as well, so realistically he’s ninth choice. England will need to have an extraordinarily bad day before we see
Continue readingThe hundreds and five-fors rating – why Moeen Ali is England’s best player
< 1 minute readFurther to yesterday’s debate about the identity of England’s best player, here’s one possible way of rating them We made the point yesterday that people shouldn’t blindly accept that Joe Root is England’s best player because he only regularly contributes in one facet of the game. We then a touch
Continue readingHow long until someone suggests Moeen Ali is battling to keep his Test spot?
2 minute readIt feels like one of those rare moments when very few people are talking about whether or not Moeen Ali will be able to keep his place in the England side. While many all-rounders benefit from being able to contribute in two separate disciplines, the beardster always seems to be
Continue readingMoeen Ali and Stuart Broad follow by example
< 1 minute readWith their feisty batting in the morning and a pair of wickets each, Moeen Ali and Stuart Broad truly delivered non-captains’ performances. This is what good team members do. They set an example for the captain to follow. It’s like they always say: he who leads the leader slightly reduces
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