Cricket thread

[midlandsgrimpeur]

Aggers not holding back in this column

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/c3r1wg5407lo

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

Lack of preparation was a major factor. It wasn’t a tour, it was just an overseas test series. That said, they put up a fight after losing the series. The fielding in the third test was abysmal and from what I’ve read was also poor in the first innings of this test. Had Bethell got better support from the middle order and the first innings fielding been better this could have been a 3-2 series.

It certainly didn't help but I still think the major thing is the current team environment and the mindset it has created. England under Stokes and McCullum have engineered a very specific way they prepare and play in test cricket, not just tactically, but with the selections, this thing of picking players who have no track record because Stokes has seen something in them etc. They remind me a bit of modern corporate culture where people present themselves as 'disruptors'. I think they have wanted to break the established norms in an attempt to do things differently. I don't necessarily have an issue with this, it has brought some memorable and incredible test moments.

The problem is that the traditional ways of doing things are usually just so because they work. The current regime was always going to run out of steam at some point and this setup has created an environment where they do not have the knowledge and experience to draw on to change things, as they have a group of players where only two of them, Stokes and Root, have that traditional test cricket background. I know a lot of people have said throughout the series that the players need to change. I think the major issue is that they can't, because they have never learnt to play the way a lot of people want them to play.

 

[matticus]

Aggers not holding back in this column

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/c3r1wg5407lo

Don't think I need to read it - he was pretty forthright during his radio post-match analysis!
(I don't completely agree with him, but he has a slilghtly better CV than me, so is entitled to say what he thinks! And he's right about most aspects ...)

 

[tom73]

It certainly didn't help but I still think the major thing is the current team environment and the mindset it has created. England under Stokes and McCullum have engineered a very specific way they prepare and play in test cricket, not just tactically, but with the selections, this thing of picking players who have no track record because Stokes has seen something in them etc. They remind me a bit of modern corporate culture where people present themselves as 'disruptors'. I think they have wanted to break the established norms in an attempt to do things differently. I don't necessarily have an issue with this, it has brought some memorable and incredible test moments.

The problem is that the traditional ways of doing things are usually just so because they work. The current regime was always going to run out of steam at some point and this setup has created an environment where they do not have the knowledge and experience to draw on to change things, as they have a group of players where only two of them, Stokes and Root, have that traditional test cricket background. I know a lot of people have said throughout the series that the players need to change. I think the major issue is that they can't, because they have never learnt to play the way a lot of people want them to play.

This is the whole problem the culture that has been allowed to grow is not allowing any other thinking or ideas to even get a look in. It's become a total closed shop with no way of anyone outside. The current set up even having a faint hope of of a look in. On the back of that it's looks practically imposable to lose your place in the shop. The total lack of respect of even the basic craft of cricket is saddest thing in all this.

 

[albion]

Got to agree, though Jacob Bethell might just save a few jobs.
One problem I see, is that the instant millionaire status derived from succeeding at T20/IPL skews everything too.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

This is the whole problem the culture that has been allowed to grow is not allowing any other thinking or ideas to even get a look in. It's become a total closed shop with no way of anyone outside. The current set up even having a faint hope of of a look in. On the back of that it's looks practically imposable to lose your place in the shop. The total lack of respect of even the basic craft of cricket is saddest thing in all this.

I think that is fair. They (as in Stokes/McCullum/Key) do seem to have become very myopic in their approach. I understand having a clear idea of how you want to do things, but you need to still remain open to other ideas, especially when you aren't winning. I hope they bring in a bit more balance to their approach overall, there is clearly talent in the squad, but it needs a bit of moulding.

 

[tom73]

I think that is fair. They (as in Stokes/McCullum/Key) do seem to have become very myopic in their approach. I understand having a clear idea of how you want to do things, but you need to still remain open to other ideas, especially when you aren't winning. I hope they bring in a bit more balance to their approach overall, there is clearly talent in the squad, but it needs a bit of moulding.

For that to happen the whole thing needs blowing wide open , they need someone like Iiingworth to do what he did and bring the whole team and wider England set up down to earth. Reminding them they are playing cricket and not off on some sort 18-30 lads outing.
For me if the ECB is really serious all 3 of them would be gone and that just for starters. They are have too much invested in their way of going things to fully buy into what changers are really needed.