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One McAvennieeeeee 11:53 Thu Nov 19
England squad for SA tour

Batsman Ian Bell has been dropped from England's Test squad for the tour of South Africa.

The five-time Ashes winner, who has played 118 Tests, has not scored a Test century for 23 innings.

Batsmen Nick Compton and Gary Ballance are recalled, while uncapped left-arm pace bowler Mark Footitt and spinner Samit Patel are included and Adil Rashid misses out.

Squad Alastair Cook, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Nick Compton, Mark Footitt, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Samit Patel, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, James Taylor, Chris Woakes

The tour starts on 15 December, with the first Test on 26 December

Sven Roeder 8:53 Wed Nov 25
Re: England squad for SA tour

Interesting move by the ECB and hopefully it makes its way throughout all cricket


BBC
The toss could be scrapped in County Championship Division Two matches next season under proposals being considered by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

The ECB's executive board will discuss the plan on Thursday after it was recommended by its cricket committee.

If it is approved a one-year trial will take place in 2016 to try to improve pitches and encourage spin bowlers.
The away team would choose whether to bat, bowl or still have a toss if the pitch condition was uncertain.

The toss will remain in County Championship Division One and domestic limited-overs cricket.

It was mentioned in the first recorded laws of cricket in 1744 when the team winning the flip of the coin would have the choice of which pitch to use as well as whether to bat or bowl first.

The ECB believes many matches in Division Two are decided by the toss because home teams are producing pitches to suit their bowlers.

However, no team in the County Championship has been deducted points for preparing a poor pitch since 2011.

East Auckland Hammer 10:16 Sat Nov 21
Re: England squad for SA tour

He probably DID say that Sven, but then, he is English.

East Auckland Hammer 10:06 Sat Nov 21
Re: England squad for SA tour

I reckon we'll see some specific glasses coming out which allow you to see the ball better during the night portion of a game.

Oakley XRays
Adidas Sonars
Nike Radars

Sven Roeder 10:03 Sat Nov 21
Re: England squad for SA tour

I am sure I read the Kiwi bowling coach say they bowled well in the 5th day as they tightened up to 'delay the Aust declaration '.
Hmmm
Zimbabwe, Bangladesh , New Zealand ..... it's all a muchness outside the Big 3 Test nations of Aust, England & S Africa.
Those are the proper Tests

Sven Roeder 9:59 Sat Nov 21
Re: England squad for SA tour

I would agree that no one should expect anything from the opposition or complain about what they do in their attempts to win the game for themselves.
You declare in YOUR interests.
Unfortunately the WACA pitch wasn't quick enough to balance the game and when it deteriorates it usually cracks with the heat which creates the odd scary ball but rarely turns enough to force a result that way.
Results usually happen there because the pace and bounce gives fast bowlers a chance while enabling to score quickly but not excessively.
I think the bowling attacks of sides are quite good but I can't think of any Test attack that would have forced a win.
Adelaide will be fine as one team will be caught starting their innings in the twilight and lose 5/50 with the pink (turned green) ball becoming invisible.

One McAvennieeeeee 9:57 Sat Nov 21
Re: England squad for SA tour

Do I take it the kiwis are losing?

East Auckland Hammer 9:55 Sat Nov 21
Re: England squad for SA tour

Australia pottered along on Day 5. Absolutely pottered. No intention of doing anything other than getting a draw.

It made for a boring, shithouse, pointless final day to be honest, which is pretty much what Rodney Hogg was getting at.

As for Adelaide, I've said it once and I'll say it again, the 3rd test of a series like this shouldn't be an experimental one. Experiment with Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe.

joey5000 9:41 Sat Nov 21
Re: England squad for SA tour

I don't think any team can complain about the opposition's declaration decisioning, given it is in their own hands how long they bat for. Seems to me you both need better bowlers.

Sven Roeder 9:18 Sat Nov 21
Re: England squad for SA tour

Why wasn't there enough time?
Because NZ batted on to try and win the game by bowling Australia out. As is their right
Still don't see how they can then complain about not being given enough time to win the game.
If NZ had declared level Aust may have set them 380 in 80 overs or something like that.

Anyway on to Adelaide
Expecting 50,000 in on the Fri or Sat I think to take advantage of the fabulous new facilities at the Adelaide Oval. Should be an interesting occasion. If we can see the ball.

East Auckland Hammer 8:59 Sat Nov 21
Re: England squad for SA tour

I agree Sven, there was no point in NZ even bothering to bat with a declaration like that. They could have all shaken hands and gone for a round of golf. 320 in 50 overs?

Sven Roeder 8:47 Sat Nov 21
Re: England squad for SA tour

If his second innings declaration was defensive why did he declare?
As soon as McCullum declares I will consider HIS motives.
If he ever declares behind I will probably die of shock.

Well done Sam Whiteman on his century in the two day bat all day pink ball game at the WACA. NZ have a go tomorrow. If they turn up.

East Auckland Hammer 8:33 Sat Nov 21
Re: England squad for SA tour

Just had a thought - maybe he has an interest in Australia not being bowled out all series?

Can you bet on that sort of thing?

East Auckland Hammer 8:32 Sat Nov 21
Re: England squad for SA tour

I don't know whether you've played a lot of cricket Sven, or have only watched it, but in my experience (35 years unbroken until this summer) declarations are generally attacking of defensive.

The declarations in the first test were definitely both attacking declaration, used to advance the game and out pressure on NZ.

The first innings declaration in the second was more if a blah, what was the point(?), neither here nor there declaration. What was the difference between 9 down and 10 down? 5 minutes? 2 minutes?

The second innings was definitely a defensive one.

Of course a declaration can be used to bring the other side into it. If Australia been remotely interested in attacking, they could have set us 300 in 2 sessions....something around late 4s, early 5s an over. We would have gone for that, and, as happened in England, we might have fucked it up, chasing something that was out of reach, for too long, and ended up losing.

NZ's ONLY hope of trying to win the game, was to bat on past Australia and hope to build a significant lead. It would have been suicidal to concede a lead, and practically guarantee ourselves a 350-400 run deficit and have all of day 5 to bat through.

Out best chance to win was to build a lead of 150+ and hope to get stuck into you early with a few wickets.

Anyway, we obviously don't agree, so I'll start my position clearly again, and leave it at that

Smith has declared 4 times. Two have been attacking declarations and led to a win in the first test. His first declaration in the second test was a little bit pointless and didn't achieve anything that being bowled over out wouldn't, while his second was very much defensive, with no thought to winning the game.

Now, he's very much on target to only draw the series.

Sven Roeder 11:40 Sat Nov 21
Re: England squad for SA tour

I will say it again
Captains declare for the benefit of THEIR team not to bring the other team in.
In the first innings Australia tried for quick runs after they were about 6 down but had a couple of batsmen stumped and one caught on the boundary so it didn't come off. But they declared rather than eke out a 10th wicket partnership to get on with the game.
In the second innings they were forced to bat on further than they would have liked as the opposition captains first thought was being safe by batting on beyond Australia's first innings.
It takes two to tango and Australia didn't have enough time or control to make a declaration that would have given them any chance of winning.
Given the pitch that was even more difficult.
Either way they lead 1-0 with one to play.

I see NZ are being allowed a 2 day day night PINK BALL game at the WACA against a young WA side with their older Shield players rested.
WA XI won the toss and batted & are 216/5 at about 6pm in a game that will go til 9pm.
Sam Whiteman is 58no. This kid is going to be the next Australian keeper before too much longer.

One McAvennieeeeee 10:54 Sat Nov 21
Re: England squad for SA tour

Whats a proper declaration?

East Auckland Hammer 10:27 Sat Nov 21
Re: England squad for SA tour

Sven Roeder 2:20 Fri Nov 20

Exactly, so neither of them were really "proper" declarations, were they.

9 down in the midst of a flurry or wickets and after lunch on the 5th day are NOT attacking or progressive declarations.

Brucies_Star_Prize 4:52 Fri Nov 20
Re: England squad for SA tour

I wonder what price Roy was matched at for top English bat when Root was dismissed. Serious gubbing there!

joey5000 4:40 Fri Nov 20
Re: England squad for SA tour

One McAvennieeeeee 4:26 Fri Nov 20
Re: England squad for SA tour
StirLOLing and LOLvjoy haven't been around for a while have they?

Good point, OM. In fact, I don't think I'd ever seen them on a cricket thread prior to the Pakistani's hollow victories.

Northern Sold 4:35 Fri Nov 20
Re: England squad for SA tour

Well I'd rather him than Balance in the test team that's for sure

Far Cough 4:32 Fri Nov 20
Re: England squad for SA tour

Move him down the order and let him smash the ball like he does in ODIs

Is that a goer?

Northern Sold 4:31 Fri Nov 20
Re: England squad for SA tour

Cough... his test match STATS since the Ashes have been SHOCKING... 11 inns top score of 43..

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