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Shocked because he has no county, or shocked because they selected him?
His county record is dreadful and went on loan to div 2 last season making no impact and eventually being dropped. There are several (possibly double figures) better spinners in England. It’s an ego selection since they picked him off a video and then after facing him as a net bowler at an England practice.
I hate seeing Test sides without a spinner, so I’d probably play him over Carse and keep Carse fresh for when one of Archer or Wood breaks down. Stokes seems fit so they’ll get overs from him. England have made their bed and need to lie in it regards the spinner spot.
I still thing England should win the Test. And, at the risk of a “Brisbane II”, if the pitch is still green on the morning of the Test, I’d bowl first…much like we did in Melbourne 2010. I think this pitch might get easier to bat on…
Just play your best possible team for the 1st Test!
Is Brisbane a day/night Test? Reckon we can already discount that one.
Shocked because he has no county, or shocked because they selected him?
His county record is dreadful and went on loan to div 2 last season making no impact and eventually being dropped. There are several (possibly double figures) better spinners in England. It’s an ego selection since they picked him off a video and then after facing him as a net bowler at an England practice.
I hate seeing Test sides without a spinner, so I’d probably play him over Carse and keep Carse fresh for when one of Archer or Wood breaks down. Stokes seems fit so they’ll get overs from him. England have made their bed and need to lie in it regards the spinner spot.
I still thing England should win the Test. And, at the risk of a “Brisbane II”, if the pitch is still green on the morning of the Test, I’d bowl first…much like we did in Melbourne 2010. I think this pitch might get easier to bat on…
I think Root filling in is an underrated option with his part time off-spin. Playing Bethel would also give an option turning it the other way.
I hope the Bashir gamble pays off, but I am massively sceptical.
Second session starts at 05.10am, which is what i'll be doing. Play finishes around 9.30am i think.
I planned to get up at 04:20 put the now tv app on & rewind the posssible 2 hours max to the 1st ball but only today i have seen that Sky are not covering the Ashes & it is on TNT which i cant rewind , so yes i'll be tuning in @ 05:10 along with your good self.
"Things had started becoming increasingly desperate at Loftus Road but QPR have been handed a massive lifeline and the place has absolutely erupted. it's carnage. It's bedlam. It's 1-1."
Such a weird deflection to even mention that in his interview….
Also quite tragic how he's pre-prepared his answers as well, looking at clips of Mastermind, and got a friendly journo to tee him up. Does he not have anything better to do?
Perhaps the BBC edited it similarly to the Trump interview - or the Journo was rubbing some sandpaper as they talked….
Most likely, just a very strange but talented guy who should probably know when to STFU in an interview by now.
I’d be bringing it up with him as he comes to the crease mind you….‘here comes that guy who watches mastermind…..he’s started but he’ll be finished shortly !’- as he gets off the mark with one of those weird hop, skip and jumps across the stumps.
Maybe a Tino Best style ‘Mind the Buzzer, Smudge !’
Those possessed by devils, try and keep them under control a bit, can't you ?
But bringing it up like he is demonstrates to me he is rattled.
This England team has nothing to do with Panesar. Who cares what he said to a gambling site?
Clearly Smith does.
But by prepping an answer, teeing up a journo and raising it on the eve of the Test, he’s merely drawing attention to Panesar’s comments and telling the England team that reference to sandpaper-gate gets under his skin. This England team won’t care about Panesar’s stupidity.
It just makes Smith looks rattled.
Put it another way, what purpose or benefit did it serve Smith? Were you or I aware of Panesar’s comments already? If, yes, did they warrant a defence? Just let them slide with no attention.
It’s a PR screw up. It undoubtedly benefits England. Smith will (rightfully) now get some choice words at key moments. If I was fielding in the slips, I’d simply be firing general knowledge qns at him throughout his innings.
Anyone coming to Brisbane is welcome to PM me and I’ll shout you a beer. I live about 10 minutes walk from the Gabba. Always great to meet some fellow Rs. Stu 😃
I think you’ll win this time. Our batting line up just not good enough.
You might worry about the Aussie batting. But, I'm far from convinced about the England one. During the series I could see England shot out for 150 and, on a good day, posting 500+.
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the Earth all one's lifetime." (Mark Twain)
Find me on twitter @derbyhoop and now on Bluesky
I am not confident but any series outcome could be possible.
For me, the one key factor is Ben Stokes. If he plays all five tests, England win. He is an individual that raises his game for the most important games and the man plays at 110% all the time.
Playing at such intensity, as he does though is a massive concern. He may get a 150 and a 7 wicket innings haul, but his full on game, is often at the expense of his body and am concerned, he will push himself too hard and only play one or two tests at most, and i think his bowling, batting and captaincy could be the difference between winning or losing the series.
i think he will try too hard and end up missing most of the series and cant see us achieving without him.
But bringing it up like he is demonstrates to me he is rattled.
This England team has nothing to do with Panesar. Who cares what he said to a gambling site?
Clearly Smith does.
But by prepping an answer, teeing up a journo and raising it on the eve of the Test, he’s merely drawing attention to Panesar’s comments and telling the England team that reference to sandpaper-gate gets under his skin. This England team won’t care about Panesar’s stupidity.
It just makes Smith looks rattled.
Put it another way, what purpose or benefit did it serve Smith? Were you or I aware of Panesar’s comments already? If, yes, did they warrant a defence? Just let them slide with no attention.
It’s a PR screw up. It undoubtedly benefits England. Smith will (rightfully) now get some choice words at key moments. If I was fielding in the slips, I’d simply be firing general knowledge qns at him throughout his innings.
That's your version of events, as spoon fed by the BBC, an organisation that splices videos to suit its agenda.
Look, I get it, history and the odds are not on England's side. So ex-players and England supporters are desperately seeking any kind of edge and are convincing themselves that 'Smith is rattled'. However, I know Aussies well (I have family in Sydney) and their mentality is different gravy. Trust me, they won't be rattled. They love a bit of sledging, especially with 'Poms'. So go ahead, fire your quips in the field and see where that gets you.
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