England's Winter of Cricket 2022/23

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The Lions are doing some Bazball v Sri Lanka A.

Sri Lanka A were bowled out for a paltry 136, Fisher with 5/34, and the Lions have already amassed 249/3 in 48 overs. Hameed, who's captain, 81 off 109, Lees 56 off 69, and Haines unbeaten with 62 from 72.

So 14 off the final over and England reach a more than respectable 346. Difficult to call whether that's a good score or not, as obviously hamstrung by the early wickets but pulled back with the outstanding innings from Buttler and Malan and a few quick runs from the guys at the death.

Did the wicket flatten out, or was it that it was tricky against the new ball but got easier as the ball softened?

The last 20 overs England scored 217... That is outrageous...

20-3 after 10 overs.
129-3 after 30 overs.
239-3 after 40 overs
346-7 after 50 overs.

So virtually 11 an over for the last 20 overs after a slow start and necessarily cautious rebuild.

alfie wrote:

JDizzle wrote:It’s a pretty churlish quibble, but Archer should be batting above Rash in this situation. He’s more likely to bomb some sixes!

Rashid begs to differ

A hip high full toss on leg stump in the 50th over is always a pleasant treat, haha.

55/1 after ten. Woakes dismissing the in-form Bavuma with a highly intelligent delivery.

Only just back from work so missed the power play. How has Archer been bowling, showing better form than the first match?

His pace seems to be up...and he's just got Van der Dussen.

Welcome back Archer

Jof bowling heat followed by Dilly ripping ones past the outside edge, this is fun

Jofra’s pace is there, which is the main concern alleviated. Just missing that relentless consistency he used to have attacking the stumps. But that’ll come with overs.

Its still on for South Africa but i am not sure they have the same fire power. They need to keep the RR under control to win this. That is what they are good at though.

Savage dismissal for Hendriks. Will take it though

And the drinks break claims another wicket.
I'd love wo see the stats for how frequently that happens (i.e a wicket in the first over after a break) - feels to be way too common an occurrence, especially for batsmen who appear to be well set.

Can we say Archer is back? Difficult catch in the conditions for Moeen as well

Yep, Archer is back

Jof my king, welcome home and into our lives again

England are going to win this. Surely they cant lose from here...

If Parnell and Klassen bat through, SA are winning this. Still plenty of bowling options for England, however.

Archer again

First four-for for Jofra in ODIs. Hopefully we'll get to see him play a central part in the Ashes and the World Cup.

And now five! Wonderful.

Also Rashid with a useful three-wicket spell. Probably bowled better than his figures suggested.

Duty281 wrote:

Also Rashid with a useful three-wicket spell. Probably bowled better than his figures suggested.

Are you saying that stats may Lie?

So England end with a win. Couple of weeks time and it'll be back to tests.

The next ODI series for England will be away to Bangladesh - the series is set to be a farce because the first ODI is scheduled just two days after the conclusion of the second and final test v NZ. I mentioned about Hales missing out from Bangladesh, well that scheduling means Root, Duckett, Brook, Jacks and Stone will all miss out in addition. And another handful are in franchise cricket, so it could be like that home series v Pakistan when the likes of John Simpson were playing.

Not ideal preparation for the World Cup. After Bangladesh, England don't have any more ODI cricket until September, when they have seven home matches v NZ and Ireland. Hopefully England can get the strongest side together for those games and work out what the best XI is, as it's still well up in contention, with just six certainties that I can see (and that's presuming Stokes comes back, which is the assumption).

1) Bairstow 2) ? 3) Root 4) Stokes 5) ? 6) Buttler 7) ? 8) ? 9) Rashid 10) Archer 11) ?

2) Currently held by Roy, but Malan is pushing hard and Salt's in consideration. Jacks a potential wildcard in this position, as is Duckett.
5) Brook at the moment, but not set in stone. Lots of options depending on the balance of the side.
7) Moeen currently has the spot, but Livingstone or Jacks or even Dawson might be the answer.
8) Curran or Woakes or Willey as a further outside shot?
11) Could be Wood, but I think Stone has impressed on his return.

Is it still just a 15-man squad for the World Cup? Because it's going to be very difficult to get 15 names for England!

Archer ends with six. He's back.

South Africa have got two precious wins. Presuming they beat the Netherlands twice (surely rain is the only potential barrier to this), only Sri Lanka winning 3-0 v NZ (or 2-0 and one rained off) will prevent the Saffers qualifying automatically.

eirebilly_01 wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

Also Rashid with a useful three-wicket spell. Probably bowled better than his figures suggested.

Are you saying that stats may Lie?

In one-off situations statistical anomalies can happen. The more data you have the better. That's why you can see clear daylight, statistically, between truly great players and overrated hypejobs like Moeen when looking at their career data.

Duty - That's fairly summed up.

On the bowling side I think this series has shown that England really miss Wood in that Plunkett role through the middle. I think they will find a spot for his pace if he's fit. If Jof is at his best that will likely mean Woakes or Surran rather than both if they want two spinners.

With Stokes very heavily rumoured to return alongside Root and Bairstow the batting doesn't concern me at all. I reckon they'll back Brook for that number 5 spot. The main challenger I might see to that would be Buttler at 5 with Livingstone at 6 potentially for another spin option up the order. Then they could perhaps look at Woakes and Surran in the same side at 7 and 8 with Mo missing out.

As has often been the case with England white ball selection discussions it's whether to take the batting heavy or bowling heavy routes.

If fit though I'd expect all of YJB, Roy, Malan, Root, Stokes, Brook, Buttler, Livingstone, Mo, Curran, Woakes, Jof, Wood and Dilly to be in the 15 man CWC squad. Injuries will almost certainly intervene for some though.

Well that was a nice positive finish to the short series after a couple of rather disappointing efforts from England. Archer certainly bounced back from his dodgy first game - only saw extended highlights but he looked as good as I've seen him ; and easily his best ODI figures a just reward from what seemed to be some crafty variations

Think two wins (with likely some more coming against Netherlands) should see SA qualify automatically - unless they cop a points deduction for slow overs (?) ; but they might be disappointed to not close out the series 3-0 after having England 14/3 . Big difference on a largely flat pitch was none of their bats except Klaasen really went on from good fast starts - and the two England centurions did so with a vengeance !

So both teams got something from this series. Makes it rather more notable than that silly 3 match post-WC circus in Australia...

Squads named for Bangladesh:

ODI squad: Jos Buttler (captain), Tom Abell, Rehan Ahmed, Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Sam Curran, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

T20 Squad: Jos Buttler (captain), Tom Abell, Rehan Ahmed, Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

Abell to make a debut, potentially, and Ahmed has the chance to underline his credentials in the sub-continent and make a late push. Mahmood and Vince also return.

Duty281 wrote:The Lions are doing some Bazball v Sri Lanka A.

Sri Lanka A were bowled out for a paltry 136, Fisher with 5/34, and the Lions have already amassed 249/3 in 48 overs. Hameed, who's captain, 81 off 109, Lees 56 off 69, and Haines unbeaten with 62 from 72.

The Lions ended up with 467, Haines got a century, but Sri Lanka are 580/3 in the third innings! Some turnaround from only 136 in the first.

Duty281 wrote:...

1) Bairstow 2) ? 3) Root 4) Stokes 5) ? 6) Buttler 7) ? 8) ? 9) Rashid 10) Archer 11) ?

2) Currently held by Roy, but Malan is pushing hard and Salt's in consideration. Jacks a potential wildcard in this position, as is Duckett.
5) Brook at the moment, but not set in stone. Lots of options depending on the balance of the side.
7) Moeen currently has the spot, but Livingstone or Jacks or even Dawson might be the answer.
8) Curran or Woakes or Willey as a further outside shot?
11) Could be Wood, but I think Stone has impressed on his return.

...

I'll be amazed (injuries permitting) if the side that starts the WC does not include Moeen and Sam Curran at 7 and 8. I know Mo's stats don't necessarily make him a sure-fire choice, but his combination of reasonably reliable off spin and rapid scoring (yesterday's innings being a case in point - 40 at better than 10 an over coming in inside the last 10 overs) make him a valuable team member. Curran just seems to be improving and a bit of a lucky player (and there's no harm in that, is there, Messrs Botham and Swann?)
Brook is almost certain to get an extended chance to fill the middle order spot, so the biggest question is over the second opener (assuming YJB is fit) and the last bowling spot. I notice you missed Hales from the list of potential openers.

A wildcard suggestion would be to move Buttler up to open, with Malan at 3 and the other middle order guys shuffling down a spot.

I think Moeen is very likely to be selected, however with his off spin being less reliable and Livingstone being a more powerful hitter with the bat, his place isn't set in stone.

Curran's position is more precarious because England have so many options, though he is leading the race.

I did miss out Hales, yes. He hasn't played a 50-over game for nearly four years and I don't see him elbowing his way back in in the time left, especially with him missing out the Bangladesh tour. I hope Buttler doesn't get moved to open, he does a perfectly sterling job at 4/5.

I think you've got this lineup for the ODI stuff - assuming everyone is fit, and I think it is almost certain Stokes will unretire (he's basically said as much)

1 - Bairstow
2 - Roy/Malan
3 - Root
4 - Stokes
5 - Brook
6 - Buttler
7 - Moeen/Livingstone (Ahmed potential wildcard)
8 - Curran/Woakes
9 - Archer
10 - Rashid
11 - Wood

Think we saw in the T20 World Cup, and mainly through the white ball era...they tend to err towards the batter heavy approach in these tournaments over the extra bowler, hence why I have done so above.

I would be pretty shocked if the opener role doesn't come down to between Roy and Malan.

Root at 3 picks himself, and if he comes back Stokes at 4 too.

Brook you'd think will establish himself at 5, based on his talent and what he has done in the subcontinent so far (clearly a good player of spin!). As Duty mentions, will be plenty of options in the tank if he doesn't...

Moeen and Livingstone makes a lot of sense for that 7 spot...but I do think Ahmed is a real potential wildcard here. They evidently like him a lot, and is it beyond the realms he forces his way in like Archer did in 2019...? I don't think so.

Between Curran and Woakes for that #8 spot...I actually think ideally you go with Woakes here, because his bowling is superior and he's a much better new ball option. As much as I do like Curran, I think Stokes coming back would hurt his chances of making the actual XI...I don't think he's good enough for 10 overs as part of a 4 man bowling attack + Stokes/Moeen as your 5th bowler...but if you don't have Stokes playing you probably play him and Woakes together at 7 and 8, and shift Mo/Livi up to 6 and go a bit more bowler heavy.

Archer and Rashid pick themselves if fit and firing.

I think the last spot will go to Wood, again if fit. Very valuable in those middle overs, especially if you have Archer opening up and ending the innings. I do think Stone can push him hard for this spot though, he's a very solid one day bowler imo

Test squad: Tim Southee (c), Michael Bracewell, Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson, Will Young.

That's New Zealand's squad for the two tests v England. Main news is Jamieson returns from injury. He broke down in last year's Nottingham test, and his comeback from that only started in late January and has consisted of just two T20s and two 50-over games for Auckland, but obviously New Zealand think he's ready for a five-day game.

No Boult for New Zealand, as his career steadily winds down, but Blair Tickner might get a debut test at the age of 29, despite a less than promising FC bowling average of 35, and a tough start in limited-overs international cricket. He's joined by Southee (aged 34), Henry (31), Wagner (36), and the aforementioned Jamieson (28) as the fast bowling options. Oh, New Zealand, where are the youth?

Ajaz Patel and Glenn Phillips have been dropped. Sodhi and Bracewell will provide the spin.

I didn't realise initially, but the first test is a day-nighter with a pink ball...England got rolled for 58 the last time they played a day-nighter in New Zealand! England are currently on a run of five consecutive defeats in day-night tests.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Think we saw in the T20 World Cup, and mainly through the white ball era...they tend to err towards the batter heavy approach in these tournaments over the extra bowler, hence why I have done so above.

A key time they didn't do that though being the 2019 CWC though where they shifted to:

7.Woakes 8.Plunkett 9.Rashid 10.Archer 11.Wood

Still a lot of depth there but not quite the ridiculous depth that was often seen from 2016 to 2019 with Dilly sometimes batting 11 despite having 10 F-C centuries. Admittedly that decision at the CWC was conditions based and had a stronger (or definitely more proven) top 6 ahead of it. Roy was nearer his peak and Morgan still batting very well.

Moeen and Livingstone makes a lot of sense for that 7 spot...but I do think Ahmed is a real potential wildcard here. They evidently like him a lot, and is it beyond the realms he forces his way in like Archer did in 2019...? I don't think so.

One issue with Rehan might be two leggies that bowl a lot of googlies though. They are quite similar bowlers in a way. Having a finger spinner for the option of someone bowling a bit quicker (a reason I like Dawson) when the conditions suit seems more likely to me.

I believe that generally speaking slower spinners have struggled in the IPL when in India but had a lot more success when it was in the UAE. Which is an interesting side note on the likely conditions.

Overall I agree with that assessment above though. In particular that I think it will be between Roy or Malan up top and that I see them backing Brook at 5 hence Buttler sliding back to 6, which I think is where the team look most dangerous using Jos in ODIs. Also the importance of Wood in the middle and Stone's potential in the same role.

To those of you in the UK who can't sleep because of the excitement of England's upcoming tour to Bangladesh...bad news.

Spoiler:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2023/02/03/no-players-now-no-tv-coverage-englands-trip-bangladesh/

England smashed 465 from 69 overs in their two day warm-up, Brook notching five sixes in an over.

Eoin Morgan officially retires from all forms of cricket - a great career, spanning a decade plus (weird to think he was a non-playing member of the two biggest test away series wins of recent times in Australia in 2010/11 and India in 2012!), and has left an indelible mark on English cricket.

Looking forward, and hoping to hear more from him in the broadcasting arena now - thought he was good during the T20 World Cup

Kyle Jamieson ruled out of the test series with a stress fracture of the back, and Matt Henry will miss the first test for the birth of his child. That coupled with Boult's absence, means you're looking at a much weakened NZ seam attack for this pink ball game

I did wonder about Jamieson because he's only recently attempted a comeback. Big loss for NZ and the game as a whole, he's one of my favourite bowlers to watch in full flight.

Leaves a seriously garbage NZ attack for this test. Southee, Wagner, Tickner and one of Sodhi/Duffy/Kuggeleijn (the latter two uncapped seamers with unimpressive FC stats, though Kuggeleijn [controversial for reasons beyond cricket] adds extra batting depth), with Bracewell to bowl a bit as a fifth option.

I think the weather is forecast to be bad for this test as the draw is as short as 7/4 with the odds.

I wouldn't call their seam attack garbage until we've faced them and definitely not collapsed for 50 odd like last time! Southee is a very good bowler for them in home conditions, he could get a few early scalps and then might not need too much help from the others

NZ is up there as one of the weird places that England can’t win over there, as it’s been since 2008 and the Hoggard/Harmy sea song tour by my reckoning since they won a series? It’s not quite touring the West Indies levels of bizarre, as at least NZ have been decent for a long time - and very good recently.

But given England have won in Australia, India and now Pakistan more recently than in NZ, it is a bit odd. And they won’t get a better chance than this.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:I think you've got this lineup for the ODI stuff - assuming everyone is fit, and I think it is almost certain Stokes will unretire (he's basically said as much)

1 - Bairstow
2 - Roy/Malan
3 - Root
4 - Stokes
5 - Brook
6 - Buttler
7 - Moeen/Livingstone (Ahmed potential wildcard)
8 - Curran/Woakes
9 - Archer
10 - Rashid
11 - Wood

Think we saw in the T20 World Cup, and mainly through the white ball era...they tend to err towards the batter heavy approach in these tournaments over the extra bowler, hence why I have done so above.

I would be pretty shocked if the opener role doesn't come down to between Roy and Malan.

Root at 3 picks himself, and if he comes back Stokes at 4 too.

Brook you'd think will establish himself at 5, based on his talent and what he has done in the subcontinent so far (clearly a good player of spin!). As Duty mentions, will be plenty of options in the tank if he doesn't...

Moeen and Livingstone makes a lot of sense for that 7 spot...but I do think Ahmed is a real potential wildcard here. They evidently like him a lot, and is it beyond the realms he forces his way in like Archer did in 2019...? I don't think so.

Between Curran and Woakes for that #8 spot...I actually think ideally you go with Woakes here, because his bowling is superior and he's a much better new ball option. As much as I do like Curran, I think Stokes coming back would hurt his chances of making the actual XI...I don't think he's good enough for 10 overs as part of a 4 man bowling attack + Stokes/Moeen as your 5th bowler...but if you don't have Stokes playing you probably play him and Woakes together at 7 and 8, and shift Mo/Livi up to 6 and go a bit more bowler heavy.

Archer and Rashid pick themselves if fit and firing.

I think the last spot will go to Wood, again if fit. Very valuable in those middle overs, especially if you have Archer opening up and ending the innings. I do think Stone can push him hard for this spot though, he's a very solid one day bowler imo

If anyone should get in the squad it should be Mahmood

Stone 8 wickets at 39.62 l/o 31 at 40.09
Mahmood 14 wickets at 19.92 l/o 64 at 24.14

England side confirmed for the first test (I swear they announce these earlier and earlier lol) - nothing too majorly unexpected I don't think

Duckett
Crawley
Pope
Root
Brook
Stokes
Foakes (wk)
Robinson
Broad
Leach
Anderson

With no Wood and this being the pink ball test, not surprised to see Stone on the bench for this one. Would usually be concerned by the lack of a pace option on a NZ pitch, but the pink ball element and with all the weather that's been around, it surely won't be a usual dead as a dodo NZ pitch?

Well the weather has improved in NZ, so we should be seeing a positive result in this one. The pitch is set to be very green, so NZ's last selection decision seems to be Duffy v Kuggeleijn, with Sodhi ignored. Duffy is having much the better season with the ball, but Kuggeleijn adds greater batting depth. Either way it'll be two debutants in the four man attack.

Referring to JDizzle's post above, not only have England not won a series in NZ since 2008, but they haven't actually won a test in NZ since 2008, with the three subsequent tours yielding two losses and five draws. But draws don't happen anymore to England! Last time NZ played a test at this ground was the bizarre one where they lost to Bangladesh.

England's selection looks to be the right one, it's always good to see Broad and Anderson together.

By the sound and look of things...it will be green, seaming pitches
It will be exciting and equal match...as such pitches prop up average bowlers also into extraordinarily ones.

Money on NZ , because bookies are giving 3 times return on NZ and only 2.5 times on Eng, on what is likely to be an equal match

Sky SPorts said earlier, if Brooks gets a hundred for the 4th test he will match Ken Barrington for the most tons in consecutive games for England & if Anderson & Broad tale 5 wickets between them they will become the most prolific bowling partnership in test history.

I see England as pretty good favourites for this one. They've got the much stronger seam bowling attack and are a side in form and with confidence, unlike NZ who are in decline and approaching two years since they last won a series. NZ perhaps have the better openers, but England look a lot stronger from 3-7, although I am wary of Mitchell and Blundell batting together for 4,000 hours again.

Australia is the higher profile tour for England, and the longer Test series always give more chance for complete and utter meltdowns - but NZ has proved a (un)happy breeding ground for low moments in English cricket.

The 2013 series gave us the twin ton game of two metre Peter Fulton (Test average 25). Not to be topped, 2018 had the debacle of 58 all out and COverton threatening to overturn Charles Bannerman's oldest record in the book, but he fell short at a mere 57%. And England are still feeling the effects of the 2019 tour, where Jofra bowled 42 overs in an innings and his elbow broke - at least I could turn off BJ Watling making a double hundred at a SR of 40. Good, nuggety player but that was impossibly dull.

I will believe it when I see it about the pitch being a green top too - pitches in NZ always look green and then just turn out to be puddings. I feel an away team gets lured into that trap at least once every series.

It would be interesting to see BazBall on a pitch that moves throughout the innings though. It's no fault of England's, but the batch of Duke balls died after 20/30 overs in the summer which meant Eng could play freely and then the pitches in Pakistan where what they were. Be interesting to see how they approach a ball that still moves once we get past 40 overs.

NZ bowling first after winning the toss. Seems both captains were unsure. NZ have picked Kuggeleijn over Duffy, despite Kuggeleijn's atrocious season with the ball in first-class cricket.

650 at stumps, or 58 all out?

Starting on time - amazingly , good weather.

NZ win toss and bowling first : debuts for Tickner and Kuggeleijn - apparently gone for batting depth in preferring the latter over Duffy. England as previously published.

OK , no Boult : but with Southee and Wagner plus the two "unknowns" , I think it would be unwise to assume England will just smash the bowling everywhere as in Rawalpindi. Trust they remember being bowled out for 58 last time and will play as conditions allow. Get a decent score and see what the strong bowling trio can do later ; hopefully engineer a first win here for 15 years ?

Pink ball Tests are hard to predict in terms of when batting gets harder/easier - but one common denominator seems to be England always lose so we should assume nothing !

Good morning , Duty. Staying up for this then ? Could be an "interesting" first session. Will particularly be so to see how Duckett copes with Test Match life outside Asia ? His dismissals in the SA one dayers were a little concerning , I thought.

Maybe just for the first session, these day-night timings aren't particularly kind! Last time in a day-nighter it was 58 all out, but England have never lost a test to New Zealand during the reign of a King...