You think Stokes would back a ‘really poor’ bowler like that? He’s just bowled the bulk of the overs on the flatest wicket you could see mostly against Gill playing a chance less, brilliant innings. His economy and control was good as it was in the first innings of the first test when Woakes and Tongue were off it. He did a good job for the team.
Bethell isn’t going to play as our main line spinner in Australia. You can’t only look at a match figure for a bowler and decide he’s rubbish. Besides, if you look at how he has done for England it’s decent. I think he’s going to get better too.
Sorry I usually agree with you on cricket,but Bashir has been poor in this series. Stoakes may back him however that doesn’t mean he can’t be questioned. We can’t go into the ashes with him as our main spinner, he’s not good enough, you can see why his county haven’t preferred him to the other options. His average is very poor at first class level.
It may have been flippant of me to say root is better but he’s certainly more threatening, Bashir was so easy to play for India it wasn’t a contest against the actual batsmen, was the same in the first test.
I wouldn’t use bethell as the main spinner so not sure why that’s mentioned
I’d do all I could to get Liam Dawson in the squad
Someone else mentioned Bethell. I can tell you that today, none of the England bowlers looked remotely dangerous. Root is ok as an occasional spinner and that’s it
It’s a big ask for a spinner to bowl on days one and 2 on pitches like this. He’s done ok with his economy and keeping it within bounds. How do you the Jadeja did first test?
Bashir isn’t poor and he’ll be in Australia.
I’m watching it, no one has bowled well, I’d agree. Apart from India so far! Good old scoreboard pressure
So far in this series Bashir hasn’t showed me anything to suggest he will make a huge difference in the ashes, and we need a good spinner down there.
As I said, the fact he’s never really done it at county level is a worry for me. He’s very green.
Everyone bar Brook has a similar economy rate, appreciate he’s held an end but I’m not just basing my view on this innings, I just don’t think he’s up to it. Sorry that you disagree, that’s fine
30-3 on a flat wicket. We have truly had an all time stinker or a day here. No aggression, intensity, or positivity all afternoon, going through the motions, now paying the price for it with the bat
It’s certainly not been great. We bowled pretty well yesterday but today not so much - Gill and Jadeja (who is a very good player) were a big part of that. Agree that unusually for a Stokes team we seem to lose the plot pretty badly. That’s one of the reasons I defend Bashir, he did keep going.
Looking forward to today.These 2 in now need a good partnership. Stuart Broad said on Wednesday that he expects the ball to start swinging on Day 3.It should be a belter.
I think we go on to lose this match to be honest.
I was there on Wednesday, and when we had them at 211 for 5 I thought we had a real chance, but Gill and Jadeja batted superbly.
Somehow, we've got to get up to at least the follow-on number, but I just can't see it.
Unfortunately I feel similar.
I was there Wednesday and when Woakes bowled Nitish so quickly after Pant went, Edgbaston was expectant. It felt like another wicket in the next half hour would have us in a place to knock em over for 300ish. Great credit to Jadeja and Gill was supreme.
It looks like we’ll have to bat well all day just to avoid the follow on and the morning session will possibly indicate if that’s possible.
Unbelievable start for India. Excellent ball to Stokes that
Seen enough I’m off to the twelfth man until India bat
Unbelievable start from India. What a shocking match so far for us