Alistair Cook. I was wrong.

[James]

Far from Cook being installed as captain being a potentially costly mistake for various reasons (as I suggested), it looks like it could be the making of him. 2 games of positive, inspirational batting from the very first ball of the innings onwards, and solid performances as a fielder and captain. Under the spotlight, his display of extraordinary determination and enthusiasm has been as infectious as it has been exemplary. Who needs Strauss? (joke)

[Geordie Ahmed]

Dont get too excited mate, its Bangladesh - even Yousuf would look like Imran Khan against them

[hashbb]

he might even tell the fielders to actually come inside the stadium and set up an "attacking" field

[Tay'yab-Ali Malik]

Originally Posted by Geordie Ahmed Dont get too excited mate, its Bangladesh - even Yousuf would look like Imran Khan against them

I doubt that. The bangla tigers have more fighting spirit than our pussycats. I will take Tamim Iqbal over Farhat any time.

[cricket_fever]

Originally Posted by Geordie Ahmed Dont get too excited mate, its Bangladesh - even Yousuf would look like Imran Khan against them

lol thats true

[Sledger]

Calm down, its only Bangladesh.

[pakmania]

True though,Cook is defensive personified and struggles with his technique himself,Siddle found that out last year

[Juggernaut]

Originally Posted by Geordie Ahmed Dont get too excited mate, its Bangladesh - even Yousuf would look like Imran Khan against them

I doubt that very much.

Originally Posted by Sledger Calm down, its only Bangladesh.

Credit where credit is due.

Cook seems like the type of player that excels under the extra pressure of captaincy. All the better for England.

[Sledger]

Originally Posted by Juggernaut Credit where credit is due. Cook seems like the type of player that excels under the extra pressure of captaincy. All the better for England.

Credit where its due, but I wouldn't read too much into 2 games against one of the weakest ODI sides.

[BD-fan]

Cook is in a mission to prove the selectors wrong. He got omited from the T20 squad. That is why he is playing or trying to play like this. Nothing wrong with that. A man gotta do what a man gotta do.

[Equinox]

Cook has been the best English batsman on this tour by far. He was wrongly given out in the first ODI when he was looking really good and today although he survived a close LBW shout he went on to make an important contribution when his team was collapsing.

[Equinox]

Dont get too excited mate, its Bangladesh - even Yousuf would look like Imran Khan against them Calm down, its only Bangladesh.

I guess we have to accept these comments until we start winning. Although I personally think Pakistan would have folded for 200 if they were in England's shoes today. But anyway I can't say anything till we actually beat Pakistan.

[kamranO]

Originally Posted by Equinox I guess we have to accept these comments until we start winning. Although I personally think Pakistan would have folded for 200 if they were in England's shoes today. But anyway I can't say anything till we actually beat Pakistan.

do u know u win just 1 match against us till now and because of our generosity your team get test status in 99

so be thankful to us and dont forget how inzi was better then wall in multan

[Robert]

Originally Posted by Whippy Far from Cook being installed as captain being a potentially costly mistake for various reasons (as I suggested), it looks like it could be the making of him.

Gooch got better when they made him skipper, and so did Strauss. Sometimes the captaincy brings out a player's character. Good for Cooky. I think the selectors messed his confidence up by making into an opener when he is a natural English #3, but he did well in the tests in SA and is showing another side to his game in these ODIs.

[Juggernaut]

Originally Posted by Sledger Credit where its due, but I wouldn't read too much into 2 games against one of the weakest ODI sides.

Dude Pakistan is also a very weak ODI side. Would you be saying the same thing if it was Pakistan V England rather than Bangladesh? Just keeping things in perspective.

Originally Posted by Equinox I guess we have to accept these comments until we start winning. Although I personally think Pakistan would have folded for 200 if they were in England's shoes today. But anyway I can't say anything till we actually beat Pakistan.

Agreed. 200? I think Pakistan would have folded for much less.

[Sledger]

Originally Posted by Juggernaut Dude Pakistan is also a very weak ODI side. Would you be saying the same thing if it was Pakistan V England rather than Bangladesh? Just keeping things in perspective.

Err, what sort of comparison is that lol? Pakistan are a proven ODI side, they are former world cup champions and finalists; because their team isn't too hot atm (still better than Bang) does NOT mean you can compare the two. Don't get me wrong, Bangladesh are an ever improving side, but like I've said time and time again, until they string a run of wins under their belts they will always be considered minnows and thus serve as an inefficient yardstick to judge performances of a player.

[Juggernaut]

Originally Posted by Sledger Err, what sort of comparison is that lol? Pakistan are a proven ODI side, they are former world cup champions and finalists; because their team isn't too hot atm (still better than Bang) does NOT mean you can compare the two. Don't get me wrong, Bangladesh are an ever improving side, but like I've said time and time again, until they string a run of wins under their belts they will always be considered minnows and thus serve as an inefficient yardstick to judge performances of a player.

Pakistan are currently a poor ODI side. Hell, they're a poor cricket team full stop. No need to go around in circle's just to avoid that fact.

[Sledger]

Originally Posted by Juggernaut Pakistan are currently a poor ODI side. Hell, they're a poor cricket team full stop. No need to go around in circle's just to avoid that fact.

Right, let's judge teams based on a tunnel visioned approach of a year or so. I'm guessing you had labelled Australia as test minnows after they lost to India, SA and England?

[Sledger]

Originally Posted by Juggernaut Dude Pakistan is also a very weak ODI side. Would you be saying the same thing if it was Pakistan V England rather than Bangladesh? Just keeping things in perspective.

Care to explain how bringing Pakistan in as an example against others' claim against Bangladesh is not a comparison? If this isn't, I'm not sure what is - this thread had nothing to do with Pakistan until you added them in.

More like some Pakistani fans need to stop getting so melodramatic, consistancy has never been Pakistans strength and its funny how these 'quality players' emerge once a few wins come together. Nobody's taking pot shots at Bangladesh without reason, as I've tried to explain to you, these teams need to learn how to walk before they can run. I'm finding it odd how you're STILL trying to base your assumptions on current form rather than the overall scheme of things; Bangladesh have improved in tests recently but they're still the same old side when it comes to ODIs.

Cook deserves credit but the initial point was it came against a poor team, I'm sure the batsman himself would value these runs to have come against Pakistan a lot more which tells you everything really. Just as its said about players that 'form is temporary, class is permanent', the same can be applied to teams. I'm not trying to take away from Bangladesh's POTENTIAL because I think they're always getting better - but it is FACT that at present they are nothing special in limited overs cricket in particular, regardless of Pakistan's own problems.

[Kriketer]

For last few matches Bangladesh have always looked like fighting hard and getting closer to win but just can't hit the final knock to stumble the opposition. Their youngsters are playing pretty well so future looks better for them.

[Amir]

lol, I never quite understand why Bangladeshi fans get so arrogant despite their team winning nothing. Every tour they wave their finger and say just you watch.

I am a big fan of teh Bangladeshi team, want to see them succeed but some of the statements that come out of their fans months is hilarious . First beat Pakistan (without any suspicious activity cough cough), then talk.

[AZ]

Originally Posted by Amir lol, I never quite understand why Bangladeshi fans get so arrogant despite their team winning nothing. Every tour they wave their finger and say just you watch. I am a big fan of teh Bangladeshi team, want to see them succeed but some of the statements that come out of their fans months is hilarious . First beat Pakistan (without any suspicious activity cough cough), then talk.

too true, BD fans need a reality check...their team is still as crap as ever.

[Desi]

Originally Posted by Amir lol, I never quite understand why Bangladeshi fans get so arrogant despite their team winning nothing. Every tour they wave their finger and say just you watch. I am a big fan of teh Bangladeshi team, want to see them succeed but some of the statements that come out of their fans months is hilarious . First beat Pakistan (without any suspicious activity cough cough), then talk.

Have you met Pakistan fans? Reality check...

Originally Posted by Ahmed Zulfiqar too true, BD fans need a reality check...their team is still as crap as ever.

Pak fans have a superiority complex associated with them as well, despite horrid performances. SO in other words --hypocrite.

At least BD is on the way up, can you say the same about Pakistan? Who's the captain again?

[AZ]

Originally Posted by Desi Have you met Pakistan fans? Reality check... Pak fans have a superiority complex associated with them as well, despite horrid performances. SO in other words --hypocrite. At least BD is on the way up, can you say the same about Pakistan? Who's the captain again?

I am very realistic about what our team is capable of, and have stated many times that the team is going to struggle for an extended period, so do check before you go around calling people hypocrites.

that being said, our performances have shown that we are capable of beating the top teas, but the mental toughness is not there for us to get the job done...throughout the last season we have been in winning positions in all our the series, but have choked in the face of pressure.

[Amir]

Originally Posted by Desi Have you met Pakistan fans? Reality check... Pak fans have a superiority complex associated with them as well, despite horrid performances. SO in other words --hypocrite. At least BD is on the way up, can you say the same about Pakistan? Who's the captain again?

Our team is terrible right now, things look bleak but we all know Pakistan can turn it around to a respectable point in a short period. We may be playing like a 2nd class team...but we are not a 3rd class team. Which Bangladesh is. We are not. I may bash this team, but I am at least going to be objective and not just hysterical and think we are all of a sudden worse than a team that wins once every six months. Pakistani fans don't need to be such big sadists.

I am not saying Bangladesh won't beat us. What I am saying is for BD fans to put their money where their mouth is and first do it. Until then, they have no right to be arrogant whatsoever because it makes them look very stupid. They echo the same thing every series before proceeding to receive their usual dosage of beating.

[Desi]

Originally Posted by Amir Our team is terrible right now, things look bleak but we all know Pakistan can turn it around to a respectable point in a short period. We may be playing like a 2nd class team...but we are not a 3rd class team. Which Bangladesh is. We are not. I may bash this team, but I am at least going to be objective and not just hysterical and think we are all of a sudden worse than a team that wins once every six months. Pakistani fans don't need to be such big sadists. I am not saying Bangladesh won't beat us. What I am saying is for BD fans to put their money where their mouth is and first do it. Until then, they have no right to be arrogant whatsoever because it makes them look very stupid. They echo the same thing every series before proceeding to receive their usual dosage of beating.

Originally Posted by Ahmed Zulfiqar I am very realistic about what our team is capable of, and have stated many times that the team is going to struggle for an extended period, so do check before you go around calling people hypocrites. that being said, our performances have shown that we are capable of beating the top teas, but the mental toughness is not there for us to get the job done...throughout the last season we have been in winning positions in all our the series, but have choked in the face of pressure.

Pakistan's performances aside for a second, let's just look at BD. Over the years they have grown much more arrogant, and their fans have too. That's not a subjective statement at all. They have also been improving at a recognizable and respectable rate, which isn't a subjective statement either. If they want to, one day, have a decent cricket team why should they change what they're doing?

[AZ]

Originally Posted by Desi Pakistan's performances aside for a second, let's just look at BD. Over the years they have grown much more arrogant, and their fans have too. That's not a subjective statement at all. They have also been improving at a recognizable and respectable rate, which isn't a subjective statement either. If they want to, one day, have a decent cricket team why should they change what they're doing?

I do remember you were the one who brought Pakistan and their fans into the discussion...fitting that you would put it aside now I guess.

The last time one truly saw some big strides made by the BD team was in the 2007 WC, when they had the 2 massive wins against India and RSA...but since then, they have done nothing of note...even their overseas Test win was against a West Indies C team...I can't see their "improvement" at all.

[rumman007]

Originally Posted by Amir Our team is terrible right now, things look bleak but we all know Pakistan can turn it around to a respectable point in a short period. We may be playing like a 2nd class team...but we are not a 3rd class team. Which Bangladesh is. We are not. I may bash this team, but I am at least going to be objective and not just hysterical and think we are all of a sudden worse than a team that wins once every six months. Pakistani fans don't need to be such big sadists. I am not saying Bangladesh won't beat us. What I am saying is for BD fans to put their money where their mouth is and first do it. Until then, they have no right to be arrogant whatsoever because it makes them look very stupid. They echo the same thing every series before proceeding to receive their usual dosage of beating.

This is the arrogance element Imran Khan instilled in Pakistanis .It did work for quite a long time as long as they were winning till Inzamam retired(The last cricketer from that famous 1992 world cup side).But not any more.Pakistanis want to believe that (as Imran Khan all ways mentions in every interview)they are the most talented side in the world.The problem with this statement is that the talent is available in every corner of the world not just Pakistan.
If you see the recent bunch of Pakistan cricketers it does not take long to know the truth.
Please dont use my post as a platform to bash Bangladesh here.I am just stating what I and I am sure many of you could see.

[Sledger]

^ That is true, Pakistani fans think they have a birth right to win every game, and when they lose it's match-fixing or time to toast some effigies.

[Sledger]

I was referring to the incline of Bangladesh, not the decline of Pakistan.

I don't think I'm the one avoiding anything, I'm sure even most level headed Bangladeshi supporters would agree your comparison is absolutely absurd. Why are you happily 'avoiding the fact' that Bangladesh have NEVER had a downward spiral because they have never strung together performances in the first place, unlike Pakistan? Don't see how you can defend this comparison, I mean its mindless to compare a former world cup winning side to a team which are considered to be amongst the weakest in international cricket. As bad as Pakistan are, they've faced the best side and been thrashed - and as far as I remember, last time Bangladesh and Pakistan faced each other, it was a no contest.

[Juggernaut]

Originally Posted by Sledger I was referring to the incline of Bangladesh, not the decline of Pakistan. I don't think I'm the one avoiding anything, I'm sure even most level headed Bangladeshi supporters would agree your comparison is absolutely absurd. Why are you happily 'avoiding the fact' that Bangladesh have NEVER had a downward spiral because they have never strung together performances in the first place, unlike Pakistan? Don't see how you can defend this comparison, I mean its mindless to compare a former world cup winning side to a team which are considered to be amongst the weakest in international cricket. As bad as Pakistan are, they've faced the best side and been thrashed - and as far as I remember, last time Bangladesh and Pakistan faced each other, it was a no contest.

LOL

I never compared Bangladesh and Pakistan. What I said was just because Alistair Cook's recent performances as captain and batsman were against Bangladesh you decide that he deserves little or no credit!

Pakistan fans need to come back down to Earth instead of maligning the likes of Bangladesh and New Zealand.

Our team is poor. We have very few quality players. And yet everyone's quick to take pot shots at Bangladesh even though our own situation is pretty bad. Bangladesh may have never reached the heady heights that Pakistan have but the fact that we fallen so far from where we were makes our recent performances even more humiliating.

[PerfectionPersonified]

cook has cooked Sri lanka again

[*sallu*]

Seriousy whippy, you make too many threads (contradicting ones) on cook

[James]

2006 - might be a flat track bully
2007 - sorting it out
2010 - did well in captaincy and has improved
2011 - world-class

I've done alright I reckonnn

[Sherlock]

World Class? I wouldn't go that far.

[James]

We're warming you to him though aren't we?

[Justcrazy]

Cook is as solid as you can get. He is someone who can get upto 14 - 15 k runs.

[Sherlock]

Actually not really. Cook is without doubt a decent player, His best series has been against Australia and SL, both of which have got poor bowling by Test's standards.

The Ashes series was impressive batting, very good, but against pretty sub-standard bowling. The less we talk about SL the better.

He struggles against decent-to-good bowling sides. Against Pakistan he was poor, barring 1 hundred in which he was very lucky. Good player, but World Class is pushing it.

[Robert]

Originally Posted by Sherlock The Ashes series was impressive batting, very good, but against pretty sub-standard bowling.

I don't know why some people think the Aussie bowling is weak. It isn't.

[James]

Got a hundred at the WACA v the greats and a hundred in Sri Lanka when they were good. Got a match-winning ton in Durban v Steyn and co. Also got a 60 and a ton in his debut test in India, surely unheard of for a white player. None of the top players got where they were without plundering lots of rubbish bowling either. I think he might just be up there but I'm still not positive. Might be an FTB albeit a darn good one.

[James]

Everyone had failed to make them look weak until we went Down Under. Australia were still beating most teams in test cricket and got within one wicket of drawing the series in India 1-1.

[DHONI183]

Originally Posted by Whippy Everyone had failed to make them look weak until we went Down Under.

Hadn´t South Africa beaten them in Australia prior to the Ashes 2010/11? Also Pakistan drew with them 1-1 at a neutral venue and India beat them twice in the recent two series.

Not undermining England´s wonderful Ashes win, but cannot comprehend that so easily.

Originally Posted by Whippy Australia were still beating most teams in test cricket and got within one wicket of drawing the series in India 1-1.

Yeah, just like they would have drawn 2-2 in England back in 2009 if they had taken the last wicket in Cardiff on the last day.

Again, Not undermining anything but this logic does not quite help the cause.

The cracks in the Australian team weren´t made to appear by the English side only.

My humble opinion only!

[shahidafridi123]

He's my favourite player!

[DHONI183]

As a side not, wonderful going by Alistair Cook over a year or so. Unlucky to have missed out on a century in the first innings here. However, I have to admit that I don´t quite enjoy his batting........

Let´s see how he goes in ODIs having been made the captain.

[ads101]

now all we need is a similar thread on ajmal

[Sherlock]

Robert, I'm sure you like many English fans weren't so bothered by the Aussies bowling lineup when England were taking them on.

At the time and still to this day, that is a pretty poor bowling lineup.

Siddle - Tries hard, I trick pony with the ball

Bollinger - Like Siddle gives it everything, in Tests, simply not good enough

Johnson - Where to start, too wayward to warrant a spot in Tests

Hilfenhaus - Good bowler, probably Aussies best spearhead, but nothing England haven't seen before.

That's a poor lineup.

[Robert]

Originally Posted by Sherlock Robert, I'm sure you like many English fans weren't so bothered by the Aussies bowling lineup when England were taking them on. At the time and still to this day, that is a pretty poor bowling lineup. Siddle - Tries hard, I trick pony with the ball Bollinger - Like Siddle gives it everything, in Tests, simply not good enough Johnson - Where to start, too wayward to warrant a spot in Tests Hilfenhaus - Good bowler, probably Aussies best spearhead, but nothing England haven't seen before. That's a poor lineup.

I was bothered all right. I was amazed that they couldn't bowl England out on their own tracks in front of their own crowds, except at Perth. Right up to the last test, I thought they would halve the series.

I put the win down to brilliant England batting, not weak Aussie bowling.

Anyway, Chef now has 18 test hundreds, aged just 26......

[Sir_Afridi]

& says hi to Cook

[malakian]

Originally Posted by Sir_Afridi & says hi to Cook

I'm sure Cook will wave back when they're both locked up.

[Sherlock]

Originally Posted by Robert I was bothered all right. I was amazed that they couldn't bowl England out on their own tracks in front of their own crowds, except at Perth. Right up to the last test, I thought they would halve the series. I put the win down to brilliant England batting, not weak Aussie bowling. Anyway, Chef now has 18 test hundreds, aged just 26......

No offence but, Australia are partly to blame for England's win mate.

[Robert]

Originally Posted by Sherlock No offence but, Australia are partly to blame for England's win mate.

They didn;t have a spinner and made some silly selections such as Doherty, but otherwise I think that was a pretty strong side on paper.

[Taurus]

I think Alastair Cook is the least of the flat-track bullies in the whole England team. His technique is imperfect, but even prior to his 'golden run' that he seems to be on at present, he has made some of the tougher centuries I have seen from Englishmen still in the side. I would point to a match-winning innings in Durban during a series where most of the English batsmen were woeful - including Jonathan Trott - and a better innings in Galle, a match-saving innings after we had been rolled over the first time around for a sub-100 score. The problem has always been that he has looked a bit out-of-form even when he's in form. He's largely unattractive, and even at present, his methodology seems ugly to the point of the method being almost a form of madness. It's always easy to dismiss the feat of any batsman in terms of run-scoring as being flat-track bullyism of the highest order. In this instance, it is inarguable that Cook has cashed in at a time when the opposition is mediocre, but it should be noted that he has played some very tough innings in the past, including the one that started this run - the 110 at The Oval against a very good attack at a time when he was woefully out of form.

He's a good solid batsman and as an English opener usually finds himself exposed to the worst of the conditions. Most feats of consistency on the same scale as this are fulfilled either by middle-order batsmen or batsmen from the sub-continent. Cook is slightly disadvantaged as an opener who faces tough conditions against the new ball, so I'm happy that the way he is going about things at the moment is deserving of the description 'extraordinary'. Whether he can continue to be a very good batsman, I don't know, but an opener who averages in the high 40s is doing very well for himself, especially an English opener who by nature will usually play in swinging conditions more often than a lot of other opening batsmen.

[asifp]

He probably won't last five overs againt Mohd Aamer, as Aamer can move the ball away from the left hander even if the trajectory is towards the pads

[Sledger]

No, he'll last five years.

[Easa]

Originally Posted by Sledger No, he'll last five years.

King.

[VolcanicAsh]

A FTB in the true sense of the word, lets see how he copes in the Sub Continent and Africa before we turn on the English hype machine and exaggerate his contributions.

[James]

Originally Posted by VolcanicAsh A FTB in the true sense of the word, lets see how he copes in the Sub Continent and Africa before we turn on the English hype machine and exaggerate his contributions.

if his home record is strong then his away record is mad.


in Africa 2009-2010 4 7 0 287 118 41.00 625 45.92 1 2 0 31 0

in Asia 2006-2010 9 18 2 924 173 57.75 1910 48.37 4 5 1 98 2


sample: 4 tests in SA, 4 in India, 3 in Sri Lanka and 2 in Bangladesh.

you lose.

[Robert]

Originally Posted by Whippy in Africa 2009-2010 4 7 0 287 118 41.00 625 45.92 1 2 0 31 0 in Asia 2006-2010 9 18 2 924 173 57.75 1910 48.37 4 5 1 98 2 sample: 4 tests in SA, 4 in India, 3 in Sri Lanka and 2 in Bangladesh. you lose.

Class.

[Usman]

All I will say is remember Cook v Asif and Aamer. Even that century he did get was one of the flukest ever. The lack of any decent bowling in the world is now aiding all batsmen.

[James]

ah when people try and demean one of the most comprehensive victories by an away team in Australia of all time ... makes me laugh

[Robert]

Originally Posted by Whippy ah when people try and demean one of the most comprehensive victories by an away team in Australia of all time ... makes me laugh

Quite. Nobody has handed a beating like that to Australia since the Windies in the eighties.

But because 'people' can't cope with the idea that England are now good at test cricket, they have to find another excuse and so rubbish the Aussies instead.

[Sherlock]

Who is demeaning England's victory against Australia exactly? Do grow up the pair of you. I've noticed when someone opposes what you say, you go OTT with your reaction. Nothing changes I see.

I said Australia's bowling was poor, no-one in their right mind would doubt that, except you I guess.

England deserved the victories and the Ashes success Full Stop.

Jeez you sound like the same fans you stuff your noses up to.

[Robert]

Originally Posted by Sherlock I said Australia's bowling was poor, no-one in their right mind would doubt that, except you I guess.

It was good enough to destroy us at Perth. Were we in our right minds there, but not otherwise?

[Sherlock]

Originally Posted by Robert It was good enough to destroy us at Perth. Were we in our right minds there, but not otherwise?

If I'm correct, that was the game where Johnson started inswinging the ball to the right-handers.

He destroyed the English batting. But that was down to really good bowling and poor technique from the batsmen.

Did he do it again in the 4th or 5th match, NO.

No matter how you say it, Australia have/had a very poor bowling lineup in the Ashes. For goodness sake even Bangladesh beat you, should we celebrate their bowling??!!

[Robert]

Originally Posted by Sherlock No matter how you say it, Australia have/had a very poor bowling lineup in the Ashes.

I think that Aussie attack would do well against most teams. They just happened to run into a very strong England batting line. Then their team succumbed to a combo of good bowling and scoreboard pressure.

For goodness sake even Bangladesh beat you, should we celebrate their bowling??!!

We are talking about tests. Nobody claims that England are much cop at ODIs.

[James]

Yeah it wasn't the best bowling ever but how come nobody else has done what we did? Maybe just maybe Cook is that good and Trott is that good and Anderson is that good and England are that good.

[Sherlock]

Originally Posted by Whippy Yeah it wasn't the best bowling ever but how come nobody else has done what we did? Maybe just maybe Cook is that good and Trott is that good and Anderson is that good and England are that good.

Why are you saying "We?"

My case was Cook's batting against poor bowling, not belittling England's victories down under.

I'm a England supporter too. Doesn't mean I can't disagree with differing points of view, without bashing them.

Btw SA beat Australia there too. The same SA that you laugh at.

[Pakprideuk]

He is a very good player, you cannot keep bringing up the arguement of scoring against poor bowling attacks, if he is doing it time after time, he has serious class, it is not easy making one 100 let alone all these he is making recently.

He seems a lot more confident and i have seen him leave the ball very well outside his off-stump which he used to poke at a lot before, it is all about confidence for him.

[talha3]

I would agree that he's world class. If he's not world class then there are very few batsman in international cricket currently who are.

Yes Asif and Amir made him look like chris martin (exaggeration), but they were special bowlers.

He's only 4 centuries away from most by an english batsman in test cricket...ever!

[James]

not sure about him either. I can't see him being considered in the class of some of the players he will sail past records-wise, for example. However, 750 runs in 7 innings in Aussie is pretty epic whether you do it against Kylie and Danni or Warne and McGrath.

[James]

we beat them in Oz better than SA beat them. and we beat them home and away. SA's win in Oz was partly cancelled out when they lost to them a few months later in SA. who lets Phil Hughes and Mitchell Johnson run riot against them anyway? no matter how hard one tries one cannot stick up for South African cricket, it's just too amusing.

[SempreSami]

Originally Posted by Whippy we beat them in Oz better than SA beat them. and we beat them home and away. SA's win in Oz was partly cancelled out when they lost to them a few months later in SA. who lets Phil Hughes and Mitchell Johnson run riot against them anyway? no matter how hard one tries one cannot stick up for South African cricket, it's just too amusing.

Balderdash Whippy, that South Africa side managed to beat us as well. Who lets a side known for psychological frailty run riot in your own back garden?

[James]

Originally Posted by SempreSami Balderdash Whippy, that South Africa side managed to beat us as well. Who lets a side known for psychological frailty run riot in your own back garden?

While ago now, when we were handicapped by Vaughan, Pattinson (!) and Flintoff. Moment we sorted ourselves out we won the final test easily enough, and rinsed the one-dayers. I don't know who's better but we do seem to be their bogey team, won 8 out the last 9 ODIs against them or something.

The 1-1 in SA is a fairer reflection of where the two sides stand right now: England can't play bounce but otherwise resilient and skilled, South Africa capable of brilliance but still failing to get over the finishing line.

[malakian]

Bangladesh have never beat us in a test match, what you on about?

[Sherlock]

Originally Posted by cricfan2008 Bangladesh have never beat us in a test match, what you on about?

I'm talking about the ODI matches. Get your head out of the sand.

[malakian]

Originally Posted by Sherlock I'm talking about the ODI matches. Get your head out of the sand.

Just swallow your pride and admit that England are an awesome side.

[Sherlock]

Originally Posted by cricfan2008 Just swallow your pride and admit that England are an awesome side.

Do you even read my replies, or are you just being ignorant?

Where did I say England are a poor team. Read my other replies in different threads to actually know how I feel about England.

I'm replying to certain users on here about the Aussies bowling lineup.

England are a very good team, possibly barring India. But all shall be revealed this summer. I expect England to win and thus be the best team in the World.

[SempreSami]

Originally Posted by cricfan2008 Just swallow your pride and admit that England are an awesome side.

We aren't an awesome side until the likes of Broad start pulling their weight.

[DHONI183]

For the English fans, I will have to admit that it was a brilliant performance from their team to win the last Ashes.

[Sherlock]

England are a very good team, if they beat India, I don't think anyone could doubt how good they are.