After a very sunny weekend with friends & family i didn't manage to watch any of the cricket after England's 1st innings (thank goodness!) but i wanted to discuss two key points - Bopara & Finn.
A lot of people feel that Bopara shouldn't be anywhere near the test side & to be honest with you, i have felt like this for some time.
Also, i am a strong admirer of Finn & i think that he should be given a proper run in the test side.
I can't think of anyone who could do any better against this attack (at this moment in time) than Bopara so i would keep him in the side for at least the remainder of the series & evaluate the situation then.
So who misses out a place in the side to accommodate Finn? I can't really pick anyone as i feel that all of their places are justified...
I'm now in a bit of a pickle as the two changes i want to make, i can't!! So this only leaves one solution....
Replace Bopara with Finn??
Cheers
Finn & Bopara??
posted on 25/7/12
Dunc, "people" don't have the level of knowledge that I have within test match cricket. I never worried for one second about Strauss, Cook or Prior. That said, I am very worried about this man Bopara who can't bat and can't bowl. A complete waste of time in my eyes.
He will play in the second test and I guarantee yet another failure. The man is no good.
posted on 25/7/12
You are right Maksi, most people don't have the level of cricketing knowledge you do.
posted on 26/7/12
bopara was bowling quicker than broad Anderson Bresnan at times maksi
posted on 26/7/12
not a cricket expert by any means...but cld we not bring finn in...more arrgession than i see from last line up....
and play bressie lad at 6 in place of poopara.....as an allrounder...or is bressie's batting not upto playing that high in the order....
posted on 26/7/12
Bopara's problem is that he is ODI player who is used to playing with fielding restrictions in place. He seems unaware that most of the time in tests there are slips in place and that fielders can be placed anywhere. But there's no alternative player screaming for his place.
Pietersen has to get his finger out and start playing to the situation and stop putting Bell and Bopara under pressure by stupid get out shots.
The most disappointing bowler for me was Broad. He rarely bowled a threatening ball and showed none of the aggression that has given him wickets in thee past. If Finn comes in, he should replace Broad.
posted on 26/7/12
Yes hopefor, that is definitelfy one of his problems. The other problem he has is that he doesn't know which end of the bat to hold when he is out in the middle.
Let's get rid sharpish.
posted on 26/7/12
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posted on 26/7/12
Bresnan at six. He was looking more than capable at the end of that first test match, and bring in Finn.
Bresnan has a superb test match batting average and is twice the player bopara could ever be.
posted on 26/7/12
Bresnan at 6 is an accident waiting to happen IMO. He is a good solid no8 regardless of how he batted at the oval, when the game was already up.
Surely if you were going to replace Bopara with Finn you would promote Prior to bat at 6 and Bresnan at 7? Although to me that still constitutes a fairly long tail.
Bopara will get the rest of the series I imagine and as vulnerable as he is at the crease tinkering with the team balance would be disastrous.
Unless you have a genuine all-rounder (which we dont) you pick your 6 best batsmen and 4 best bowlers, at the moment Bopara, as worrying as it sounds is one of them.
posted on 26/7/12
100% agree with that . Bopara has the skill but does he have the grit and desire to knuckle down to play along innings? If he doesn't he won't last.
