comment by Warrior (U10140)
posted 1 hour, 29 minutes ago
Top 4 in World test championship

1) India
2) Aus
3) Pakistan
4) South Africa

India had the benefit of playing most matches at home
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So seems like Aus are playing in Jupiter these days? Or have I missed something. You understand that teams have to play 3 home series and 3 away or have you deliberately avoided that bit of information?

Anyway unlike other teams, India don’t lose easily at home, same with Aus. That is why both of these teams are more less going to fight it out for the WTC trophy in Lords. Eng on the other hand keep on losing matches irrespective of which teams they play. I won’t be suprised if they lose a match here and there in their home series next summer

comment by virudagreat- beating India in india is ..... (U8738)
posted 24 minutes ago
comment by Warrior (U10140)
posted 1 hour, 29 minutes ago
Top 4 in World test championship

1) India
2) Aus
3) Pakistan
4) South Africa

India had the benefit of playing most matches at home
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So seems like Aus are playing in Jupiter these days? Or have I missed something. You understand that teams have to play 3 home series and 3 away or have you deliberately avoided that bit of information?

Anyway unlike other teams, India don’t lose easily at home, same with Aus. That is why both of these teams are more less going to fight it out for the WTC trophy in Lords. Eng on the other hand keep on losing matches irrespective of which teams they play. I won’t be suprised if they lose a match here and there in their home series next summer
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This guy never stops spouting nonsense Viru.

Also, Anderson needs to just retire now. He's got nothing to prove, don't know why he's still pushing.

Let Jimmy have a couple of years playing for Lancashire. Suspect he will retire after next summer though.

"Burns has faced 1845 balls and scored 817 runs in 2019, each the best among openers from all countries, though he has also played the most games. Mayank Agarwal (754 runs and 1277 balls faced) is closest in both respects."

Obviously Agarwal has a much better strike rate but I daresay his figures might have dropped if he'd played an Ashes series. Either way, well done Rory

https://www.wisden.com/series-stories/south-africa-v-england/stats-rory-burns-on-verge-of-joining-elite-club-of-england-openers

comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
"Burns has faced 1845 balls and scored 817 runs in 2019, each the best among openers from all countries, though he has also played the most games. Mayank Agarwal (754 runs and 1277 balls faced) is closest in both respects."

Obviously Agarwal has a much better strike rate but I daresay his figures might have dropped if he'd played an Ashes series. Either way, well done Rory
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Because an Ashes series is the benchmark for batting and bowling excellence is it?

Nobody outside of Australia and England care about the Ashes.

And I wonder what his balls faced and runs scored would look like if he played a 5 match series on some turning wickets in the subcontinent..

comment by VK18 (U22300)
posted 8 hours, 23 minutes ago
comment by virudagreat- beating India in india is ..... (U8738)
posted 24 minutes ago
comment by Warrior (U10140)
posted 1 hour, 29 minutes ago
Top 4 in World test championship

1) India
2) Aus
3) Pakistan
4) South Africa

India had the benefit of playing most matches at home
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So seems like Aus are playing in Jupiter these days? Or have I missed something. You understand that teams have to play 3 home series and 3 away or have you deliberately avoided that bit of information?

Anyway unlike other teams, India don’t lose easily at home, same with Aus. That is why both of these teams are more less going to fight it out for the WTC trophy in Lords. Eng on the other hand keep on losing matches irrespective of which teams they play. I won’t be suprised if they lose a match here and there in their home series next summer
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This guy never stops spouting nonsense Viru.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So far, India has played most their games at home. Internet aggression is bad for health

comment by VK18 (U22300)
posted 7 hours, 47 minutes ago
comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
"Burns has faced 1845 balls and scored 817 runs in 2019, each the best among openers from all countries, though he has also played the most games. Mayank Agarwal (754 runs and 1277 balls faced) is closest in both respects."

Obviously Agarwal has a much better strike rate but I daresay his figures might have dropped if he'd played an Ashes series. Either way, well done Rory
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Because an Ashes series is the benchmark for batting and bowling excellence is it?

Nobody outside of Australia and England care about the Ashes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Wowee. Touchy.

I think it's fair to say Aus at home have a dangerous bowling attack and a newbie from India would have a tougher time there than against the Windies or on his home tracks.

Point being, Agarwal has had an excellent start to his test career but I think he needs to bat on some quicker pitches against some stronger attacks before he can be fully judged.

Like I have said I have stopped bothering.. Only have an opinion now..
And the whole England test cricket set up stinks.
The employ a fat coach who cant be bothered to get fit. what kinda message does that send to the rest of em? Bairstow looks like hes been in the café more than the gym
Its to EASY,same with Root has captain. hes the leader. "hes gonna change everything around". Only thing that's changed since be became captain, is his test record which in plummeting.
England need to stop being soft with everyone and get on with it.

Anyone who thinks it gonna change soon.Its not. Only reason England are in with a chance is because SA are poor themselves. and SA will still win the series.
I still go back to the test match against Ireland at home in early Summer. They nearly lost to IRELAND if It wasn't for a 92 from Jack Leach.
Diabolical bunch of failures. with no real leadership

Your ramblings really come across as a person who has stopped bothering.

I sense we'll go with 4 seamers again as it wasn't a lack of a spinner which cost us so Pope for Bairstow will probably be the only change if he's healthy.

comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 2 hours, 54 minutes ago
comment by VK18 (U22300)
posted 7 hours, 47 minutes ago
comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
"Burns has faced 1845 balls and scored 817 runs in 2019, each the best among openers from all countries, though he has also played the most games. Mayank Agarwal (754 runs and 1277 balls faced) is closest in both respects."

Obviously Agarwal has a much better strike rate but I daresay his figures might have dropped if he'd played an Ashes series. Either way, well done Rory
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Because an Ashes series is the benchmark for batting and bowling excellence is it?

Nobody outside of Australia and England care about the Ashes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Wowee. Touchy.

I think it's fair to say Aus at home have a dangerous bowling attack and a newbie from India would have a tougher time there than against the Windies or on his home tracks.

Point being, Agarwal has had an excellent start to his test career but I think he needs to bat on some quicker pitches against some stronger attacks before he can be fully judged.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Much like Burns who needs to spend a bit of time in the subcontinent and face some spin.

comment by Warrior (U10140)
posted 7 hours, 48 minutes ago
comment by VK18 (U22300)
posted 8 hours, 23 minutes ago
comment by virudagreat- beating India in india is ..... (U8738)
posted 24 minutes ago
comment by Warrior (U10140)
posted 1 hour, 29 minutes ago
Top 4 in World test championship

1) India
2) Aus
3) Pakistan
4) South Africa

India had the benefit of playing most matches at home
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So seems like Aus are playing in Jupiter these days? Or have I missed something. You understand that teams have to play 3 home series and 3 away or have you deliberately avoided that bit of information?

Anyway unlike other teams, India don’t lose easily at home, same with Aus. That is why both of these teams are more less going to fight it out for the WTC trophy in Lords. Eng on the other hand keep on losing matches irrespective of which teams they play. I won’t be suprised if they lose a match here and there in their home series next summer
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This guy never stops spouting nonsense Viru.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So far, India has played most their games at home. Internet aggression is bad for health
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Go away, you're boring.

comment by VK18 (U22300)
posted 2 hours, 40 minutes ago
comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 2 hours, 54 minutes ago
comment by VK18 (U22300)
posted 7 hours, 47 minutes ago
comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
"Burns has faced 1845 balls and scored 817 runs in 2019, each the best among openers from all countries, though he has also played the most games. Mayank Agarwal (754 runs and 1277 balls faced) is closest in both respects."

Obviously Agarwal has a much better strike rate but I daresay his figures might have dropped if he'd played an Ashes series. Either way, well done Rory
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Because an Ashes series is the benchmark for batting and bowling excellence is it?

Nobody outside of Australia and England care about the Ashes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Wowee. Touchy.

I think it's fair to say Aus at home have a dangerous bowling attack and a newbie from India would have a tougher time there than against the Windies or on his home tracks.

Point being, Agarwal has had an excellent start to his test career but I think he needs to bat on some quicker pitches against some stronger attacks before he can be fully judged.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Much like Burns who needs to spend a bit of time in the subcontinent and face some spin.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm not sure what point you think you're proving. Burns made his debut in Sri Lanka but that's hardly relevant to how well he did in 2019, which is all I was originally saying.

comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by VK18 (U22300)
posted 2 hours, 40 minutes ago
comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 2 hours, 54 minutes ago
comment by VK18 (U22300)
posted 7 hours, 47 minutes ago
comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
"Burns has faced 1845 balls and scored 817 runs in 2019, each the best among openers from all countries, though he has also played the most games. Mayank Agarwal (754 runs and 1277 balls faced) is closest in both respects."

Obviously Agarwal has a much better strike rate but I daresay his figures might have dropped if he'd played an Ashes series. Either way, well done Rory
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Because an Ashes series is the benchmark for batting and bowling excellence is it?

Nobody outside of Australia and England care about the Ashes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Wowee. Touchy.

I think it's fair to say Aus at home have a dangerous bowling attack and a newbie from India would have a tougher time there than against the Windies or on his home tracks.

Point being, Agarwal has had an excellent start to his test career but I think he needs to bat on some quicker pitches against some stronger attacks before he can be fully judged.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Much like Burns who needs to spend a bit of time in the subcontinent and face some spin.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm not sure what point you think you're proving. Burns made his debut in Sri Lanka but that's hardly relevant to how well he did in 2019, which is all I was originally saying.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- You automatically assumed Agarwal's figures would be worse had he played an "Ashes series" (whatever that means).

I'm saying so would Burns' figures had he played any matches in the subcontinent (in 2019). Not really rocket science.

*Sigh*

Since you are determined to miss my point I will spell it out as plainly as possible.

Agarwal has played three series in 2019. Windies (a) and two home series against South Africa and Bangladesh.

The home series are, relatively speaking, easier for a player used to subcontinental conditions and pitches. Particularly Bangladesh, who aren't great. He averaged 128.5 in two innings against BAN, 85 in 4 innings against RSA and only 20 against Windies across 4 innings, the only series in unfamiliar conditions.

I think it is therefore safe to say that, early in his career, he has been less successful when outside his home country. Plenty of time to come good, but a safe assumption that his figures would be impacted by facing hostile pace bowling on quick pitches, like for example the sort faced by England teams in Ashes series.

Burns, meanwhile, hasn't played on the subcontinent this year, you're quite right. But he's still had a good 2019, increasing his average steadily throughout a year which has included a tough away series in NZ where he averaged over 60, and now another away series in RSA, both of which are unfamiliar.

I'm aware there's mitigating factors affecting both players' figures, but I would argue that Burns has faced a wider and tougher variety of opponents and conditions than Agarwal, relatively speaking. Either way, both have had excellent years and both are clearly at the top of the tree as far as openers are concerned in test cricket right now.

Does that help?

What a load of old tosh.

Agarwal also faced the "hostile pace bowling on quick pitches" in December and January against Australia where he averaged 65.

OK, fair enough. I hadn't seen that.

Still not my point, though, which was quoting Wisden that said Burns has scored more runs and faced more deliveries than any other test opener in 2019.

I can see you feel the need to defend Agarwal, which is fine. But that doesn't mean Burns hasn't also had a good year, does it.

comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 22 hours, 57 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 1 hour, 56 minutes ago
Not sure how Stokes got Sportsmen of the Year, he has been part of a team that lost the Ashes, lost the series in New Zealand and now lost a test match in South Africa.

One good display in what is like a mickey mouse form of the game, is that really good enough to give him a gong and Sportsman of the Year. Not in my book.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Averages almost 50 in tests in 2019 and almost 60 in ODIs.

The WC final was absolutely heroic and the Headingley Ashes innings was the greatest of all time as most pundits will agree.

England didn't lose the Ashes.

And SPOTY is an individual award, not a team one. Besides, it's utterly meaningless.

Other than that, yeah, great post
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I missed this but no shock to see LWE unable to give Stokes any sort of credit. The guy is determined to bash Stokes at any opportunity.

The guy is our best player and has matured into a brilliant all round cricketer. Currently, he's probably the only player we have who could get into any other side.

comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 20 minutes ago
OK, fair enough. I hadn't seen that.

Still not my point, though, which was quoting Wisden that said Burns has scored more runs and faced more deliveries than any other test opener in 2019.

I can see you feel the need to defend Agarwal, which is fine. But that doesn't mean Burns hasn't also had a good year, does it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm not necessarily defending Agarwal, it could be anyone for that matter.

Of course Burns has had a good year, I'm not disputing that at all. I just don't agree with your presumption that performing on fast wickets against quick bowlers is what defines how good a batsman you are.

I don't understand why people downplay a spinner's record in the subcontinent because they're "spin friendly" wickets when the same can be extrapolated for seamers playing in England, NZ, SA and Australia. The same argument holds true for batsmen.

comment by virudagreat- beating India in india is ..... (U8738)
posted 23 hours ago
If SA can keep the talent in SA, then I am confident that they can come out of this mess. Already with some legends roped in to look after their key positions is a step forward.

Now only hope that England manage to change their rules and stop poaching some of their players via kolpak.

England’s bowling is a joke tbh. They have no plan whatsoever. This team are due to tour India in 2021 and there is no spinner in sight. Neither will pacers like Anderson and Broad who bowl at mid 120s be enough to trouble India in India.

If Eng don’t sort their bowling out, I can see both Kohli in 2021 and Smith in next ashes breaking some historical records. Batting is obviously a concern, but this bowling will not trouble any good teams.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Which young talent have they lost to England?

Seems to be the older guys taking kolpak deals to make a good last cheque before retirement?

comment by VK18 जय हिन्द (U22300)
posted 7 hours, 47 minutes ago
comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 20 minutes ago
OK, fair enough. I hadn't seen that.

Still not my point, though, which was quoting Wisden that said Burns has scored more runs and faced more deliveries than any other test opener in 2019.

I can see you feel the need to defend Agarwal, which is fine. But that doesn't mean Burns hasn't also had a good year, does it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm not necessarily defending Agarwal, it could be anyone for that matter.

Of course Burns has had a good year, I'm not disputing that at all. I just don't agree with your presumption that performing on fast wickets against quick bowlers is what defines how good a batsman you are.

I don't understand why people downplay a spinner's record in the subcontinent because they're "spin friendly" wickets when the same can be extrapolated for seamers playing in England, NZ, SA and Australia. The same argument holds true for batsmen.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't disagree with any of this to be fair, it wasn't the intention of my first post to suggest otherwise