Thank God for George Dobell. The best writer (and talker) about our glorious game in a number of generations. Speaks honestly, with complete common sense. He quotes Dylan. And he has a dig at Piers Morgan! Keep up the fantastic work George!
Nasser Hussain, as usual, is spot-on. They should be looking to learn than going further in on Bazball. I fear Stokes/Baz will be saying to the team: "Not to worry lads! We won't be in these conditions until February 2027. On we go!"
Do they have any other option? Their only option is always bazball until they can find some actual test batters. These unit will be sitting ducks if they tries to play another way. Do you really think crawly to make any runs batting in classic test match mode?
Marcus Trescothick said ages ago in an interview that the role of the England batting coach is not to work on players' techniques. Thus the answer to the question "who is working with Ollie Pope" is actually: "no one".
Ben Stokes needs to be the all rounder that he used to be. I know that he has had injury problems that have prevented him from bowling much recently, but that aspect of his game absolutely must return. He cannot be in the side purely as a batsman. Great all rounders produce great all round performances. If they fail with the bat, they have the chance to redeem themselves with the ball. Stokes has been out of the front line bowling attack for far too long.
100%. England can't play Stokes as a specialist batsman at #6 averaging 35 and compete against strong sides. Aus - Head ave 42 and is a handy off break bowler, India - Jadeja ave 35 and has 300+ test wickets, Pak - Rizwan ave 41 and wicket keeps, NZ - Blundell ave 35 and wicket keeps. etc. If he can't bowl he is a liability, his captaincy doesn't level the equation.
When Brearly didn’t make runs he won matches. That’s why he was in the team. 😂😂 this is an insult to Brearly, if anything Stokes is becoming Botham, a fading brilliant allrounder the only difference is Beefy still got wickets with his magic long hops and kept making a few runs.
@@louquay Stoke's batting and bowling averages are very similar to Shane Watson's and no one says Watson was a brilliant all rounder. The difference is, as you say, Stokes has had several brilliant moments with both bat and ball.
What an amazing observation about the media chumminess and in fact I remember that lengthy sit down with Buttler (alongside Ward, Morgan and I think Broad) and not a single question about that Flintoff story which is quite big when you consider who is involved and how pushed Freddie has been as a coach.
If Foakes plays - he needs to bat higher up the order - because he's an accumulator, you won't get the best out of him if he bats with the tail, because he'll run out of partners to bat with. Given Pope's poor form, I'd have Foakes bat at 3 and just tell him to do his thing, and whoever he's with at the other end can bat how they want.
Like your thinking but this NZ alliance seem to really have something against poor old Ben Foakes. At this stage, I think Foakes should raise his two fingers to England and apply to represent somewhere else. USA maybe? Wait the three years and then help to build up an international side in his later playing years. It's criminal that someone as good as him at his primary skill is just cast aside because he doesn't bat like a T20 player. This Baz bollocks is really wearing thin.
England have players who have 50 caps who still haven’t shown they should be in the team. It’s insane. It’s like they’re haunted by the ghosts of Graeme Hick and Mark Ramprakash and have gone so far in the other direction they have a team of intuitively picked players from five years ago just playing out entire careers of mediocrity
It’s weird isn’t it… despite his bad form (can we even call it that any more?!), Pope could have a decent enough series in NZ on pitches that suit him more, then it’s like none of this Pakistan series has any consequence.:.. and on he goes to continue his mediocre career.
27:03 No credit deserved for Stokes and McCullum not crying about the pitch since they themselves give the curators in their country instruction to prepare roads for their flat track bully batting line up.
nasser has been spot on.. he seemed rather angry ... u gotta love the raw emotion ... and #george absolutely loved the comment " how come you can believe in karma when you see pierce morgan's career"
I don't buy this great leadership stuff. Stokes' leadership is like his cricket team - one note. "Just attack boys, don't worry about consequences". Bazball is a limited philosphy with limited leaders.
Ben Stokes is one of our greatest ever cricketers. Have people forgot how bad we were before he became captain. He’d be first on the team sheet every time for me.
You have to lead by example ....Ben Stokes is too inconsistent in actual form to do that in any material way. I thought his batting would suffer before he became captain and my suspicions have been validated. As for his bowling, well!
Mike Brearley was worth his place as captain alone. The same cannot be said of Ben Stokes who is currently a non bowling all rounder contributing zilch with the bat!
Stokes has been amazing but he’s not contributing with the bat and comes across as very arrogant. Also Pope needs to be dropped. Bring back Foakes and play Smith as a batsman
Crawley averages 31 after 50 tests Pope averages 33 after 53 tests Stokes currently playing just as a batsmen averages 35 Poor and mediocre, hammering coming up in ashes
To be fair, Crawley's average is on the rise, but I still think he's a frustrating player who has too many weaknesses to be a top Test player, for all his ability and lovely shots. I can't see any argument for Pope at this point. We've seen what he can do and people are reluctant to accept that he isn't as good as we thought he was. It's the same thinking that kept Hick in and out of the side for so long.
@@jshaers96the difference being with Hick that he had to face arguably a higher standard of bowling in the 90’s, and he was a victim of the ruthless selection policies of that era, whereas Pope has been fortunate to have such a long run, so you could argue that, while their stats are similar, Hick’s are kind of worth more (but of course it’s difficult to compare eras…) Also, can’t see Crawley’s average doing much more, he’s played 50 tests and can’t see him making major technical changes, especially in this set up. On the plus side, his partnership with Duckett has been fairly consistent in terms of seeing off the new ball.
I respect George as a journo but this idea that Stokes should go to 3 is one of the worst takes of all time. If he can't put a price on his wicke at 4 for not many, how is he going to put a price on his wicket at 1 for? Not to mention that he'll be facing a moving ball when his best work is done with the tail when the ball is old and he can tee off. If the argument is that he will do better than Pope, well yeah. But England should be searching for a proper #3. They'll probably just put the most attacking batter they can find there.
Bazball doesn't work in Asian pitches England are quite lucky to whitewash Pakistan because of flat tracks in 2022 series once flat tracks are removed bazball got exposed very badly Stokes is shadow of former self he is not same player who won games for England single handedly he is now ordinary player
Stokes used the word my on field fitness in response of one of the questions I believe George asked him in post match conference. When George further prodded him saying what you mean by post-match performance, he was so rude. He said, we play on field. We know smarty pants. Why not just say fitness.
England can only win on flat pitches is now somehow a criticism. Pakistan, if they weren't a complete rabble, wouldn't have needed to resort to playing on a used pitch and a raked pitch. Winning on flat pitches was always the hallmark of the best teams. Poor teams needed to utilise home advantage and it was called out most notable when India blatantly did it.
Ben stokes is an average batsman who has the ability to play a great knock on batting friendly pitches every once in a while,but he is a good captain..
Thank God for George Dobell. The best writer (and talker) about our glorious game in a number of generations. Speaks honestly, with complete common sense. He quotes Dylan. And he has a dig at Piers Morgan! Keep up the fantastic work George!
Nasser Hussain, as usual, is spot-on. They should be looking to learn than going further in on Bazball. I fear Stokes/Baz will be saying to the team: "Not to worry lads! We won't be in these conditions until February 2027. On we go!"
Do they have any other option? Their only option is always bazball until they can find some actual test batters.
These unit will be sitting ducks if they tries to play another way.
Do you really think crawly to make any runs batting in classic test match mode?
Spot on
what has been Ben Stokes contribution in both the India and Pakistan series?
Marcus Trescothick said ages ago in an interview that the role of the England batting coach is not to work on players' techniques. Thus the answer to the question "who is working with Ollie Pope" is actually: "no one".
Then what is his job spec lol?
@@Takerfanatic Ego massager
To tell them how.awesome they are when they hit sixes in the nets and to plan the gold trips.@@Takerfanatic
@@Takerfanatic Chilled out entertainer?
@@fakestreetspirit nah that's probably baz who has that job title. Marcus is probably more of a Neil character
Ben Stokes needs to be the all rounder that he used to be. I know that he has had injury problems that have prevented him from bowling much recently, but that aspect of his game absolutely must return. He cannot be in the side purely as a batsman. Great all rounders produce great all round performances. If they fail with the bat, they have the chance to redeem themselves with the ball. Stokes has been out of the front line bowling attack for far too long.
100%. England can't play Stokes as a specialist batsman at #6 averaging 35 and compete against strong sides. Aus - Head ave 42 and is a handy off break bowler, India - Jadeja ave 35 and has 300+ test wickets, Pak - Rizwan ave 41 and wicket keeps, NZ - Blundell ave 35 and wicket keeps. etc. If he can't bowl he is a liability, his captaincy doesn't level the equation.
Bro, he aint that player man, he had too many injuries and undergo too many surgeries for him to still be that player.
When Brearly didn’t make runs he won matches. That’s why he was in the team. 😂😂 this is an insult to Brearly, if anything Stokes is becoming Botham, a fading brilliant allrounder the only difference is Beefy still got wickets with his magic long hops and kept making a few runs.
Stokes was never a brilliant all-rounder, he just had a couple of brilliant moments
@@louquay Stoke's batting and bowling averages are very similar to Shane Watson's and no one says Watson was a brilliant all rounder. The difference is, as you say, Stokes has had several brilliant moments with both bat and ball.
Ben Stokes is not a good enough Batsman if he is not bowling. His record is very average just as a Batsman. 35 is not good enough
In a team where Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope are just regulars who apparently don’t need to ever do anything…it’s enough
@@HkFinn83 Yeah but if you're a few runs less on average than those three, like Ben Foakes, then that's it, you're dropped!
What an amazing observation about the media chumminess and in fact I remember that lengthy sit down with Buttler (alongside Ward, Morgan and I think Broad) and not a single question about that Flintoff story which is quite big when you consider who is involved and how pushed Freddie has been as a coach.
If Foakes plays - he needs to bat higher up the order - because he's an accumulator, you won't get the best out of him if he bats with the tail, because he'll run out of partners to bat with.
Given Pope's poor form, I'd have Foakes bat at 3 and just tell him to do his thing, and whoever he's with at the other end can bat how they want.
Like your thinking but this NZ alliance seem to really have something against poor old Ben Foakes. At this stage, I think Foakes should raise his two fingers to England and apply to represent somewhere else. USA maybe? Wait the three years and then help to build up an international side in his later playing years. It's criminal that someone as good as him at his primary skill is just cast aside because he doesn't bat like a T20 player. This Baz bollocks is really wearing thin.
England have players who have 50 caps who still haven’t shown they should be in the team. It’s insane. It’s like they’re haunted by the ghosts of Graeme Hick and Mark Ramprakash and have gone so far in the other direction they have a team of intuitively picked players from five years ago just playing out entire careers of mediocrity
It’s weird isn’t it… despite his bad form (can we even call it that any more?!), Pope could have a decent enough series in NZ on pitches that suit him more, then it’s like none of this Pakistan series has any consequence.:.. and on he goes to continue his mediocre career.
27:03 No credit deserved for Stokes and McCullum not crying about the pitch since they themselves give the curators in their country instruction to prepare roads for their flat track bully batting line up.
nasser has been spot on.. he seemed rather angry ... u gotta love the raw emotion ... and #george absolutely loved the comment " how come you can believe in karma when you see pierce morgan's career"
Absolutely abysmal from England. Well played Pakistan
Excellent assessments George, a good listen…..
When you look at the WTC table, England have been docked 19 points due to slow over rates. That falls on the captain Stokes.
It’s always interesting to watch England cricket fans
Brendon Macullum has killed English cricket and Ben Stokes has put the cross on it.
Stumbled upon this channel/ podcast. Pak fan and listening from USA. Excellent technical & tactical analysis.
Great discussion guys 👍🏽
Thanks Tariq. Welcome aboard!
Ben Stokes has made the ECB a fool by playing when ever he wants and is always unfit. If he can't bowl then he should be dropped.
Don't understand the surprise.
Did anybody expected anything else, from the moment pakistan managed to produce pitches that turned?
ANOTHER MORAL victory ...for England!! Morally dominated!!
Totally agree
I don't buy this great leadership stuff. Stokes' leadership is like his cricket team - one note. "Just attack boys, don't worry about consequences". Bazball is a limited philosphy with limited leaders.
Ben Stokes is one of our greatest ever cricketers. Have people forgot how bad we were before he became captain. He’d be first on the team sheet every time for me.
What, before Root???????
You have to lead by example ....Ben Stokes is too inconsistent in actual form to do that in any material way. I thought his batting would suffer before he became captain and my suspicions have been validated. As for his bowling, well!
You can't compare the covid era to the era immediately after it. That's very very lazy
@@andrewfrank2261I disagree.
Stat's don't lie after 100 tests, his record is very average just as a batter
Brilliant summing up of Ben Stokes. A truly great cricketer who for some reason inspires truly stupid nasty comments
favorite show
Mike Brearley was worth his place as captain alone. The same cannot be said of Ben Stokes who is currently a non bowling all rounder contributing zilch with the bat!
will anything puncture the din of self-congratulation (led by andrew miller) swirling around the english team?
Stokes has been amazing but he’s not contributing with the bat and comes across as very arrogant. Also Pope needs to be dropped. Bring back Foakes and play Smith as a batsman
The criticism of Sky is spot on. They are far too close to this England team and almost never critique the team properly
Look at Jonathan Trott, who has made Afghanistan a top team with all bases covered.
Yes
Stokes has won one more ashes than Atherton, guess that's something
Crawley averages 31 after 50 tests
Pope averages 33 after 53 tests
Stokes currently playing just as a batsmen averages 35
Poor and mediocre, hammering coming up in ashes
Yeah it makes not sense. George says that Ben should average 40, the guy has had over 100 tests. There are no more hyoptheticals at that point
To be fair, Crawley's average is on the rise, but I still think he's a frustrating player who has too many weaknesses to be a top Test player, for all his ability and lovely shots. I can't see any argument for Pope at this point. We've seen what he can do and people are reluctant to accept that he isn't as good as we thought he was. It's the same thinking that kept Hick in and out of the side for so long.
@@jshaers96the difference being with Hick that he had to face arguably a higher standard of bowling in the 90’s, and he was a victim of the ruthless selection policies of that era, whereas Pope has been fortunate to have such a long run, so you could argue that, while their stats are similar, Hick’s are kind of worth more (but of course it’s difficult to compare eras…)
Also, can’t see Crawley’s average doing much more, he’s played 50 tests and can’t see him making major technical changes, especially in this set up. On the plus side, his partnership with Duckett has been fairly consistent in terms of seeing off the new ball.
Absolutely agree. The numbers clearly tell the story
The old cliché of form and class, stokes is short of batting time and obviously runs, but he'll roar back
Brearley was a genius as a tactician/ captain.......Stokes certainly isn't.
Anyone who wants to "drop Ben Stokes" should consider tennis as their summer 'diversion'. 😂
(P.S. We like you George! Even if the 'media' others don't ❤ Keep on keeping on)
He’s contributed nothing for ages. You can’t pick somebody just as a captain surely?
Any serious team would bin him immediately. Contributes nothing to the team
delaying his knee surgery to play in the World Cup was a huge mistake, and I would be saying this even if England had won that ill fated tournament.
I respect George as a journo but this idea that Stokes should go to 3 is one of the worst takes of all time.
If he can't put a price on his wicke at 4 for not many, how is he going to put a price on his wicket at 1 for? Not to mention that he'll be facing a moving ball when his best work is done with the tail when the ball is old and he can tee off.
If the argument is that he will do better than Pope, well yeah. But England should be searching for a proper #3. They'll probably just put the most attacking batter they can find there.
Ben stockes is good for nothing..... There are 10 players in the team who r performing and this guy getting privilege from ECB for doing nothing... 😂😂
Bazball doesn't work in Asian pitches England are quite lucky to whitewash Pakistan because of flat tracks in 2022 series once flat tracks are removed bazball got exposed very badly Stokes is shadow of former self he is not same player who won games for England single handedly he is now ordinary player
Bazzball, bazz hum bug.
How have I not discovered this channel before 😮
Welcome!
How out dated is this headline!
Middle class journalists get with the times!
Stokes used the word my on field fitness in response of one of the questions I believe George asked him in post match conference. When George further prodded him saying what you mean by post-match performance, he was so rude. He said, we play on field. We know smarty pants. Why not just say fitness.
Why does Nick Howson mumble so much? Is it his poor-quality audio device or, is that just how he speaks?
100% not. Beearley was very bright, Stokes is knuckle dragger by comparison
England can only win on flat pitches is now somehow a criticism. Pakistan, if they weren't a complete rabble, wouldn't have needed to resort to playing on a used pitch and a raked pitch. Winning on flat pitches was always the hallmark of the best teams. Poor teams needed to utilise home advantage and it was called out most notable when India blatantly did it.
Ben stokes is an average batsman who has the ability to play a great knock on batting friendly pitches every once in a while,but he is a good captain..
he is clueless in rank turners
Stokes is fine. He’s indeed a brilliant cricketer but not cut out for spinning pitches. He’ll be fine in Ashes.
If he can't play on spinning pitches then he isn't a 'brilliant' cricketer, is he?
@@jshaers96even virat kohli struggle on spining pitches
@@AndyGaming-g7d Virat Kohli isn't that great a player, either (regardless what the Indian media tell you).
@@Evil_Clown-eh6jz yea I know
But I think injuries played a major role in Ben stokes batting and form
Exactly he’s not fully fit and hasn’t been for most of the summer. He bowled himself out in the county championship. He was bowling crazy spells
With the doctoring of wickets by Pakistan, it was clearly a moral victory for England.
Zzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz