Today's Match Eng v WI 7th ODI

[Scott-Wozniak]

Congratulations to England on winning this ODI, and they deserved to win it. They bowled well, fielded well, pegged the WI back to an achievable score, Tresco got them off to a great start and the the rest of the batsman just continued on with his good work.

Kirsty, do the bowlers still look tired and the middle order weak?

Scott

[Rachael]

I noticed the following in an earlier post: "A great combination from Gough and Read to get Smith out: Read right up to the stumps had Smith playing much more circumspectly, then Gough slips in the length ball, Smith plays across the line and is given lbw."

Having been out and about, away from both radio and TV... I missed this... and can't find any text-commentary: can anyone fill me in? Read standing up to Gough sounds awesome... was he doing this consistently? How well did it work?

Intrigued!

[sostenurter]

Originally Posted by Rachael

I noticed the following in an earlier post: "A great combination from Gough and Read to get Smith out: Read right up to the stumps had Smith playing much more circumspectly, then Gough slips in the length ball, Smith plays across the line and is given lbw."

Having been out and about, away from both radio and TV... I missed this... and can't find any text-commentary: can anyone fill me in? Read standing up to Gough sounds awesome... was he doing this consistently? How well did it work?

Intrigued!

Don't know about that, but Read took a brilliant catch off Clarke to dismiss Lara. It was especally heartening to see him do that, because one of the only faults anyone has been able to find with his keeping was his tendency to view his catching circle as too narrow - Trescothick was taking a lot of catches on Read's side in the Test matches. But there was no slip in place for Lara in this match and Read had to dive full length to catch it. All credit to him.

[Scott-Wozniak]

Originally Posted by Rachael

Having been out and about, away from both radio and TV... I missed this... and can't find any text-commentary: can anyone fill me in? Read standing up to Gough sounds awesome... was he doing this consistently? How well did it work?

I was watching but I have to say I wasn't really aware of Read standing up to the stumps, all I can recall was that perhaps Read moved closer to the stumps at the same time Gough was pitching the ball up bit more. From what I remember Smith tried to on-drive a ball off the back foot that was well pitched up, played across the line and was out LBW.

Scott

[Whips_off_the_bails]

Sorry if my message was confusing . Read was standing up to the slower pace of Clarke in the previous over. This got Smith tied down to the extent that he tried to hit Gough across the line in the next over.

Goughie has lost some pace, but the wicket-keeper doesn't stand up to the wicket when he's bowling quite yet. Goughie got up to 85 mph at times in this game.

[Whips_off_the_bails]

Originally Posted by sostenurter

Don't know about that, but Read took a brilliant catch off Clarke to dismiss Lara. It was especally heartening to see him do that, because one of the only faults anyone has been able to find with his keeping was his tendency to view his catching circle as too narrow - Trescothick was taking a lot of catches on Read's side in the Test matches. But there was no slip in place for Lara in this match and Read had to dive full length to catch it. All credit to him.

I would say that that catch won England the match, although Sarwan's innings made sure WI posted a competitive total. Read justified his selection in this series both behind the stumps and with the bat. He scored at a run a ball in each of his innings and hit some big shots when he had to.

[sostenurter]

Originally Posted by Whips_off_the_bails

I would say that that catch won England the match, although Sarwan's innings made sure WI posted a competitive total. Read justified his selection in this series both behind the stumps and with the bat. He scored at a run a ball in each of his innings and hit some big shots when he had to.

It was a great catch, and he had a very good series. Still wouldn't bring him back for the Tests, though!

[Rachael]

Thanks for all the replies guys: thought it was too good to be true. It has to be the way to go with Goughie though: the guy has a repertoire of deliveries that is pretty well unrivalled in English (perhaps even world) cricket... and whilst he can clearly manage with pace and swing on the right track (somewhere like Edgebaston in May) I'm sure he (and maybe also Anderson) could do better working with Read stood up on slower, lower, dryer, dustier tracks that are more normally offered as ODI strips.

Read stood up to Clarke though: now there's a real surprise. This is the same Clarke who was the faster net bowler England had this winter.. consistently breaking the 90 mph barrier... and with none of the guile and variation that might be expected to make standing up to him seriously effective.

Curious!

[Mike_Hock]

Clarke breaking 90mph? Really?

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Mike_Hock

Clarke breaking 90mph? Really?

Yup. Does bugger all with it (no sideways movement, little variation, and for all I know, consistently in the wrong areas) but he IS mighty quick.

I was very much on the guy's case until I realised just how young he is: why the hell should he be Thorpe-like with the bat and Gough-like with the ball when he's barely started playing cricket?

I'm not going to shed tears if he disappears without trace.. and I'd much rather see any of a dozen other players really prosper.... but if Troy C can work his miracles on the bowling front (to the point where Surrey will at least consider giving him the ball occasionally)... then as a 5 bowler who bats a bit (not got great hopes on that front: power-house not class act) he could be right for pitches where we want 5 seamers.

Just as long as he isn't let near the Test team again: that I really DO want to avoid seeing!