The Cricket.

[Leicesterbaggie]

Should have been there today but couldn't go because I've got gout. Not serious I know but b----y painful! Watched it on TV. Great entertainment.

[kettering_baggie]

Should have been there today but couldn't go because I've got gout. Not serious I know but b----y painful! Watched it on TV. Great entertainment.

I sympathise, gout can be unbelievably painful. People laugh at you when you say you have gout but they haven’t had it! Fortunately, the pills get rid of it quickly.

[9goals2hattricks3pen]

Me and a few 100 others missed that last races and sat in bars watching the cricket. Extraordinary stuff.

[mickd1961]

Me and a few 100 others missed that last races and sat in bars watching the cricket. Extraordinary stuff.

Agreed 923.

I think we’re going to have to accept though that we will have a few spectacular defeats as well as these amazing wins.

I’m desperate to see us okay like this against the Aussies home and away though and to really get in their faces.

I just hope that Broad and Anderson can manage three more years and that we can find a hostile “quickie” who can stay fit and a tall spinner of quality with bounce.

Leach is not the answer, we need Moen Ali back to give some quality spin and to bat at 8 because we have 4 rabbits from 8 to 11 at present.

We’ve got around 5-7 years at most left of Stokes and Root so I hope we really go for it now.

It does show what a bloody hopeless captain Root was and how inept Silverwood was.

Rob Key deserves great credit for bringing in McCullum, Stokes as a duo and getting young Potts in the side.

Harry Brook now needs to come in for Crawley.

[Bombers right foot]

As a Yorkshire supporter been calling for Brook to play since last season, however he is not an opening batsman and after Bairstows knock it’s difficult to fit him in, regarding Crawley, he’s hopeless, but who is there to replace him, god forbid not Sibley again.

[TipperaryBaggie]

Quite right Bomber. Brook is not an opening batsman so cannot replace Crawley without a reshuffle in the top order which would be nonsensical. Having watched Crawley for a few years at Kent, I have always thought that he is better suited to the one day game where he can score quick runs at the top of the order. He hasn't got the technique to grind out an innings as so many of the top openers have done over the years.

[9goals2hattricks3pen]

Quite right Bomber. Brook is not an opening batsman so cannot replace Crawley without a reshuffle in the top order which would be nonsensical. Having watched Crawley for a few years at Kent, I have always thought that he is better suited to the one day game where he can score quick runs at the top of the order. He hasn't got the technique to grind out an innings as so many of the top openers have done over the years.

My father-in-law is a Kentish Man and he reckons Crawley isn't even the best opener in Kent. Ben Compton is a specialist opener, averages over 100 and has scored more runs than anyone in County Cricket. I still have my doubts about Pope. As the kiwis said 'one ton does not a career make.' I still have major concerns about our top order, a tail that is way too long and no quality spinner. I have a horrible feeling these weaknesses will find us out all too often.

Having said all that am I enjoying the moment? You bet I am.

[Leicesterbaggie]

Despite Potts' decent performances, when fit, I would bring Woakes back and replace Leach with Moin Ali, if he makes himself available. I don't think that it would weaken the bowling and it would certainly strengthen the batting, which has a very long tail.

[mickd1961]

Quite right Bomber. Brook is not an opening batsman so cannot replace Crawley without a reshuffle in the top order which would be nonsensical. Having watched Crawley for a few years at Kent, I have always thought that he is better suited to the one day game where he can score quick runs at the top of the order. He hasn't got the technique to grind out an innings as so many of the top openers have done over the years.

A fairly irrelevant argument about Brook not being an opener, neither is Crawley!

The game is about sound technique for starters of which Harry Brook does possess.

I’d rather have my best 6 batsmen in the team and worry about batting order afterwards.

The established openers we’ve been using for the past few years have constantly left us 10-2 and 20-3, by definition batsmen 4, 5 and 6 have regularly been facing an almost new ball anyway, it therefore makes no difference if they come in 4 or 5 overs earlier by starting at 1 or 2 in the line up.

Too many old thought processes still being applied, cricket has changed massively.

As for Ben Compton.

He’s 28 years old and failed at Notts between 2019 and 2021.

He’s only played 16 first class matches by the age of 28!

I don’t know enough about him to make a proper judgment but although he’s had a great season so far the “sample size” from him is maybe too small.

I’d just pick younger talent now but on the basis they have an “all round” game and not be just a predominantly onside or offside player.

I’d like to see Vince given another chance even though he’s 31 as I think he’s a superb batsman to watch but ideally I’d go for Brook and see if his talent can cope with opening.

[kettering_baggie]

Far too much one day cricket to enable players to get the time at the crease in county matches; it’s bound to impact badly on the test team.