Off Topic Sport Other than Football - formerly the Ashes Thread

https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/spor...-pubs-with-higher-class-of-git-20160205105932

Pretty much sums it up haha

 

England being outclassed by the Windies.
Occasionally very good in favourable conditions; shown up for being lacking in so many ways in others.

 

England are 4 for 8!

 

126-9
6 ahead...
Good game to win, as I used to say.....

 

It`s been a clusterfack of a tour so far, from picking the wrong bowlers to woefully inept batting and dire fielding. The Ashes are around the corner and England are being completely outclassed by the Windies, we still need to find a consistent opener and number 3 (Bairstow is a better middle order player in my opinion), and some players who can tough it out in the middle order.

Ian Bell was cast aside too soon, and I believe he still wants to play for England, at age 36 he probably still has some runs left in the tank, but I doubt the clowns who made the decision to drop him will want to go back on their idea. It`s also a shame Cook retired, as there appears to be few good openers coming through the county scene these days.

 

As far as I can tell 99% of the world population doesn't give a **** about the NFL, while the 1% that does hates the New England Patriots

 

England for the Grand Slam? Scotland, France and Italy come to Twickers which leaves Wales away as the banana skin. Now, Wales were lucky not to be 26-0 down at half time against France so they are beatable. I didn't expect an England win seeing as Ireland beat The All Blacks so I'm saying England in the final in Japan. I'm saying a 30 point win against France.

 

I hear somebody won the Super Bowl

please log in to view this image

 

It’s a bit early for that kind of talk! England’s problem for years has been ill discipline and a lack of execution in key moments. Too often let opposition off the hook with a dropped pass or undo phases of fine defensive work with a silly penalty concession. The weekend game was the first one in a while where they managed to keep their discipline and execute key moments consistently in possession. They’ve got a long way to go though both in the 6N and in 2019 in general, and France next is far from a gimme if they turn up.

The margins at this level of sport are usually much finer than scorelines can make them appear and a return to the ill discipline and inaccuracy of precious years this year will quickly undo the fantastic result earned at the weekend in Dublin. I want to see if they can keep it up for the whole Championship before getting excited about what could be, injury permitting, a good WC year for England.

 

I think France have lost nine out of their last ten Huddle, I cannot see them turning up in a week somehow. Again England gave away too many penalties which has to be addressed but to beat the world's number two team is a good omen.

 

Oh it was great don’t get me wrong! It’s always good to beat Ireland and even better when they’re riding so high. I’m just wary of jumping on a false dawn for England and wary of France who I thought should have beaten Wales on Friday if they’d closed the game out better (admittedly I viewed it through a haze of booze). We’re the biggest game for everyone in the 6N apart from Italy so France will be bang up for it.

 

IMHO the kicking game behind the lines when attacking was perfect
(the Ireland defence could not deal with it, and two tries came from it) .

However, Youngs' "kick to chase" kicking from the breakdown IMHO
left a lot to be desired (so room for improvement in the overall game) .

 

I was watching paint dry and turned the game on because I couldn't stand all the excitement.

 

You have to ask why Mark Wood hasn't played all three Tests.
Windies rely on pace and the wickets have suited bowlers who can change pace and exploit variable bounce.
England have picked swing/seam and spin and ignored pace - and paid the price.
Wood has shown what was needed from ball one.

 

He is often injured, not sure about this tour though

 

And the Kiwis still have a Rugby World Cup to look forward to...

 

The Universe Boss is warming up...

 

Another masterful bowling performance by Mark Wood.
Only 1 wicket but real pace and great control of movement. A joy to watch as an ex-quick!

 

I think England's bowling is the weak link.
Rashid does consistently well, but none of the quicker bowlers have control or look threatening except Plunkett on occasions.
Wood's ODI is generally very ordinary, but if he can bowl like this at the WC, it will be a great boost for England.
The batting is phenomenal though.
228-4 as I type.
The top order failed today, but Stokes and Buttler making light work of the target.
Two or three in that top seven will always step up in ODIs.
330-350 is par for these lads.

 

233-6