BBC Blog Network

User Profile

lightsjp4

Listed below are comments made by lightsjp4 between Wednesday, 7th October 2009 and Tuesday, 22nd December 2009.

«Newer
Older»

Skipper Strauss seeks smoother blend 8:41pm on 22 Dec 2009 49. At 8:06pm on 22 Dec 2009, greenmarkfo wrote:

I am so sick of reading uninformed idiots who know nothing about cricket slagging off Ian Bell on the Beeb.

---------

Good way to make your point there - everyone who disagrees with you is an idiot.

People "slag him off" because of consistent underperformance, not because of one lean patch. They are frustrated with him because he looks so talented yet appears unable to fulfill that talent in the international arena - he does not "walk the walk" and simply does not look at home playing for England. It also appears that he has had a lot more chances (ie recalls, and stays of execution) than various other batsmen over the last few years.

I would be delighted if he went on to become leading runscorer in the series, with a couple of matchwinning centuries - but from what i've seen of him over the last 5 years I don't think it likely. You obivously disagree, fair enough.
Skipper Strauss seeks smoother blend 2:13pm on 22 Dec 2009 I've thought Cook has looked like a walking wicket for maybe a year now. Maybe "walking wicket" is a tad harsh, but he has not looked good for a long time.

As for Bell, he just keeps getting chances doesn't he? I don't think that anyone here would argue that he doesn't have the talent, but ever since the 2005 ashes (he looked like a rabbit in the headlights) he has not looked mentally fit for international cricket.

I would say that Cook is the exact opposite of Bell - he appears to have the mentality but has technical problems. Perhaps this is the better way around, and he can improve given time?

It's true that there isn't a great depth of alternatives out there. I'm in the Shah camp - basically because he has been given a tiny number of chances to impress in the test team compared to some others. But he's not in South Africa...

I would like to see Luke Wright in the team, the balance would then look about right to me - i'm just not sure if they can get away with it with Prior batting so badly at the moment. In fact, Prior has been out of form for a while, hasn't he? It seems that around the time his wicket keeping started to convince, his batting went down the toilet!! He seems utterly unable to play any sort of innings than an attacking one, also - he was totally alien to the situation on Sunday where we just had to survive, and was pushing and prodding outside off stump when he had no right to!

So... solution?

I would say bring in Wright for Bell (and bat him number 6, with Prior at 7), unless it really looks like it's going to swing a lot in which case go for Sidebottom.

I reckon we will really need 5 bowlers in the next match - we got away with it to a certain extent in the 1st test because Swann bowled so many overs in the 1st innings, but surely that's unlikely to be the case again? We bat fairly deep with Broad/Swann and Anderson is no mug these days, so they should be able to get runs on the board.
A European team for the 'noughties' 11:45am on 22 Dec 2009 How you can include Rooney over Owen, i'm not entirely sure.
Indoor fielding drills, lions and a Mongoose 1:30pm on 21 Nov 2009 I can only guess that the author was referring to South Africa being predictable in a couple of senses - in having a rather 1-dimensional pace bowling attack (much like England have often had - although this has changed a little), and in their inability to perform in the latter stages of major tournaments...

And to #2, 15 is probably including the 2 umpires ;)

Here's hoping for some cricket tomorrow! I'm getting withdrawl symptoms after the non-stop cricket over the summer
Points of View and HD Picture Quality: a response 1:47pm on 17 Nov 2009 #156

My brother, who has walked in a couple of times over the last few months and commented (unprompted) about "low bitrate" on BBC HD stuff i've been watching, watched top gear with me on Sunday and was just as impressed as me - ie very.

I think some people have it so ingrained in their mind that BBC HD has bad picture quality (which it has at times) that they can't see when it is good (or can't admit it).
Points of View and HD Picture Quality: a response 5:32pm on 16 Nov 2009 I just popped on to say that I thought Top Gear last night was excellent. It looked great (allowing for a few in-car SD shots).
Capello's World Cup contenders 12:13pm on 15 Oct 2009 Joe Cole was a first-choice England player before his injury problems, impressing often (and showing actual composure to go with his great skill - unlike a number of other players who have been tried since), so I would say that if he proves his fitness & form then he has to go to South Africa.

I would definately take David Beckham, as well. He offers something completely different to the other midfield options, and the experience could be invaluable.

I would take Michael Owen as well, if fit. Him and Beckham are the only current England players who have ever truly impressed in a big tournament before, and we need some of that.
The Big Broadband match: A poor result? 12:52pm on 12 Oct 2009 Would more people have paid if the game actually mattered? Probably

But.. would a TV station have bought the game in that case? Definately

This won't be the future until poeple have internet-connected TVs so that they can enjoy the experience "as if it was on TV". when that time arrives (and it could be internet-connected set top boxes or other) it will be much more routine to watch TV streamed over the internet anyway, I would imagine.
Can James answer England call? 11:16pm on 07 Oct 2009 England's Goalkeeping situation has been dire ever since Seaman played on at least 3 years after he should have been dropped, living on reputation. Martyn was a better keeper than the aging Seaman, but wasn't given a chance to grow into the role.

I can't really understand what's happened to Paul Robinson.. the curse of Tottenham?! He seemed to loose it when he moved there.

I bet that our opposition wouldn't mind seeing James between the sticks next summer...
A big match for Broadband Britain 11:57am on 07 Oct 2009 I don't think that they will have the problem of a million people trying to watch it...

«Newer
Older»

^ Back to top

BBC MMVI

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

BBC.co.uk

BBC Blog Network

Find and talk to the BBC's bloggers.

User Profile

lightsjp4