It’s been a bad day to be honest, Crawley looked sublime with some of the shots he played, the footwork and timing was exceptional, just a shame he was the only shining light in the batting line up.
I think I would of chose Burns to open, rather than Sibley. Yes it’s easy to say that when he’s got out for a duck, but a left handed batsman opening with a right hander is more work for the fielders and bowler, the captain has to keep changing the field, and bowlers having to adjust and bowl different lines and lengths. Especially when bowling to a plan, it’s not ideal for the opposing captain.
What’s done is done, and can’t correct it now.
Leach has bowled well, and can actually block up an end with control. It needs to be backed up at the other end. We need to control both ends, and then force the batsmen in to a mistake, and play a loose shot, just because they feel they need to, because the scoreboard isn’t ticking over.
I’d start tomorrow with Anderson and Leach, and rotate from Anderson’s end. Root will need to bowl, and give Leach a break, but we will needs to take wickets early on, otherwise this match would of passed us by.
Leach gets him.
