eelee345
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| Joined: 19 Mar 2012 |
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| 29 Oct 2015 06:48 PM |
James Taylor.
One has to feel sorry for the guy, to be honest.
He's done everything right in his England career, grinding out runs, and just doing everything right. In all of Taylor's ODI career, in which he averages 38.84, but he's only 25. Young days still. He's scored 82 vs India, 98 not out vs Australia, and 101 vs Australia, all on separate occasions. He benefits up the order, but was moved down to No. 6 to make room for Gary Ballance, a Test specialist, in the World Cup. Ballance was later dropped from both teams.
So why isn't he a regular in the side, when he's grinding out runs like no tomorrow?
To look at this, we need to look at England's current composition of their batting lineup.
1. Jason Roy(Opener) 2. Alex Hales(Opener) 3. Joe Root(Batsman) 4. Eoin Morgan(c) 5. Ben Stokes(All-rounder) 6. Moeen Ali(All-rounder) 7. Jonny Bairstow/ Jos Buttler(wk) 8. Adil Rashid(Legspinning bowling All-rounder)
James Taylor cannot bowl. He cannot keep. He cannot open. He has captained in one, rained out match, but only because regular captain, Eoin Morgan was injured.
So, are you seeing the problem? Taylor is one of the only two pure batsmen. Compare him to Joe Root, 24, whose clearly the future of England, as he averages 57 in Tests and 42 in ODI's. Compare that to Taylor's 38 in ODI's. So while Taylor is a great batsman in his own right, it's his lack of a "second-skill" that's keeping him out of the side. For example, Hales and Roy are designated openers. Morgan has to captain. Stokes can bowl medium pace and bowl 10 overs. Moeen is the primary spin bowler of the Test team and can also bowl 10 overs. Buttler/Bairstow, whichever one England select, are the keeper. Rashid is primarily a leg-spinner who can bat(HS of 69)
So really, in Taylor vs Root... yeah. Poor Taylor. He does, however, have a shot vs Pakistan in the ODI's, as Ben Stokes is rested, but unfortunately, that'll mean he'll bat at 5, unless Morgan moves back down to 5.
But hang on, let's take a look at the Test team, where Taylor was recently recalled, after his debut series against South Africa where he only got 3 chances and then was dropped. Here, in the Test Team, we have so many open spots.
1. Alastair Cook(c) 2. VACANT-- England's opening merry-go-round 3. Ian Bell-- In danger of being dropped soon 4. Joe Root 5. Jonny Bairstow(can be wk) 6. Ben Stokes 7. VACANT-- Buttler dropped 8. Moeen Ali 9. Adil Rashid
The opening spot, at No 2., should be taken by white-ball specialist Alex Hales, and he will become the most recent addition to the merry-go-round to try and cement his spot. Ian Bell has been in poor form for the past year or so, and is real danger of being dropped. Buttler has, according to coach Trevor Bayliss, been dropped for the third Test vs Pakistan. There are so many open spots.
So, let's say Taylor doesn't bat at 7. He's a middle order player, obviously. Bairstow will likely move to 7 and keep, now that Buttler is out. That means Taylor will bat at 5, the ideal spot for him in Tests. Or, if England want to shield Joe Root, their key, he can bat at 3, where he bats in ODI's. He can also just replace Ian Bell at 3.
So what's holding him back from making his Test return, say, in the third test?
His height.
He's 5 foot 6, and while many short men in cricket have made great careers(Tendulkar, Chanderpaul, etc), Taylor will always be judged for it. He's done nothing much else wrong in his England career. Sure, okay, it's him vs Root in ODI's. But at least, even if he doesn't perform in Test matches, maybe give him a shot in the Third Test?
Short men like Taylor(5'6") and myself(5'2" and growing, probably will end up 5'6", 5'7") will always have to battle the doubters. At least I have a second-skill(wicketkeeping/opening) and play in an Associate nation, so if I ever make the national side, there won't be someone like Joe Root whom I have to be better than.
Needless to say, Taylor, if only he could keep. Or bowl. Just something....... |
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f0xface5
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| Joined: 12 May 2015 |
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eelee345
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| Joined: 19 Mar 2012 |
| Total Posts: 6255 |
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| 30 Oct 2015 07:16 PM |
| fear the shorty revolution |
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f0xface5
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| Joined: 12 May 2015 |
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| 30 Oct 2015 07:52 PM |
| lets fight and march down the doors! |
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eelee345
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| Joined: 19 Mar 2012 |
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| 30 Oct 2015 08:00 PM |
| move out move out move out |
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f0xface5
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eelee345
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| Joined: 19 Mar 2012 |
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| 02 Nov 2015 05:37 PM |
And lo and behold, guess who has just struck an unbeaten 74 to save England's blushes.
Pakistan 234 all out(Misbah 71) lead England 222/4 (Taylor 74*) by 12 runs at Stumps on Day 2. |
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f0xface5
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eelee345
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| Joined: 19 Mar 2012 |
| Total Posts: 6255 |
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| 02 Nov 2015 08:31 PM |
| Kinda pathetic really. All he needed was a chance. |
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padam11
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| Joined: 11 Feb 2013 |
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| 02 Nov 2015 08:37 PM |
bro you need to make your own cricket blog
"My brain cannot process failure, because if I have to sit there and face myself and tell myself, you are a failure, that is almost worse than death." - Kobe Bryant |
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eelee345
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| Joined: 19 Mar 2012 |
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| 03 Nov 2015 06:03 PM |
Taylor added only 2 to his overnight score to finish on 76.
Pakistan 149/3(Hafeez 97*) and 234 all out(Misbah 71) lead England 306(Taylor 76) by 74 runs |
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eelee345
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| Joined: 19 Mar 2012 |
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| 11 Nov 2015 12:38 PM |
| Taylor batted at 5 to start the ODI series, and responded with 60. Jesus England, how hard is it? Just get him at 3.... |
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eelee345
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| Joined: 19 Mar 2012 |
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| 26 Dec 2015 01:34 PM |
| Taylor scored 70 in his next test match. |
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eelee345
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| Joined: 19 Mar 2012 |
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| 12 Apr 2016 05:55 PM |
| And now he's been diagnosed with a heart problem and forced to retire. |
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| 12 Apr 2016 06:57 PM |
rip that sad
5'2 squad btw |
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