Good to see that Dom Sibley is one of Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Year.
Good to see that Dom Sibley is one of Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Year.
I was also impressed that, if need be, he was prepared to come out and bat in the second innings against Notts.
I agree, shows great commitment to the cause. Quote from Mark Robinson: “Sibley was ready to go. He had extra padding on his glove and when we needed less than 50 to win he would have gone in, thankfully we didn’t need him. He said he’s never been that nervous in his life”
Out for two games
Sibley dropped by England and sent back to Warwickshire.
He might find himself playing in the second team fixture against Worcestershire next week, which would be a bit of a comedown.
I think Ian Bell, Jonathan Trott, and even many years ago Denis Amiss played for the second team after a test match.
He needs time in the middle, to regain his confidence, and where better than at New Road?
I see that Burns, with five test ducks this season, but a Surrey player, retains his place!
Dom Sibley loses his ECB central contract:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/58845756
I'd still back Sibley to play Test cricket again. He seems to be a thinking cricketer who has had bad patches before but found a way round them. I think he'll do it again.
His big strength is his stickability - which is what opening the batting in Test cricket is supposed to be about. He mustn't lose that. His current weakness is that once the new ball has been dealt with, he just gets stuck and sides have worked out how to leave him scoreless. If he can spend the winter and the early part of next year finding one reliable scoring shot on the off-side he'll have enough to come back.
According to Richard Gibson in the Daily Mail he'll be around in Oz
Alex Lees is to be recalled to the England Lions set-up more than six years since his last involvement, while another left-handed opener in Warwickshire's Rob Yates will also be asked to travel to Australia along with his county colleague Dom Sibley, who was dropped from the Test team during the home series against India.
Interesting decision:
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/england-in-australia-2021-22-dom-sibley-withdraws-from-lions-tour-harry-brook-steps-up-1284177
If (say) Rob Yates makes lots of runs for the Lions, Sibley could drop down the pecking order for England selection next year.
I must say I'm a bit disappointed. I think there was a good chance Dom would have played in the Ashes but that's gone now. There isn't a single batter in the two squads (except Root) who doesn't need to work on his technique so it's a good job they haven't all made the same decision as Dom. Personally I think it's rather selfish but I'm sure others will disagree.
I'm not that surprised. I doubt he'd have forced his way into the ashes on the back of 2 practice games. He can use first half of winter on his technique and if Australia open up after Xmas he could go play in Perth for one of the club sides for a couple of months. Far less hassle and with a view to his long term career prospects
It's a brave move to turn down any representative selection but I agree that going on this Lions tour wouldn't do Sibley much good. I don't know what his options are this winter, with half the world still Covid-bound, but I hope he isn't just going to spend it in the indoor nets. Whilst a sound basis is important, I think "technique" can be over-stressed. Marcus Trescothick never moved his feet but still scored stacks of runs. Jonathan Trott made a whole career out of persuading bowlers that, if they bowled at his pads, he would eventually miss one. (He never did.) I think Sibley's issue is as much mental as technical and it would be good if he could get some time in the middle at a level where he can rebuild his self-belief.
One factor in the decision would be the quality of the coaching available. Not going to australia will allow him more time with the coaches at Warwickshire, and with Gary Palmer who he has worked with on a private basis before.
Just thinking.....this has been a great Ashes series for Dom hasn’t it 😎.
It's a bit like when a great fast bowler's bowling - the best place to be is at the non-striker's end. And if the Aussie's are rampant, the best place to be is at home in England. That's probably true not just of Dom but of a few others who didn't go to Australia but may be selected to tour the West Indies and face far lesser bowlers than Cummings and co.
That’s disappointing, although we do seem to be flush with guys who can/have opened. Perhaps Yates will move back to the top of the order and Benjamin will move to number 3 next season?
Long term, I can see Jacob Bethell being one of the openers, very useful if he is also the second spinner.
George Dobell says:
"While he has enjoyed prolific form for Warwickshire - he averages 44.42 for them in first-class cricket - he has become frustrated by his inability to break into their T20 side and declined to sign the new contract that was offered to him over the winter.
Although it seems unlikely he will break into the Surrey T20 team, he retains family links with the area and recently bought a home in London. This move has been anticipated for some months."