Sport Billy

Sports fan with an opinion 🏏⚽️🏌🏻‍♂️🥊

[Sport Billy @SportBilly__]

@PompCricket The 200 might have tipped things in his favour, but it might’ve been the reassurance they wanted to show he’s in some kind of good nick

I’ve no problem with that

Bazball fit? I can see the logic of his style/strength being more suited to 7 than Rew, which may be the same thing

[Sport Billy @SportBilly__]

@ALargue4RFC Well yes, that’s potentially true if you’re only talking about “ethnically English”

In the context of this conversation I’d say that’s a massive tangent away from the point being made

[Sport Billy @SportBilly__]

@siwillo77 Cox probably would’ve been in the original squad if he wasn’t away at the IPL (with the agreement of the ECB of course)

[Sport Billy @SportBilly__]

@mpw2022x Consistent in what sense?

[Sport Billy @SportBilly__]

@PompCricket He’s also averaged 65.6 and 53.4 for the last two seasons

It’s not like it’s just one decent knock that’s turned the selector head

[Sport Billy @SportBilly__]

@ALargue4RFC There’s no doubt those players have non-English ancestry, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t English

Nationality is, to an extent, a choice between those you have a legal right to claim

I understand you’re being provocative for the thrills, but…

[Sport Billy @SportBilly__]

@ALargue4RFC Declan Rice is English, but with Irish ancestry

Both his parents were born in London, as was Rice, although their parents were Irish immigrants

Like many, he can identify with both nationalities if he wants to

[Sport Billy @SportBilly__]

@Lapapahorse Huh? Norway and Scandinavia???

I’m confused. Are you suggesting they’ve have a greater sporting culture?

[Sport Billy @SportBilly__]

@NowledgeNower What world sports do the US truly dominate, or have over the last 20 years?

Athletics I’d give you, Golf there’s a decent case, I’m not sure I can think of any others

US sport culture is good though, granted, but I think Australia’s is the best

[Ben Gardner @Ben_Wisden]

Amid everything else, I think it's quite nice that Joe Root gets a chance to write a new ending to his England Test captaincy story

[Sport Billy @SportBilly__]

@MediumPaceDobb1 With The Oval’s recent history with spin I think Rew will get the nod instead of Rehan Ahmed

Same pace attack though, but with Root and Bethell to provide the spin options

[Sport Billy @SportBilly__]

@pazza1971 @jameshunt312 Security are there to look after them, not drag them home like naughty school boys

They probably shouldn’t have been there, but you can’t really blame a security guard if (and that’s a big IF) the people they’re looking after don’t abide by the rules

[Sport Billy @SportBilly__]

@joeross00 What if he only went along to babysit his skipper?

Unlikely I know, but…

[Sport Billy @SportBilly__]

@TM5377198967340 @ExtremeFootbal4 Should be number 1, but Big Dunc is a worthy option

Billy 2nd at worst though, none of that lot would’ve gone near him

[Sport Billy @SportBilly__]

@RobPowell4 @DennyBaldwin Of his era Rob

You’ll have to tell me all those fullbacks who were better going forward than him during that time if you think he was only average

If Cole was coming through now, and given the freedom to attack that fullbacks do now, I believe his stats would be right up there

[Sport Billy @SportBilly__]

@RobPowell4 @DennyBaldwin Of his era Cole was one of the best attacking fullbacks we’d seen IMO

Not a winger playing at full like Roberto Carlos or Cafu, and not like a lot of fullbacks of the last 10/15 years who are more attackers than defenders, but could get forward better than most of his peers

[Sport Billy @SportBilly__]

@VR3Frankie @RichWillAVFC @tezilyas Indeed Frankie

World class is, IMO, only really measured at a moment in time and that original definition of best 5 of ALL TIME by Tez is nonsensical

[Sport Billy @SportBilly__]

@VR3Frankie @RichWillAVFC @tezilyas I’m not convinced by the two Brazilians being better full backs than Cole btw

Better wingers, maybe, and that’s basically how they played for club and country, but I’d rather have Cole personally

Not sure on Irwin either, although he was outstanding

[Sport Billy @SportBilly__]

@tezilyas That’s one hell of a high bar for a definition of world class!!

World class for me is one of the best half a dozen or so in your position at that moment in time

[Sport Billy @SportBilly__]

@EarlofJersey @BearlyAwakeLion eg Mexico, Morocco, Uruguay, Denmark etc have all been (i think) ranked top 5 at times, and will give the powerhouses much more of a game

Likes of Tonga, Canada, Fiji, Japan don’t bridge that gap in the same way in rugby do they?

It’s more of a niche sport centred on 6/7 sides

[Sport Billy @SportBilly__]

@EarlofJersey @BearlyAwakeLion Relative to popularity, that’s the point isn’t it. Rugby doesn’t have the depth of popularity, neither does cricket, so your original stat is just a bit ‘meh’

In football more of those top 50 have been competitive towards the top end than those rugby nations outside top 10/12