Posts: 3,163
Threads: 111
Joined: Sep 2014
Reputation:
10
I guess I stand by what I said earlier. Lineup is too flimsy, too many players that probably dont warrant a place. We basically have two quality batters (cook and root), with two who could be (bairstow and stokes), whilst a couple are hit and miss (stokes and ali). But numbers two and three who look distinctly out of place. Ballance scores runs at county but doesnt look right at international level. On ali does he use his brain when batting?
Then we have two top seamers, one needs it to swing though and the other needs to hit a stride otherwise they become standard. Another seamer who's in to offer pace, but couldn't crank it up, tries but struggles. As for spin our 'main' spinner is someone who is supposed to contain but cant, he looks out of place at times. The 'second' spinner offers more threat but struggles to reign batters in.
Where do we go? Do we go for rashid as second spinner and accept he'll go for runs? Do we go for crane and accept he's one for the future and ride the waves with him high and low? Or scrap the second spinner full stop?
Pace wise, do we keep with our quickest man or do we go for a fiery bowler like curran? A steady seam bowler in roland jones? Or pray that woakes is back near fitness and push him in?
Batting wise do we persist with the top three or do we reshuffle despite not having a plethora of in form candidates?
Posts: 4,271
Threads: 432
Joined: Sep 2014
Reputation:
22
All good questions. On the batting front I'd bring Hameed back irrespective of his county form; don't see how Jennings can keep his place after delivering the worst performance from an England opener since Ramprakash in 2000. Or maybe move Jennings down to 3 and drop Ballance.
"I would rather spend a holiday in Tuscany than in the Black Country, but if I were compelled to choose between living in West Bromwich or Florence, I should make straight for West Bromwich." - J.B. Priestley
Posts: 16,756
Threads: 1,865
Joined: Sep 2014
Reputation:
10
Abysmal simple as didn't even bat a total of 100 overs, one day someone will bat for over 20 overs to save a game, chance of game time before next Test, answer No only playing 20/20, which does suggest that Ballance, Jennings and Dawson will get another go whilst Wood is injured.
Have you heard about the news on Mizar 5
People got to shout to stay alive
Posts: 3,163
Threads: 111
Joined: Sep 2014
Reputation:
10
17-07-2017, 17:22
(This post was last modified: 17-07-2017, 17:26 by jjamez.)
Ive posted a few names elsewhere, some were in the previous post too but I'll dish out a few names to look at, some would lead to a different direction in the side.
Batting options to look into;
Stoneman to open. Westley as 3/4 bumble mentioned him. Dan Lawrence as an option. Moeen ali up the order slightly. Hameed possibly. Dawid malan. Ben foakes. Three of those would be young options that would have to be stuck with for at least 5 tests. Dare I say it, but maybe england should go back to an old performer who didn't actually do much wrong per say. I'm thinking along the lines of ian bell, short term fix, been there seen it, done it, been successful.
Spin options;
Rashid-sky pundits have made reference to an attitude problem and like them I dont quite buy into that. Mason crane, young but not as young as shadab khan or rashid khan. After those two, you are literally looking at people who have got wickets ala dominic bess, jack leach.
Pace options;
Tom curran, craig overton, rush woakes back, push someone like archer into the frey
I agree with the pundits and in fact I'm happy theyve said something I've said before. The selectors are messing up so many times, they used to cock up odi but get tests right. Now its the other way around. They are untouchable. We've had the same selectors since quite possibly duncan fletchers tenure, maybe before.
That means we've had moores, flower, giles, moores and now bayliss. 4 coaches have been and gone over results, but selectors stick around.
I may have digressed
Another name to add to the batting options. Rory burns, in form and is a dogged cricketer, might add steel to the middle order
Posts: 16,756
Threads: 1,865
Joined: Sep 2014
Reputation:
10
Trouble is no four day games at the moment for those out of the side to force their way in
Have you heard about the news on Mizar 5
People got to shout to stay alive
Posts: 20,370
Threads: 890
Joined: Sep 2014
Reputation:
21
I admit I haven't seen a ball bowled in this test match, but can't see the point to massive changes to the side.
How can we go from the best team in the world in the last match to the worst team in this?
Posts: 3,163
Threads: 111
Joined: Sep 2014
Reputation:
10
The first test papered over cracks. Second test opened them up again. Its the typical England thing atm.
Whenever we seem to bring players into the side of late seem to do ok at the start, but then get found out. It happens. Problem is they don't seem to improve or adapt. Now does that highlight the problem of county cricket at the moment?
Posts: 16,756
Threads: 1,865
Joined: Sep 2014
Reputation:
10
Hameed century for the 2nds today
Have you heard about the news on Mizar 5
People got to shout to stay alive
Posts: 20,370
Threads: 890
Joined: Sep 2014
Reputation:
21
Ballance ruled out of next test with a broken finger.
Posts: 3,163
Threads: 111
Joined: Sep 2014
Reputation:
10
Dawid malan, tom westley both called up to the test squad.
Westley will bat at three with malan possibly coming in for dawson should they wish to give him the boot. Roland jones also retained as a possible incoming at the expense of wood.
No call up for rashid or stoneman. Jennings getting another shot at opening the batting
![[Image: 2ZJuVRk.gif]](https://i.imgur.com/2ZJuVRk.gif)