***Official*** Pakistan and England in UAE

[Prince EWS]

No way will England play five bowlers with Bresnan out.

 

[Spark]

Well considering it's a completely different wrist position it's obviously going to be easy. Reading it is one thing though and keeping it out is another.

Based on that it doesn't turn a great deal, it's basically just a quick slider. Really, an international class batsman should be keeping that out with very little bother.

 

[Agent Nationaux]

Crappy performance by the PCB XI. But for most of these guys it is their first go at international cricket.

Ayub and Salahuddin did OK but expected more from Alam and Shehzad.

 

[Spikey]

Morgan really sucks tho. I mean, I'd bat Broad ahead of him. So.

 

[Daemon]

Based on that it doesn't turn a great deal, it's basically just a quick slider. Really, an international class batsman should be keeping that out with very little bother.

But he's an offie so it's probably going to just that little bit harder

 

[Agent Nationaux]

Hahaha, Talha smashed Swann for 2 sixes. Love it when the tail-enders don't fold as they are expected to.

 

[smash84]

Hahaha, Talha smashed Swann for 2 sixes. Love it when the tail-enders don't fold as they are expected to.

it has been happening far too often for my liking

 

[Howe_zat]

Nice one Monty.

 

[Howe_zat]

Disappointing not to finish it off.

 

[MW1304]

Anyone think Swanny may have been getting a tad complacent in his undroppable status over the last year or so, a bit comfortable? Maybe a bit of a reality check like this is a good thing.

Or maybe I'm reading too much into it and his form just isn't great.

 

[social]

Anyone think Swanny may have been getting a tad complacent in his undroppable status over the last year or so, a bit comfortable? Maybe a bit of a reality check like this is a good thing.

Or maybe I'm reading too much into it and his form just isn't great.

Padded record IMO

Simply on the inevitable slide towards a career average of early 30s

 

[Woodster]

I don't think the balance of the England side for the opening Test will throw up too many surprises. Morgan, imo, will retain his place ahead of Bopara with the latter not playing in either of the tour games, cannot imagine they'd just put him straight into the first Test. Despite a five-for for Monty, he'll have to watch the opening Test from the side with England going with Anderson, Broad, Tremlett and Swann. At a push they may go with Finn over Tremlett for fitness reasons.

 

[wpdavid]

Anyone think Swanny may have been getting a tad complacent in his undroppable status over the last year or so, a bit comfortable? Maybe a bit of a reality check like this is a good thing.

Or maybe I'm reading too much into it and his form just isn't great.

I've been tempted along those lines as well. Maybe unfair, but there you go. Batting's tailed off as well as his bowling. Probably more karma than laziness.

 

[L Trumper]

Can't believe england fans want to go with 5 bowlers in the first test. Tail end batting is england's biggest strength, if you go with 5 bowlers it will simply go powder puff. People may think, if no:6 can't score why bother with the place at all, but there is a huge difference in confidence for a batting order with 6 + prior and 5 + prior. Luckily team knows it though, unlike fans.

 

[amanuensis]

I don't think the balance of the England side for the opening Test will throw up too many surprises. Morgan, imo, will retain his place ahead of Bopara with the latter not playing in either of the tour games, cannot imagine they'd just put him straight into the first Test. Despite a five-for for Monty, he'll have to watch the opening Test from the side with England going with Anderson, Broad, Tremlett and Swann. At a push they may go with Finn over Tremlett for fitness reasons.

There isn't a third tour match, so presumably that rules Bopara out completely. Is that not a bit stupid, given that he's pretty much the only way now of getting a second spinner into the side?

 

[Scaly piscine]

Can't believe england fans want to go with 5 bowlers in the first test. Tail end batting is england's biggest strength, if you go with 5 bowlers it will simply go powder puff. People may think, if no:6 can't score why bother with the place at all, but there is a huge difference in confidence for a batting order with 6 + prior and 5 + prior. Luckily team knows it though, unlike fans.

It's more like 6 + Morgan or 6 though. Prior is a Test class batsman. Anyway I also don't see how it's become a realistic option with Bresnan out of the series and including Donkey as a second spinner. I'd be massively surprised if England went with 5 bowlers.

 

[L Trumper]

It's more like 6 + Morgan or 6 though. Prior is a Test class batsman. Anyway I also don't see how it's become a realistic option with Bresnan out of the series and including Donkey as a second spinner. I'd be massively surprised if England went with 5 bowlers.

Yeah bresnan is one lower order batsman who can actually play defensively. All others are a bit gung-ho , which works for their positions, but not if everyone moves up a order without bresnan it won't work.

 

[Spark]

But he's an offie so it's probably going to just that little bit harder

No harder than playing Ashwin's carrom ball IMO and I don't think I've seen a top order Aus batsman ever look remotely troubled by it. It's a nice variation to keep the batsman honest but he's kidding himself if he thinks it'll be anywhere near as effective as his stock offie or his doosra. It's probably more mind games as anything, as the English bats had next to no clue against him last time.

 

[amanuensis]

It's more like 6 + Morgan or 6 though. Prior is a Test class batsman. Anyway I also don't see how it's become a realistic option with Bresnan out of the series and including Donkey as a second spinner. I'd be massively surprised if England went with 5 bowlers.

I'm no fan of Bopara, but could he not function as a third seamer & fifth bowler? He wouldn't need to bowl that much alongside two spinners.

 

[L Trumper]

I'm no fan of Bopara, but could he not function as a third seamer & fifth bowler? He wouldn't need to bowl that much alongside two spinners.

Never pick a batsman on his ability to bowl and bopara?