Has Jos Buttler put a case for a test place forward?

[Watson33]

Hi all,

Buttler is consistently getting runs in ODI and T20 cricket, and with Prior and Bairstow not looking up to scratch as of late I was wondering if you guys think he should be given a chance? Averages low 30's in FC cricket which granted is lower than Prior's (39) and Bairstow's (40) averages in FC cricket. I think with his move to Lancashire to become the first choice keeper it won't be long until we see this guy in the test side.

Thoughts?

 

[theegyptian]

Nah. Most of us who'd seen him play in one day cricket for Somerset knew he could be potentially a very good ODI player. He was simply outstanding and way above basically every one else in 40 over county cricket. He hasn't shown anywhere near the same aptitude in 4 day cricket. Looks dodgy vs medium- quick bowling just outside the offstump a bit like Bailey. His one days skills don't translate brilliantly to 4 day cricket- talented tho he is.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

No, in the same way that Morgan hasn't by scoring a ton today. Buttler has to go to Lancs and score heavily in first class cricket and show he can build an innings before he should be considered for the test side.

 

[grecian]

I disagree with the people talking common-sense, put him in, it'll be fun.

 

[theegyptian]

I disagree with the people talking common-sense, put him in, it'll be fun.

Ha. After a couple of overs of Rankin bowling in the final test I was left agreeing with you that maybe we should have played Tymal Mills. I would have bet on him doing better than Tremlett, Rankin and FInn did. Least Mills had some form.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Of course he has. The boy's clearly an exceptional talent. He plays straight and the funky shots come from the foundations of a solid technique.

Yes, chaps like Taylor and Bairstow average more in FC cricket, but both have glaring flaws that are going to be exposed at the highest level. I'd have him in with or without the gloves.

 

[Cabinet96]

Would be good for him to have at least one series averaging more than 40 though.

 

[grecian]

Ha. After a couple of overs of Rankin bowling in the final test I was left agreeing with you that maybe we should have played Tymal Mills. I would have bet on him doing better than Tremlett, Rankin and FInn did. Least Mills had some form.

Thing is they'll probably debut Mills in an ODI where he'll get slaughtered. When was the last pace bowler who made his England debut in Tests. Woakes was the most obvious person who should have skipped that, yet it's how we do things. Not sure it's wise.

 

[Cabinet96]

Thing is they'll probably debut Mills in an ODI where he'll get slaughtered. When was the last pace bowler who made his England debut in Tests. Woakes was the most obvious person who should have skipped that, yet it's how we do things. Not sure it's wise.

Steven Finn. As incredible as that is.

 

[grecian]

Steven Finn. As incredible as that is.

Amusing, as he's probably better with the white ball, ho-hum.

 

[benchmark00]

Probably better?

 

[hendrix]

Nah. Most of us who'd seen him play in one day cricket for Somerset knew he could be potentially a very good ODI player. He was simply outstanding and way above basically every one else in 40 over county cricket. He hasn't shown anywhere near the same aptitude in 4 day cricket. Looks dodgy vs medium- quick bowling just outside the offstump a bit like Bailey. His one days skills don't translate brilliantly to 4 day cricket- talented tho he is.

There's a big difference between picking a batsman to bat 6 and a wicket keeper batsman to bat 7, IMO. Bailey's skills as a batsman would be fine if he were selected as a keeper, or maybe even an allrounder, IMO.

 

[theegyptian]

There's a big difference between picking a batsman to bat 6 and a wicket keeper batsman to bat 7, IMO. Bailey's skills as a batsman would be fine if he were selected as a keeper, or maybe even an allrounder, IMO.

I agree with the first part but given we've brought in Stokes and he looks likely for a long go at 6 or 7 we could really do with a solid conventional wk/batsmen. Given the rest of the top 5 looks a bit up in the air gambling on Buttler seems like one gamble too far. Not convinced about the second part.

Buttler may well get there and he does have star talent but I'd be a lot more confident with him at 7 in our team two years ago when the top 6 looked solid than today.

 

[fredfertang]

Buttler is a Lancashire player now - England can gagf

 

[grecian]

Probably better?

Well at the start of his career he was better with the red ball, then white ball, now he can't get either on the cut-strip,so ho-hum.

 

[grecian]

Buttler is a Lancashire player now - England can gagf

Not until he plays for them, he can still see the light, I have faith.

 

[hendrix]

I agree with the first part but given we've brought in Stokes and he looks likely for a long go at 6 or 7 we could really do with a solid conventional wk/batsmen. Given the rest of the top 5 looks a bit up in the air gambling on Buttler seems like one gamble too far. Not convinced about the second part.

Buttler may well get there and he does have star talent but I'd be a lot more confident with him at 7 in our team two years ago when the top 6 looked solid than today.

Maybe I'm over-reacting to the Ashes but to me it's worth having a bit of short-mid-term brittleness in the batting line-up if it means you can develop these guys. Roughly a year ago not many of us rated Haddin as a solid batsman. Or Steve Smith. Australia have managed to win a few tests with a very brittle top 6 so it might be worth it.

Of course if you really wanted to you could play Stokes as a bowling allrounder and have one of him or Buttler bat at 8 so you can pick another batsman. Which is actually pretty feasible given that Stokes has already proven he's capable of bowling as a 3rd seamer.

 

[wiff]

Buttler is a Lancashire player now - England can gagf

Endorsement or renouncement?

 

[Scaly piscine]

Maybe I'm over-reacting to the Ashes but to me it's worth having a bit of short-mid-term brittleness in the batting line-up if it means you can develop these guys. Roughly a year ago not many of us rated Haddin as a solid batsman. Or Steve Smith. Australia have managed to win a few tests with a very brittle top 6 so it might be worth it.

Of course if you really wanted to you could play Stokes as a bowling allrounder and have one of him or Buttler bat at 8 so you can pick another batsman. Which is actually pretty feasible given that Stokes has already proven he's capable of bowling as a 3rd seamer.

I'd like to see England with 4 seamers when Stokes plays, I think only having 3 seamers regardless of who they are is going to lead to get periods of innocuousness/injury sooner rather than later - obviously if an injury happens during the match you're in trouble. So you can maybe do it very occasionally, but I don't think it'll work for longer than that. There's also the fact that whoever England pick to bat probably isn't going to do that well anyway, so you may as well play to your strengths - bowling. England will have that brittleness for a while regardless.

The 4 seamers for this Spring/Summer should be quite simple really - Anderson, Broad, Onions and Stokes. The only way Onions shouldn't play is if England are hell bent on a spinner who can't bat and need a stronger tail. I wouldn't be surprised to see Rayner get picked if he does well with the Lions (if he ends up replacing Kerrigan in the squad).

 

[fredfertang]

Endorsement or renouncement?

Both, tbh