***Official*** England in West Indies 2015

[wpdavid]

Worth remembering England only made one change after losing the SL series last summer, Stokes in for Jordan, who was sort of returning from injury. Don't know why people think there'll be heaps of changes. Probably just bring in Plunkett or Wood for Jordan and Lyth for Trott.

Reckon Woakes will be in the mix assuming he's fit again?

 

[marc71178]

I don't think you can pick them as 3rd and 4th seamers in home Tests. I could just about buy Jordan as 4th seamer but Stokes is nothing beyond a 5th bowler at this level, and we need another out and out seamer for the summer. Whether this is Wood or Plunkett or another (although I'd imagine Brooks is the next cab and we may as well just pick the whole Yorkshire team if that happens).

Cook - Lyth - Ballance - Bell - Root - Moeen - Buttler - Jordan - SEAMER - Broad - Anderson

Woakes is technically the incumbent isn't he?

 

[wpdavid]

I don't think you can pick them as 3rd and 4th seamers in home Tests. I could just about buy Jordan as 4th seamer but Stokes is nothing beyond a 5th bowler at this level, and we need another out and out seamer for the summer. Whether this is Wood or Plunkett or another (although I'd imagine Brooks is the next cab and we may as well just pick the whole Yorkshire team if that happens).

Cook - Lyth - Ballance - Bell - Root - Moeen - Buttler - Jordan - SEAMER - Broad - Anderson

Jordan would be a lucky boy to make the side, despite his outstanding fielding.

 

[Cabinet96]

Reckon Woakes will be in the mix assuming he's fit again?

Yeah, I think they quite like to have a sort of all-rounder or bowling all-rounder in there at 8. Pretty much between Woakes and Stokes, Woakes was the incumbent at the end of last summer, wouldn't really say Stokes has done enough to go above him.

But from the sounds of things Woakes won't be fit for the NZ series anyway

 

[wpdavid]

Woakes is technically the incumbent isn't he?

I was thinking that. Is he fit again yet?

EDIT
Cabs has answered that one, ta.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Having watched him in this series is Stokes really any better as a test player than previous bits and pieces players like Capel and Ealham?

Yes he bowls quicker but doesn't look like taking wickets and throws his wicket away softly nearly every time he bats. Not good enough to make the side for batting or bowling so is very lucky to be in the side.

 

[Cabinet96]

England retain the trophy. Yes, great work!

 

[Prince EWS]

I'm just going to throw this out there (I'm not sure I quite even think it's a good idea myself); but would it make sense to bat Moeen below Buttler (and Stokes if he's playing) to more clearly define his role as "spin bowling allrounder" as distinct from "batsman who bowls spin"?

I've always felt that once you get down to the allrounders and keepers you should essentially order them in terms of likelihood of making a ton which is why I've supported Moeen batting ahead of Buttler/Stokes/Woakes... but I think Moeen batting six could be muddling his role a bit, not least in the minds of commentators.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

I don't think I've ever seen anyone so embarrassed to collect a trophy.

 

[Spark]

I'm just going to throw this out there (I'm not sure I quite even think it's a good idea myself); but would it make sense to bat Moeen below Buttler (and Stokes if he's playing) to more clearly define his role as "spin bowling allrounder" as distinct from "batsman who bowls spin"?

I've always felt that once you get down to the allrounders and keepers you should essentially order them in terms of likelihood of making a ton which is why I've supported Moeen batting ahead of Buttler/Stokes/Woakes... but I think Moeen batting six could be muddling his role a bit, not least in the minds of commentators.

It certainly isn't helping Buttler.

 

[Pratters]

Superb win for the Windies. Bravo is some one I love watching and is underrated tbh.

 

[Cabinet96]

I'm just going to throw this out there (I'm not sure I quite even think it's a good idea myself); but would it make sense to bat Moeen below Buttler (and Stokes if he's playing) to more clearly define his role as "spin bowling allrounder" as distinct from "batsman who bowls spin"?

I've always felt that once you get down to the allrounders and keepers you should essentially order them in terms of likelihood of making a ton which is why I've supported Moeen batting ahead of Buttler/Stokes/Woakes... but I think Moeen batting six could be muddling his role a bit, not least in the minds of commentators.

I've sort of thought this was a good idea from back in the India series, where everyone was moaning about Woakes' bowling and Moeen's batting.

 

[Pratters]

Giving Moeen so much bowling isn't on imo. He has had some fine bowling spells over the past 1 year but it's putting too much responsibility on him. England shouldn't expect him to bowl a lot of overs. He is not a specialist by any means. Can't help but feel that a specialist spinner here would have been far more effective.

 

[NUFAN]

It's funny how the order of when the matches were won makes a big difference on how each sides supporter basis will view the series.

Going forward England can't use up 3 spots on Moeen, Stokes and Jordan. I also think the new quick who they select must open the bowling. I think the new guy has to be viewed as a wicket taker.

 

[Prince EWS]

Giving Moeen so much bowling isn't on imo. He has had some fine bowling spells over the past 1 year but it's putting too much responsibility on him. England shouldn't expect him to bowl a lot of overs. He is not a specialist by any means. Can't help but feel that a specialist spinner here would have been far more effective.

See it's comments like this that make me wish Cook just batted Moeen at eleven.

 

[mightymariner]

I'm just going to throw this out there (I'm not sure I quite even think it's a good idea myself); but would it make sense to bat Moeen below Buttler (and Stokes if he's playing) to more clearly define his role as "spin bowling allrounder" as distinct from "batsman who bowls spin"?

I've always felt that once you get down to the allrounders and keepers you should essentially order them in terms of likelihood of making a ton which is why I've supported Moeen batting ahead of Buttler/Stokes/Woakes... but I think Moeen batting six could be muddling his role a bit, not least in the minds of commentators.

As long as Moeen knows he is le spinner, there's no point really. Still going to bowl as much wherever he bats so if he's more likened to batting above Buttler or whoever's keeping that's that he should do. Or we could just pick someone else who can't bat so it's clear to everyone that we play a proper spinner without comments every time he comes on to bowl.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Going forward England can't use up 3 spots on Moeen, Stokes and Jordan. I also think the new quick who they select must open the bowling. I think the new guy has to be viewed as a wicket taker.

Clear they can't have them 3 in the same side, need a proper quick, PLUNKETT. Not seen enough of Wood to fairly comment.

 

[Jono]

What a great win by the Windies.

 

[Cabinet96]

Oh Nass. "Did you think about playing a specialist spinner, you had Rashid available?".

 

[Pratters]

See it's comments like this that make me wish Cook just batted Moeen at eleven.

Erm, what?