**Official** Pakistan and England in the UAE 2015/16

[Niall]

I agree about Hafeez. He may not play if not cleared to bowl. But that Pakistan batting line up and Yasir gives them the edge for me.

I don't know which seamers they will select, that is why it could be 50/50 if a strong England team is selected. It may be that Stokes, or the "Wood/Finn" bowler is replaced by Rashid. But I would be surprised if Rashid causes Pakistan more trouble than Yasir causes England.

I assume Riaz and rahat will start which is fair enough. Then probably Babar edging out Imran for the last spot (Yasir a cert start)

Ajmal not been great in England so a long shot, Adil has never looked great despite all his online hype.

To early for Amir.

No other obvious options to consider unless someone guns it in the upcoming 4 day competition.

 

[grecian]

Wonder if Borthwick could open, batting at number 3 not that different, and he does score lots of runs. I want us to play 4 spinners, Rashid, Borthwick, Root and Moeen to be funky.

 

[TheJammyTurtle]

Pakistan going to really miss Junaid,apart from Wahab they don't have any other quick as good as him when on form,you just gotta hope he's back soon as he's a brilliant bowler to watch.Thats (fast bowling)probably the only one real area I think Pakistan are weak in,and the one area England are better in especially in the UAE where they (Pakistan) look a different animal on occasion.Cant see England winning this series,draw at best.

 

[marc71178]

OP really overrates Broad's batting. First calling for him to bat 6 and now placing him above Buttler?

 

[Prince EWS]

I was thinking they'd probably leave Stokes out of the eleven if they wanted to play two spinners on this tour, but his performance at Trent Bridge may have given him some security. I think I'd probably still leave him out though; four seamers is over-kill in the UAE, I don't trust Moeen or Rashid enough to have them both in an a five man attack with Stokes and I don't think pushing Moeen up to open would be a good idea.

So I'd be leaning towards:

1 Cook
2 Lyth
3 Bell
4 Root
5 Bairstow
6 Buttler
7 Moeen
8 Rashid
9 Broad
10 Finn/Wood
11 Anderson

12 Stokes
13 Ballance
14 Wood/Finn

 

[Prince EWS]

On second thoughts I've probably got more faith in Stokes on batting alone than Bairstow, which complicates it a bit.

 

[Cabinet96]

I'd just go with the three all-rounders in the OP tbh. It looks a bit weird to have four seamers and two spinners + Root, but it's also probably the best top 6 and best bowling attack we can make.

 

[Pothas]

Mason Crane obviously.

Seriously though, for a long time this series has scared me way more than any of the others we have to play this year. I would probably go with the 3 all rounders but the batting is a massive worry, would be tempted just to bring in Rashid for the Wood/Finn spot.

 

[Furball]

You have to play two spinners.

Not if your second spinner is absolute junk.

 

[Cabinet96]

Mason Crane obviously.

Seriously though, for a long time this series has scared me way more than any of the others we have to play this year. I would probably go with the 3 all rounders but the batting is a massive worry, would be tempted just to bring in Rashid for the Wood/Finn spot.

Yeah, this and South Africa will just be so much harder than Australia at home. Wonder how many people realise that also.

 

[Furball]

Luckily South Africa's players have a tendency to underperform against England. 4-0.

 

[91Jmay]

Is Rashid loads worse than Finn or Wood on a flat, spin friendly pitch? He certainly bats better.

These kind of conditions are really our worst nightmare, no way I would leave Stokes out though. He gets reverse swing and his batting has match winning potential. Ali opening sorts the balance out quite nicely but 3 all rounder's is a weird balance.

 

[theegyptian]

I'd go Taylor over Ballance for the spare batsman role - Taylor plays spin pretty well rather like Root - and has turned his season around in the last month or so after working with Peter Moores.
Bairstow and Buttler cover the wicketkeeping backup scenarios.
Lyth goes because there is no-one else - and I think he has the capacity to succeed just he got a little confused with his approach for the first couple of tests. Tried to follow others in the team and be positive when he has made most of his runs over the last couple of years being very selective early on and gradually expanding his game as the innings continued.
Another spinner to go with Ali and Rashid, preferably someone who can bowl long spells and reliable. But there is no-one. If they wanted to take Ansari I'd get rid of one of Ali or Rashid but I'd probably wouldn't take Ansari.

Not sure about Ali in general now. He's had a good run and signs of improvement are limited. Bowling has been poor since the world cup and batting is limited by the fact that he is batting 8 - so they obviously don't think that much of it.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

According to Jack Bannister (TalkSport) they might not take Anderson to the UAE to make sure he's fresh for South Africa where he might be more effective.

 

[Pothas]

Not sure about Ali in general now. He's had a good run and signs of improvement are limited. Bowling has been poor since the world cup and batting is limited by the fact that he is batting 8 - so they obviously don't think that much of it.

The runs at 8 have been important though, that alone should not be keeping him in the side but it is an important factor and one that makes the side stronger. He has had nothing to do with the ball in the last two games, UAE is huge for him for sure. I would be batting him 7 and Buttler 8 though.

 

[Cabinet96]

According to Jack Bannister (TalkSport) they might not take Anderson to the UAE to make sure he's fresh for South Africa where he might be more effective.

That would be silly/annoying.

 

[hendrix]

Moeen opening? Please God no.

What a way to ruin your specialist spinner than to confuse him about his role, yet again.

McCullum opening was gun. You have to do something different if you want to win there.

Its a 50/50 series for me.

New Zealand proved Babar is far from unplayable, while Rahat Ali is a guy I wouldn't trust not to get injured again.

Masood gunned it against Lanka, but I still remember him looking an absolute mess against New Zealand.
.

Masood is village against spin. Moeen will get him every innings IMO.

Not if your second spinner is absolute junk.

NZ won with 3 spinners:
one has a first class average of about 45
the other was a cripple
the other guy was totally destroyed by India and the Windies.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

On second thoughts I've probably got more faith in Stokes on batting alone than Bairstow, which complicates it a bit.

If you had a choice of 2/3 from Stokes, Bairstow and Buttler then Stokes comes first and he can be a 4th seamer if you need his bowling. Bonus to have him as the bowler but he'd get picked for batting ahead of the other two at present.

 

[fredfertang]

Might as well keep it simple and just add Cook and Broad and the Yorkshire squad and call it England

 

[WalkingWicket]

Jeez England spin bowling stocks are depressingly low. Top wicket-taker amongst the spinners in CC is Ansari. I'm a believer in taking two front-line spinners to the SC, but we might just have to stick to Moeen and Root, and hope Root can pull his weight. No other spinner warrants a squad place, let alone a place in the side.

I would go with the same XI, with potentially Bairstow taking the gloves, moving to six (stokes seven, Ali eight) and bringing in another bat (Taylor, Ballance, some county basher). No point playing spinners if they're not good enough.

England to lose 2-0.