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

[grecian]

Need Buttler and Stokes to bat for a while now, they desperately need some runs.

Still think the test side will be the team that played the last match but Taylor has done his chances of a call up no harm at all. Only other possible option is to give Bairstow the gloves and play Taylor instead of Buttler. Still think Wood will get the nod over Finn simply for his extra pace.

TBH, there are an huge amount of options really, maybe they'll make few changes, but they could easily go Bell opening, which might even mean Hales batting at 3, but his failure would suggest not.

Think the fact Bairstow has kept wicket a lot is a big sign he could get the nod ahead of Jos, Finn for Wood could definitely still happen. Really think Stokes shouldn't be playing, which frees up another slot possibly. Blimey, Patel, Ali and Rashid would be an interesting call.

 

[theegyptian]

Taylor is 18-1 with paddypower for top england batsman for the series which is obviously good value if you think he will play (which judging by this session would be a smart selection by England)

 

[Cabinet96]

Such a poor dismissal from Jos as well https://twitter.com/bbctms/status/652429790692044801

 

[weldone]

Need Buttler and Stokes to bat for a while now, they desperately need some runs.

Still think the test side will be the team that played the last match but Taylor has done his chances of a call up no harm at all. Only other possible option is to give Bairstow the gloves and play Taylor instead of Buttler. Still think Wood will get the nod over Finn simply for his extra pace.

Dropping Stokes maybe an option if Cook thinks Taylor is a better batsman. They already have 5 bowlers in Anderson-Broad-Wood/Finn-Rashid-Ali and I don't see why they'd desparately need a 6th bowler.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Dropping Stokes maybe an option if Cook thinks Taylor is a better batsman. They already have 5 bowlers in Anderson-Broad-Wood/Finn-Rashid-Ali and I don't see why they'd desparately need a 6th bowler.

I think they will always play Stokes in the same way they always played Flintoff when fit before he became very good. He has the X Factor and despite still being a work in progress they want him to develop and he will only do that by playing not carrying the drinks.

 

[marc71178]

On the batting side Stokes has a significantly higher batting average than Bairstow (in roughly the same number of matches) and Taylor.

Yes, because Taylor's 2 matches are such a relevant number.

 

[weldone]

...despite still being a work in progress they want him to develop and he will only do that by playing not carrying the drinks.

Nah that's not how test match selections should happen.

 

[Cabinet96]

Stokes will play.

 

[Pothas]

Yeah for sure.

What is Bairstow actually like with the gloves these days?

 

[marc71178]

Stokes will play.

Of course he'll play, but it should be as 3rd seamer (unless they're only going to pick one spinner)

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Nah that's not how test match selections should happen.

It isn't but it DOES happen and not just with England. The most notable ones we did it with were Flintoff and Broad but it happens with other sides too.

 

[Cabinet96]

6 months ago I'd have been all for not playing Stokes if it didn't suit the structure of the team. But some of his performances over the summer have kind of dented some of those arguments.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

6 months ago I'd have been all for not playing Stokes if it didn't suit the structure of the team. But some of his performances over the summer have kind of dented some of those arguments.

Exactly and it will help him for the future if he does play in these conditions and can learn to adapt his game in them if not for this series but further down the line.

Also does anyone expect us to win whatever side we pick? Giving experience to the blokes we think WILL play for the majority of the next 5-10 years is surely better than picking someone who is flavour of the month and likely to be dumped soon anyway like Hales is.

 

[Stace]

Whoever they pick I wonder if England will bat as attackingly as they have done over the last 2 series scoring at about 4 an over, how do people here think they will play? Could be a disaster if they play too expansive then they could go the other way if they lose wickets and play too defensive and go nowhere and get out for 200 kind of totals.

 

[weldone]

Whoever they pick I wonder if England will bat as attackingly as they have done over the last 2 series scoring at about 4 an over, how do people here think they will play? Could be a disaster if they play too expansive then they could go the other way if they lose wickets and play too defensive and go nowhere and get out for 200 kind of totals.

It'll vary from batsman to batsman I think. Cook will play cautiously, Root will play his natural aggressive game etc etc....Overall I expect them to be slower than in the home series, and also expect them to score <300 in more than 3 innings out of 6.

 

[theegyptian]

I'd be ****ing amazed if as indicated by Bayliss that they will still open with Ali. 3 failures so far on tour, never opened before, lead spinner in testing conditions so should be concentrating on his bowling, and they want him to open the batting. I'm hopefull Bayliss and Fairbace are just keeping their options open rather than Ali actually been 'likely to open'. Stick Bell to open. Allows him to get in before the spin is on.

Think I'd go Cook, Bell, Root, Taylor, Stokes, Ali, Buttler, Rashid, Wood, Broad, Anderson

If I was a selector on my own I'd possibly be getting rid of Stokes and playing Bairstow but I'll say that I was outvoted by the other selectors (general consensus in this thread being to select Stokes) in this instance. Buttler edges out Bairstow because I don't back either of them to score too many runs (Bairstow the better bat but not by enough) but Buttler is the more solid wicketkeeper. Taylor plays because I reckon he's the third best batsman in these conditions. Tail begins at 5.

 

[weldone]

I'd go

Cook
Ali
Bell
Root
Taylor
Bairstow
Buttler
Rashid
Broad
Finn
Anderson

 

[grecian]

I'd go

Cook
Ali
Bell
Root
Taylor
Bairstow
Buttler
Rashid
Broad
Finn
Anderson

Pretty much my side too, May consider Bell opening and Ali at 3. Won't happen though. Stokes will play

 

[JRC67]

Yes, because Taylor's 2 matches are such a relevant number.

I think what was relevant was he did look completely shot by his third innings against what was a top quality South Africa bowling attack. There wasn't any real criticism of the selectors when he got dropped. He would be in my team, but he has a lot to do to prove he can move to the next level. Having seen him in county cricket a couple of times this summer I think he probably will make runs in the UAe, but I'm not sure he has the technique against top quality quicks and may well get found out again against the South Africans.

 

[mr_mister]

so is Ballance's test career over?