Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Wasn't even me.
-
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***Official*** England in South Africa 2015/16
- Thread starter GIMH
- Start date
Cabinet96
Hall of Fame Member
Nah, there's a difference between thinking he shouldn't have got dropped for the Ashes two and a half years ago and thinking he's going to dominate in SA as a top order player next month. All he had to do in the Ashes to justify getting picked ahead of Bairstow would've been score two fifties, and Root might have done better in the middle order too.
I don't think anyone had really considered the possibility of him getting a recall either.
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Merge was inevitable though. You're stupid for not realising that. 
theegyptian
International Vice-Captain
Big moan incoming but the selectors have no idea what they are doing.
Bell should have been dropped before the start of the india series - if (and it's what they've done) they were going to drop him after playing allright on the India tour. Bell has always been average in Asia.
Taylor was always the better bet in Asian conditions. Every mother****er could see it. They basically wasted two tests playing lots of ****. Taylor should have been in from the first test or they should have stuck with Bell through this SA tour. I'd expect Bell to easily outscore Taylor in SA.
Bell can't have any complaints about being dropped though. The only reason he would keep getting selected was the shortcomings of others and the practicalities of the top order. His performances weren't up to it (but you could say that of half the team)
Buttler selection? Either they're bringing him straight back into the team in which case they've dropped a guy for one test, will screw over Bairstow, and will still bring someone back into the team who isn't up to test cricket - or they've selected him to be reserve wicketkeeper which is perverse given the schedule that players who play 3 formats for England. He's better off resting in the short term (or broadening his experiences and playing Big bash) and staying fit and keen for 50 over and t20 where he is a real asset rather than sticking around the test team where he is kind of average at best anyway.
Compton? Well once they drop Bell they had to bring a Compton/Carberry back to bat in the top 3. I'd have just stuck with Bell because him averaging 30 is basically the best you can hope of Compton.
What exactly has Ballance done to get back in the team?
Bayliss has done a few interviews and he doesn't exactly inspire confidence that he knows much about his players. I don't think they're doing a very good job of playing to the players strengths right now.
Bell should have been dropped before the start of the india series - if (and it's what they've done) they were going to drop him after playing allright on the India tour. Bell has always been average in Asia.
Taylor was always the better bet in Asian conditions. Every mother****er could see it. They basically wasted two tests playing lots of ****. Taylor should have been in from the first test or they should have stuck with Bell through this SA tour. I'd expect Bell to easily outscore Taylor in SA.
Bell can't have any complaints about being dropped though. The only reason he would keep getting selected was the shortcomings of others and the practicalities of the top order. His performances weren't up to it (but you could say that of half the team)
Buttler selection? Either they're bringing him straight back into the team in which case they've dropped a guy for one test, will screw over Bairstow, and will still bring someone back into the team who isn't up to test cricket - or they've selected him to be reserve wicketkeeper which is perverse given the schedule that players who play 3 formats for England. He's better off resting in the short term (or broadening his experiences and playing Big bash) and staying fit and keen for 50 over and t20 where he is a real asset rather than sticking around the test team where he is kind of average at best anyway.
Compton? Well once they drop Bell they had to bring a Compton/Carberry back to bat in the top 3. I'd have just stuck with Bell because him averaging 30 is basically the best you can hope of Compton.
What exactly has Ballance done to get back in the team?
Bayliss has done a few interviews and he doesn't exactly inspire confidence that he knows much about his players. I don't think they're doing a very good job of playing to the players strengths right now.
Lillian Thomson
Hall of Fame Member
Dale Steyn must be licking his lips, and possibly other parts of his anatomy, looking at the potential batting line up.
COMPO!
Absolutely stoked at this news tbh. So glad he's back in the England side.
1. Cook
2. Compton
3. Taylor
4. Root
5. Ballance
6. Stokes
7. Bairstow +
8. Moeen
9. Woakes
10. Broad
11. Anderson
12. Hales
13. Patel
14. Buttler
15. Jordan
16. Footitt
Love me some Jos, but South Africa is not the place to try to get him back into Test form.
Jordan over Plunkett disappointing, and I'd rather Ansari over Patel if Zafar is fit again, but otherwise I quite like this squad.
Absolutely stoked at this news tbh. So glad he's back in the England side.
1. Cook
2. Compton
3. Taylor
4. Root
5. Ballance
6. Stokes
7. Bairstow +
8. Moeen
9. Woakes
10. Broad
11. Anderson
12. Hales
13. Patel
14. Buttler
15. Jordan
16. Footitt
Love me some Jos, but South Africa is not the place to try to get him back into Test form.
Jordan over Plunkett disappointing, and I'd rather Ansari over Patel if Zafar is fit again, but otherwise I quite like this squad.
Spikey
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Gnske
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Lel is this right, two day turnaround between tests?
Scaly piscine
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Ah the old experience argument. Trotted out by idiots the world over. All that experience really helps when he gets out cheaply and keeps dropping catches.
Watson33
U19 12th Man
Strong rumours he'll go on and play in the BBL (strong rumours it will be with Adelaide too, of course linking him up with Dizzy again). Maybe first signs that Strauss does actually mean it when he says he's putting more weight on white-ball cricket?
Jono
Virat Kohli (c)
Hahahahha. This is the best wahhhh of Q42015.
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Like I said, wasn't even me.
Marius
International Debutant
Yes, it is.
All Boxing Day and New Years Tests have a two-day turnaround, whether played in Aus, SA, or NZ.
Have you ever watched cricket in any of those countries?
