**Official** England in Bangladesh 2016

[Stace]

Given Ballance hasn't batted this innings and didn't play the odis he's looking the least likely of the bats to play the test. Quite a turnaround from the summer if so with no Vince, Ballance or Hales.

Ballance came in at no.7 and got 36*.

 

[mackembhoy]

Sounds like Duckett to bat at 4. We love to stick square pegs in round holes.

As one of Ballances biggest critics in summer 2015 and 2016, he should be playing. Can see him excelling in the sub continent and he's a middle order player.

Giving 2 lads there test debuts when there are real question marks around our batting doesn't seem wise also.

 

[England87]

Does anyone know what happened with Ben Stokes in the warm up game? Apparently refused to shake hands with the batsmen, as usual the Asian cricket blogs and small magazines are going crazy and supporters calling him racist. Has he said anything about what happened?

 

[listento_me]

Duckett would be a nailed on starter you'd think. Wonder if they will take gamble and go with Hameed as well, Duckett at 4.

Lots of talk of both guys getting a go the other day. I can see it happening.

 

[weldone]

England's bowlers' capability with the bat will be really handy.

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

Does anyone know what happened with Ben Stokes in the warm up game? Apparently refused to shake hands with the batsmen, as usual the Asian cricket blogs and small magazines are going crazy and supporters calling him racist. Has he said anything about what happened?

I dont know the actual story that he shaked hands or not but from the picture it cant be judged. Abdul Mozid the centurion put his hand forward for shaking and stokes was busy with the towel in hand as in the picture. So he later might have shaked hands after all. A single picture cant tell what actually happened. I think people trying to making a mountain out of a molehill. Its the result of stokes pushing tamim. As with the BD team ( also they are criticizied for immatured behaviour sometimes which I fully agree with), their supporters are not really also maturing which is pathetic and in every series some players are being targeted to get mocked at. This time its stokes. Its better to ignore those morons and magazines that are reporting these things.

 

[mackembhoy]

England's bowlers' capability with the bat will be really handy.

Broad is the only bunny in our most likely first XI.

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

Reading the report now and by Mazid's statement, it looks like Stokes might have refused to shake hands actually. As we dont know the full story what actually happened, I would not blame entirely stokes if he did refuse to shake hands. Mazid might have said something also which fueled stokes.

In the first session of the match, the visitors managed to get opener Soumya Sarkar out early, but were defied by an attacking half century by his partner Abdul Mazid. As lunch was called, and the players started to make their way to the dressing rooms, Mazid walked over to England all-rounder Ben Stokes and stretched out his hand.

Stokes, who had just finished bowling his fourth over of the day, was making his way to the umpire, when he was taken aback by the gesture, and responded by pulling his arm away. It is being called ‘unsportsmanlike’ by the Bangladeshi media, but the combination of puzzlement at a handshake being offered at the lunch break and the general wariness surrounding handshakes on the ongoing tour may be seen as a sturdy defence for Stokes’ snub.

Even more curiously, the Bangladeshi batsman retired hurt with a bout of cramps at the lunch break, only coming on to resume his innings late in the evening.

Some sections of Bangladesh fans have frenziedly pointed out Stokes’ snub as a continuing case of unsportsmanlike conduct from the Englishmen on the tour. While Stokes has not made any comments on the strange incident yet, the BCB XI opener Abdul Mazid offered some inscrutable insight into the matter.

Speaking to local TV channels at the Chittagong stadium after the day’s play, he said, “When I was batting, Stokes and the rest were speaking a lot to me. It can’t be called sledging, but they were saying ‘He’s batting like this’, ‘He’s batting like that’.”

Mazid had smashed 92 in the first session, a knock that ensured that the BCB XI side enjoyed the advantage in the match, finishing the match with a first innings lead. In the four over Stokes had bowled to him in the session, there had been three boundaries hit and four dot balls.

 

[MW1304]

Broad is the only bunny in our most likely first XI.

Broad's recent problems have been with pace bowling, so I wouldn't be surprised if he bats slightly better on this tour.

Don't think he's ever bat at 11 before though, so that might hurt his ego.

 

[91Jmay]

Broad is a total bunny against spin. Literally slog or out

 

[MW1304]

Broad is a total bunny against spin. Literally slog or out

Likewise with pace recently. Historically he's been better against spin though, especially when it's flat. Considering his marked diminishing returns are largely psychological, ever since he was hit in the face, I'm predicting he'll do a bit better on this tour.

A larger point on Broad, this is a potentially career-defining winter for him. His away record isn't actually that bad, the big hole in his record is entirely in the subcontinent where he's done practically nothing. If he can have a great tour, especially with the possibility that Anderson could be injured or at least not at full fitness for a good part of it, he could cement his greatness. Hopefully home fans get on his back again, that tends to work.

 

[listento_me]

My preferred XI for England would be:

1. Cook c
2. Duckett (it's a left/left combo but Hameed probably needs a bit more time and Bairstow one last chance)
3. Root
4. Bairstow (I know statistically he's done ok but too many of his runs h ave been scrappy, he needs to show reassurance)
5. Buttler wk (a better keeper than Bairstow)
6. Stokes
7. Ali
8. Woakes
9. Rashid
10. Broad
11. Ball

Ballance could have been in but I always prefer the option of an extra bowler, especially considering England have genuine batsmen as low as 9. Lots of options in this team.

Bairstow and Ali have been iffy and scrappy, fighting for their position. With regards to Ali, he has looked ineffective here, with Rashid doing a miles better job. WHo knows, even Ansari might get a shout.

Tbh, no disrespect to Bangladesh but if England play to their best ability, they could try out a couple more youngsters and still win.

 

[91Jmay]

Bairstow has been far, far more than ok. He's been superb

 

[mr_mister]

yep I don't think either Bairstow or Ali are in any danger of losing their spots, even if they have a bad tour here

 

[flibbertyjibber]

If Bairstow has a rough tour he will probably lose the gloves and play solely as a bat, has enough in the bank now to get a longer crack at it than some. Moeen needs to bowl well, his batting has been ok but his bowling not so. If Rashid or Batty outperform him he will be under pressure.

 

[marc71178]

Have to agree, I've been one of Bairstow's biggest detractors but he's definitely the 3rd best batsman in the side at present.

 

[weldone]

How will the Bangla top 7 look like?

Tamim, Soumya, Mominul, Mahmud, Mushfiq, Shakib, Liton?

 

[Prince EWS]

Nah Kayes will definitely be playing.

 

[weldone]

Nah Kayes will definitely be playing.

Ok, I haven't been following Bhimrul's FC career lately.

Bhimrul comes in for Soumya then, with the other 6 being the same?

 

[mr_mister]

I want both Soumya and Shabbir in - Kayes still looks like a slogging amateur to me