Road to the 2017-18 Ashes in Australia

[S.Kennedy]

A few interesting team selection suggestions from a panel including Harmison, Jack Russell, David Lloyd in today's The Cricket Paper, all of whom believe Root should follow his own inclination and stay at four. Bumping Bairstow up to three, given the gloves to Foakes, or Moeen Ali to three are two of the suggestions.

 

[Spark]

Moeen Ali at 3 is a surefire way to bake-in England's top order problems IMO.

 

[Tom Flint]

Just get collingwood out there to bat 3 ffs. Would anyone actually doubt he would do worse than ballance vince or malan

 

[MW1304]

A few interesting team selection suggestions from a panel including Harmison, Jack Russell, David Lloyd in today's The Cricket Paper, all of whom believe Root should follow his own inclination and stay at four. Bumping Bairstow up to three, given the gloves to Foakes, or Moeen Ali to three are two of the suggestions.

So we would be going into the Ashes having completely dismantled our biggest strength over the past couple of years. Good to know.

 

[Gob]

I'd also throw Moz in the mix, but I know it's not likely. Perfectly happy to retain either Maxy or Cartwright at 6 for a bit. 7 is where a change is more urgent.

You need a bloke who can bowl decent seam up like M Marsh with all 3 fast bowler returning from injuries.

 

[S.Kennedy]

So we would be going into the Ashes having completely dismantled our biggest strength over the past couple of years. Good to know.

What, the middle order of the two northern gingers and Ali? That is buggered already through some after hours Stokesiness.

 

[S.Kennedy]

Just get collingwood out there to bat 3 ffs. Would anyone actually doubt he would do worse than ballance vince or malan

Given the season he has had there have been worse ideas (1087 at 49.41) though I prefer Colly as a five - six, moving everyone up. England's batting coach will have had an infinitely better season than Vince's (626 at 32.95) and Malan (682 at 28.42)!!

 

[MW1304]

What, the middle order of the two northern gingers and Ali? That is buggered already through some after hours Stokesiness.

One part of it already is, we don't need to do the rest ourselves. Neither of them should be higher than 5.

 

[S.Kennedy]

One part of it already is, we don't need to do the rest ourselves. Neither of them should be higher than 5.

How about you keep Bairstow and Ali together but merely bump them up, Root at three, Bairstow and Ali at four and five (I've always seen Bairstow as a four) and shield your creaky bats, your Vinces, Ballances and/or Malans in the middle order?

 

[burr]

With both Stokes (I think, haven't been following) and Pattinson out it does feel a bit of a let down. Two mediocre teams with some okish players facing off. And Smithy - this could be his form slump come at just the wrong time. Have the feeling in my bones Root is going to go big this series.

 

[MW1304]

How about you keep Bairstow and Ali together but merely bump them up, Root at three, Bairstow and Ali at four and five (I've always seen Bairstow as a four) and shield your creaky bats, your Vinces, Ballances and/or Malans in the middle order?

I just feel like that's unnecessarily exposing them. Especially when someone like Vince or Ballance are top order batsmen by trade, I don't know that hiding them down the order would even help.

Root really should go at three though, I don't see anyone else filling that hole.

 

[Burgey]

With both Stokes (I think, haven't been following) and Pattinson out it does feel a bit of a let down. Two mediocre teams with some okish players facing off. And Smithy - this could be his form slump come at just the wrong time. Have the feeling in my bones Root is going to go big this series.

Smith will make a poultice of runs, as will Root. They’re class players.

 

[S.Kennedy]

I just feel like that's unnecessarily exposing them. Especially when someone like Vince or Ballance are top order batsmen by trade, I don't know that hiding them down the order would even help.

Root really should go at three though, I don't see anyone else filling that hole.

He just doesn't want to. You wouldn't want to anger your captain. I would prefer it but not insist on it. I really do not want Ballance at three. If they (the ecb) insist on his inclusion at least chuck him in at six and hope we don't require him haha! I think the Aussies will sledge him with, ''Gary, Gary, Move Your Legs'' like some drunk at Durham did during an one-dayer.

 

[Gob]

Smith will make a poultice of runs, as will Root. They’re class players.

Can see Warner making millions.

 

[S.Kennedy]

It will be a tedious Ashes if all they've done is prepare roads for Warner to bat England out of contention like that series against the W. Indies.

 

[Tangles]

Roads are what they have done for a few years so expect them. CA wants the gate money from all days.

 

[Gob]

It will be a tedious Ashes if all they've done is prepare roads for Warner to bat England out of contention like that series against the W. Indies.

Warner doesn't need roads to pile up against whatever the attack England puts on the paddock.

 

[Moonsorrow999]

It will be a tedious Ashes if all they've done is prepare roads for Warner to bat England out of contention like that series against the W. Indies.

A Windies side that England lost a test match to?

 

[Adders]

A Windies side that England lost a test match to?

Wtf has that got to do with what Kennedy said?

It's gonna be a tedious Ashes if this is the standard of posting and "banter".

Re the wickets.....of course they are going to be roads, theyd be mad to prepare anything with any life in them. That will only benefit us.

 

[Spark]

They'll be standard Australian pitches, i.e. roads if you can bat on them, horrible if you can't.