marc71178
Eyes not spreadsheets
Moeen, Leach and Bess I would say. Rashid is crap with the red ball, just hasn’t got the control.Which spinners would you take to SL?
Moeen, Leach and Bess I would say. Rashid is crap with the red ball, just hasn’t got the control.Which spinners would you take to SL?
No.at the current rate root and the rest of the middle order are going, would anyone be against inserting morgan as a specialist captain?
how does that change anything?No.
If we're thinking of a bit out of the box ideas, thoughts on trying Cook at 3 to force Root to bat 4?
Woakes has struggled badly away, that's why I prefer to play Curran instead.If we're resting somebody it should be Broad, but with him travelling with the team incase Anderson gets injured, and the bowling attack should be Stokes, Moeen, Woakes, Leach and Anderson.
Don't like that. Prefer Burns in, Cook as the opener. Burns captain, Cook vice. Root bats 4 and someone else bats 3. Root clearly isn't up to it as a captain or number 3. He's not a natural leader.No.
If we're thinking of a bit out of the box ideas, thoughts on trying Cook at 3 to force Root to bat 4?
I think Lizzy is having a tease. Apart from his age and the fact that he barely plays FC cricket nowadays, Tres' mental difficulties stopped him playing overseas 12 years ago.Not just Bell but Trescothick (Legside Lizzy, Times) are being espoused!
I think that this article might have a point about how coming into the team to partner Cook, especially after so many failed partners, might be especially difficult. And it might be time to just change things up a bit, allow a couple of lads without baggage to open and try to form a partnership, whilst also maybe revitalising Cook a little bit by having him 3, and getting Root to bat in his best position.how does that change anything?
I think Vince might play considering it's his home ground.If Cook is out of the next test due to paternity leave and Jennings is dropped and Bairstow is crocked, we would have a very interesting top 5 at Southampton.
Gubbins has made division one runs when they won the County Championship.I think Vince might play considering it's his home ground.
Burns
Vince
Root
Hildreth
Pope
This might be England's best top five. Hildreth won't get picked though, maybe that can be Moeen. In which case Moeen slots 3 and Root and Pope move down.
However, Vince is unlikely to open (although he can bat there) and England are unlikely to have the balls to actually pick their best team which means Moeen or Hildreth in the top 5 if Cook and Bairstow are out (Jennings is not good enough for test cricket fullstop)
In which case more likely is Vince 3, Burns opener, Root 4, Pope 5. The other opener is hard to work out. I've heard Gubbins on here, but his FC average suggests he will be out of his depth in tests. Especially when he's in CC2 cricket too. That's why I'd be looking at Vince as opener is Cook and Jennings are both out and working down from there. I'm an advocate of picking the best test available regardless of age and reputation.
Anderson, Broad and Woakes are nailed on. Stokes has to make runs in this innings or he's under threat from Moeen and Curran. Buttler is under big threat unless he makes a meaningful contribution, otherwise he could arguably be dropped for Foakes. Rashid has been chronically under bowled and under a threat from Moeen for his place. England are a mess right now.
Moeen will be more under bowled than Rashid though which I worry about. Vince in at 3 is fine by me, as long as Burns plays. I say this as a Hants fan and will be at the 4th test.I'd pick Vince and bat him at number 3. More down to his form this year than the game being played at his home ground. And as you say, that allows Root and Pope to drop a place in the batting order, which I approve of. I think Moeen might replace Rashid; if it's a close call between their bowling, you may as well bolster the batting.
I know, but CC2 is where he is currently playing as his career FC average suggest he will struggle in tests. It's very rare a player with a career FC average under 40 can hold their place as a specialist batsman in test cricket for a side like England.Gubbins has made division one runs when they won the County Championship.
2016 Middlesex County Champions. Actually an interesting list looking at the current situation lol
1. Jennings 1548 @ 64.50
2. Gubbins 1409 @ 61.26
3. Trescothick 1239 @ 51.62
4. Stoneman 1234 @ 45.70
5. Hameed 1198 @ 49.91
6. Lees 1165 @ 40.17
7. Burns 1144 @ 40.85
Gubbins has made more England Lions runs than Burns. Burns has been oddly not on England Lions radar until recently but unfortunately failed in his game v India where Gubbins got a 70.
Gubbins has made runs in these new off-season events that ECB have brought in and they love even if limited overs cricket.
Of course he will be an option.