1st Test, Edgbaston, Birmingham

[MW1304]

Root batting three is so pointless it's to bat Denly at four, ffs.

Really weird stuff. Seems reluctant to do it as well. So it's extending a destabilised top 3 into a destabilised top 4.

 

[Prince EWS]

Really weird stuff. Seems reluctant to do it as well. So it's extending a destabilised top 3 into a destabilised top 4.

Yeah I'd actually be okay with it if they had another middle order player they wanted to pick and it suited the balance of the side, like when Foakes was playing. But Denly himself would be as comfortable if not moreso batting three anyway. He's spent most of his domestic career opening, ffs.

Maybe it's a bit of a troll and Denly actually will open with Roy at four. I could see that making at least a little bit of sense even though it definitely would not be my call.

 

[harsh.ag]

Might have had *some* merit if it was to hide Roy at 4 but this would be stupid.

 

[MW1304]

Yeah I'd actually be okay with it if they had another middle order player they wanted to pick and it suited the balance of the side, like when Foakes was playing. But Denly himself would be as comfortable if not moreso batting three anyway. He's spent most of his domestic career opening, ffs.

Maybe it's a bit of a troll and Denly actually will open with Roy at four. I could see that making at least a little bit of sense even though it definitely would not be my call.

That would make more sense, but Denly was pretty clear about it in a press conference. Would be a worryingly good liar.

 

[Uppercut]

Root batting three is so pointless it's to bat Denly at four, ffs.

I don’t really understand why Root moving up became A Thing? Such a meh decision at best.

Now it feels like they’ve only done it because Burgey kept making chicken noises at him.

 

[Bijed]

Moeen needs to sort his batting out if he's gonna keep that Test place . He don't bowl well enough to not take a proper place in the batting order . In my opinion etc .

Actually surprised they left Jofra out for this one... but he has to start at Lords in my opinion .

Our side looks even more fragile without the sort-of insurance of Moeen making runs down the order so he really does need to sort it out, but tbf since he returned to the side against Inida last year he's taken 45 wickets at 23.13, so even with his batting declining so badly you couldn't really have asked for more from any spinner we'd have picked in that period.

Might have had *some* merit if it was to hide Roy at 4 but this would be stupid.

Not sure batting Roy at 4 qualifies as 'hiding' him in this lineup - might need to stick him at 7 for that to be the case

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Our side looks even more fragile without the sort-of insurance of Moeen making runs down the order so he really does need to sort it out, but tbf since he returned to the side against Inida last year he's taken 45 wickets at 23.13, so even with his batting declining so badly you couldn't really have asked for more from any spinner we'd have picked in that period.

Just think that Leach brings more control so long term will be the answer. Moeen has a history of never really keeping it tight in comparison.

 

[Tom Flint]

Mo has always bowled well in England strangely, sometimes it's actually away in more favourable conditions when he doesn't.
But I would be picking and staying with leach now and keep his there for future as our no 1 spinner. A bit like aus have done with lyon

 

[Bijed]

I agree that Leach is a better bet long-term, I just wouldn't like to drop a player who's doing really well in a discipline right now just because we have another candidate who might do a bit better. Wait until Mo's bowling falls away before axing him.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

In fairness to Mo even though i'd drop him he has a record better than Tufnell and Giles and he can bat too even if he has had a bad run with the bat. Not many spinners worldwide in test history have as many tons as Mo if any (can't be arsed to look)

 

[MW1304]

Tony Greig for one. Probably are a few.

Just feels like he could have been a genuinely great allrounder. Surprising that it's the batting that's fallen away to some extent, though not helped by being shifted up and down the order and having his role changed every few minutes.

Have predicted him to come good with the bat this series, although if he bats 9 he probably won't get a ton of chances.

 

[Bijed]

In fairness to Mo even though i'd drop him he has a record better than Tufnell and Giles and he can bat too even if he has had a bad run with the bat. Not many spinners worldwide in test history have as many tons as Mo if any (can't be arsed to look)

Yeah, sometimes it's like the fact he's massively underperforming with the bat compared to what he can do makes us angrier than his actual output should. To go with his 45 wickets @ 23 since his recall, he's averaged 16.64 with the bat - obviously that's not a good batting average at all, but if we'd picked a specialist spinner with those stats we'd just be saying "aren't those good numbers",

Edit: The fact that his poor batting stats include failures in the top 7 should obviously count against him, but if he puts up those all-round numbers batting at 8/9, then that'd be perfectly fine

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Tony Greig for one. Probably are a few.

Just feels like he could have been a genuinely great allrounder. Surprising that it's the batting that's fallen away to some extent, though not helped by being shifted up and down the order and having his role changed every few minutes.

Have predicted him to come good with the bat this series, although if he bats 9 he probably won't get a ton of chances.

How often was Greigy a spinner?

Shakib has the same amount of tons as Mo and everyone would say Shakib is a superior batsman.

 

[Burgey]

No, London which is only 2 hours down the road. Nothing wrong with brummies btw and I'm sure despite the cold weather they will be giving your boys a very warm welcome tomorrow morning

They’ll be terrified. I hope there’s a trumpet. It makes what’s otherwise just another greeting of ****wit supporter groups really clever. Or something.

 

[Burgey]

England team has been announced for the first test.

Burns
Roy
Root
Denly
Butler
Stokes
Bairstow
Woakes
Ali
Broad
Anderson

What I and probably everyone expected. Would have liked to have seen Jofra but I think he'll do well for a bit more of a rest. Additionally, I think him and Anderson both playing with potential niggles could have ended quite badly.

Good to see Anderson made it. Want the best players up and going.

 

[Niall]

Golden rule of test cricket for England,,,don't drop Ali in home Summer tests, nearly always throws in a worldly performance. Just ask India.

 

[Woodster]

No surprise that England have opted against throwing Archer straight in, and I agree. No point risking Archer (and Anderson) having just returned from injury and only a T20 game under his belt. Long series in a short space of time, best to keep him under wraps for now.

The bowler I presume he’d likely come in ahead of would be Woakes, who’s performance against Ireland contributes to him deserving first shot at the Aussies especially at a ground he’s so familiar with. No problem at all with Woakes getting the nod.

The other contentious point is the selection of Root at 3, a more I do like, but I agree with some previous comments on this thread, only if you would looking at introducing another middle order batsman to perhaps bat at five. I like Root at three in this current side but just seems to fly in the face of logic just swapping him and Denly round.

 

[trundler]

Denly at 4 is dumb. Broad should be first change.

 

[Adders]

It's odd that Buttler keeps in ODIs and Bairstow in tests given they're both keepers.

Would it make more sense to you if they were both bowlers?

 

[trundler]

Makes sense because Bairstow has to open.