4th Test at Old Trafford, Manchester

[Uppercut]

Buttler played a crucial innings at Lord's and his last dismissal wasn't his fault.

You can really see why players bat for their average when someone stonewalls their side to safety and people turn around one test later and say "who the ****'s this guy averaging <10 over three tests."

 

[BoyBrumby]

Denly opening with Roy going 4 is ****ing stupid and won't improve the situation. Just have some balls and drop the useless ****ers who are averaging sub 10 (Roy and Buttler)

It's a fair point, trenchantly expressed.

Notwithstanding though, the Roy and/or Buttler getting the arse ship sailed with the XIII announced for OT, unless Scurran comes in on the blind side.

I'd like to think that if Sibley had scored more than 0 & 9 in his last CC game he might've come into the shake up, but I'm far from convinced. In any case a player is entitled to one **** game, it's just a little unfortunate (read: the English domestic season's calendar is an abortion) that it's the only FC game he's had since the Ashes began.

 

[FBU]

Buttler played a crucial innings at Lord's and his last dismissal wasn't his fault.

You can really see why players bat for their average when someone stonewalls their side to safety and people turn around one test later and say "who the ****'s this guy averaging <10 over three tests."

I'd say it was his fault. Left his crease too early (2 mankads to his name) and couldn't get back. Stokes took one and a half steps, Buttler was mid pitch.

 

[Uppercut]

I'd say it was his fault. Left his crease too early (2 mankads to his name) and couldn't get back. Stokes took one and a half steps, Buttler was mid pitch.

Naw this is madness. Stokes called him through! He was supposed to deliberately take the quick single slowly just in case he got sent back?

 

[vcs]

There's something about the type of Buttler's dismissals that gives the feel that it might just not be the format for him (like Rohit Sharma), but he's so talented and England are short of batting resources that they'll keep giving him chances anyway. He'll play the occasional good knock and average 30+ because he's just that talented, but ultimately he might not be good enough to be a specialist Test batsman.

 

[Test_Fan_Only]

Surely destroying Roy's confidence by making him open before switching him to the middle order is exactly the way to ensure playing him in the middle order will not work. It probably did not have much of a chance anyway but he has been crucified.

Marsh is not a FC batsman or a FC bowler, but he is probably a decent number 7 in a team which has a wicket keeper capable of batting in the top 6. However at test level if he could bat his bowling would be useful and if he could bowl his batting would strengthen the lower order. But he has one important qualification, he has the correct surname.

 

[BSM]

I think he does have it in him to bat for a couple of hours against the new ball, which doesn't seem to be the case with Roy. But the way he was playing the short ball (by never keeping his eyes on it) and got out in the second innings at Headingley doesn't create much confidence. I don't think he's likely to blunt the new ball attack and then kick on and make a big hundred.

Problem is we've now got two openers who have got a definite weakness against short pitched bowling. I'd wager they're both going to survive at least a little while before getting out (which is what we desperately want anyway) but there isn't great prospects for them to go on and get big scores consistently.

 

[hazsa19]

Lost a bit of the hope I had a week ago. With a Jimmy/ Broad/ Archer attack I could see us rolling them. With the Roy/ Denly swap I actually think our batting is weakened, if that's possible. Feel like it's time to remove Roy from the firing line.

 

[Burgey]

Buttler played a crucial innings at Lord's and his last dismissal wasn't his fault.

You can really see why players bat for their average when someone stonewalls their side to safety and people turn around one test later and say "who the ****'s this guy averaging <10 over three tests."

He made 30 at Lord's. A career defining 30. That's Mitch Marsh/ Jason Sangha/ Jack Edwards level of undeserved boosting right there. How he isn't under the kosh is beyond me.

 

[Burgey]

I'd say it was his fault. Left his crease too early (2 mankads to his name) and couldn't get back. Stokes took one and a half steps, Buttler was mid pitch.

No way. Stokes flat out barbecued him. He'd have gone on to make seven if it hadn't happened.

Anyway all the talk this morning seems to be Marsh will play. FMD. Woeful. Meanwhile you've got Burns and KPat sitting at home. What a joke.

Part of the justification coming out of the camp seems to be "too many left handers." Odd. Just pick your best batsmen. No idea why this is an issue. No one bats an eyelid if there's a top six of all right handers. Going by the forecast it looks like being a damp squib anyway.

 

[Spikey]

They've dropped usman and pattinson

 

[aussie tragic]

Can't believe they haven't confirmed Starc as Siddle also in the XII

 

[GotSpin]

No Mitch Marsh is a relief

 

[Burgey]

Lol siddle in the XII again. Great Australian, obviously. No MMarsh thank ****. If they pick Starc on what’s usually a dry deck with some reverse, we’ll win this in a canter, weather permitting.

 

[Starfighter]

Could go either way on dropping Patto, but don't really have any complaints about dropping Usman.

 

[aussie tragic]

In a show of strength, Australia replace Khawaja who is averaging 20.33 in the series with Smith averaging 126.00.

Meanwhile England retain Roy (9.50) and Butler (9.16) lol

 

[Burgey]

Deadset skipping into Tuesday knowing MMarsh isn’t playing.

 

[Spikey]

gonna have a hard time convincing me Wade or Harris are better bets than Usmam, but oh well

 

[Burgey]

Usman is the anti-Steve Waugh. Never does a thing when most needed and downhill skis when it’s a road. They’ve just lost patience with the pillow after consecutive home and away series contributing nothing. Let’s be honest, he’s just been a massive pile of nothing since the UAE.

 

[wrongun]

Lol siddle in the XII again. Great Australian, obviously. No MMarsh thank ****. If they pick Starc on what’s usually a dry deck with some reverse, we’ll win this in a canter, weather permitting.

What a shame that MMarsh wasnt picked...said nobody ever. The weather is terrible every morning but gets better around noon.