4th Test at Old Trafford, Manchester

[theegyptian]

Overton was decent and showed some real fight with the bat. I wouldn't be dropping him just yet.

btw I wonder if anyone would have picked Chris Woakes to get dropped from the team half way through the series

Woakes has played in 13 series of 2 games or more and only twice (4 match series v Pakistan in 2016, and 2 match series in Bangladesh in 2016) has he played the whole series. So not really that surprising that he hasn't lasted the series here.

 

[Burgey]

Nah I had him making valuable troll runs down the order

 

[Dan]

With the alternatives England have around, I'm fine with persisting with Buttler at 6.

Curran's basically Test David Willey at the moment, but should really be invested in given he's the best performing foetus in world cricket. Plus COverton has a County Championship to win.

So something like:

Burns
Not Roy
Root
Stokes
Pope
Bairstow
Buttler
Woakes/Curran
Archer
Leach
Broad

 

[stephen]

I still think England only dropped Woakes because he was either injured or found out with the bat. His bowling was pretty good and better than Overton's bowling.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

I still think England only dropped Woakes because he was either injured or found out with the bat. His bowling was pretty good and better than Overton's bowling.

I know the England selectors aren't infallible, but dropping your first change bowler because he's found out with the bat would be bonkers by any standards.

 

[The Battlers Prince]

They are bonkers. It really felt like that’s what happened, there was nothing wrong with his bowling and he was dropped??

 

[theegyptian]

Well Root was hardly bowling him so either he's not really fit, or he couldn't trust him to bowl more overs because he was bowling poorly. Woakes was crap that third test.

 

[Spark]

I know the England selectors aren't infallible, but dropping your first change bowler because he's found out with the bat would be bonkers by any standards.

Would also call into question how Broad has been kept on for the last, oh, four years or so.

 

[Dan]

When I look at the series numbers, Woakes ain't the problem:
The Ashes, 2019 - England Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com

 

[stephen]

When I look at the series numbers, Woakes ain't the problem:
The Ashes, 2019 - England Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com

I too can't understand why Woakes was dropped.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Was a bit baffled by how he was used even when he was picked to play.

 

[social]

Allegedly Woakes is on the nose due to something he said in a team meeting

 

[TheJediBrah]

Allegedly Woakes is on the nose due to something he said in a team meeting

I would like to hear more about this

 

[Spark]

Yeah, gonna need a source for that

 

[social]

Botham

Final decision left to Root

Something something dressing room

Treatment of Woakes all series has been strange

 

[Spark]

Ah, all I heard was Botham insinuating in the post-match that the reason was something ridiculous. That would fit that description if so

 

[Jack1]

Botham

Final decision left to Root

Something something dressing room

Treatment of Woakes all series has been strange

The problem for Woakes is he's a weaker bowler than Archer, Anderson and Broad. He's a weaker all rounder overall than Stokes. He's not sharp.

The obvious mismanagement of Woakes was at Lord's where he should have taken the new ball. But on field I think the captain is going with gut instinct, which I can understand.

Archer might have edged Woakes out long term. Woakes can be a back up for Stokes or a seamer. I just think with Archer bursting on the scene Root isn't excited by Woakes anymore. Which is a shame, because Woakes is a good cricketer.