Does Ben Foakes have a legitimate case for Test selection?

[Nas207]

The issue then becomes who opens? If you drop Crawley to fit Bairstow youve got to make major changes to a batting lineup that's been England's most successful in a while.

Like people have already said, Pope opening is the obvious answer. With Crawley opening he usually bats in the first 5 overs anyway.

 

[Howe_zat]

Pope opening

'Popening'

 

[Blenkinsop]

Foakes should be undroppable IMO, he's one of the two best keepers in the world and has a very good track record with the bat. Drop Crawley and move Stokes to open -- especially as Stokes is likely to bowl less and less for fear of injury.

 

[Ali TT]

Surely Bairstow should have tried out as an opener for Yorkshire? Get some runs and he’s in ahead of Crawley. At least this discussion is way better than Read v Jones!

Morning Chin, how are you?

 

[Ali TT]

Nah his keeping wasn't amazing but it was fine (other than very early on when he deputised for Prior and was Not Fine).

He didn't lose the gloves to Buttler due to poor keeping, it was because his batting form had slumped and it was hoped that taking the gloves off him would help him get it back. (He was batting at #5 at the time.)

England have had a few cases of selecting batting keepers who are a bit hapless with the gloves to start with, improve over time but at the expense of their batting. GoJo, Bairstow, Buttler... Prior might be the exception and he was dropped for his keeping.

 

[Socerer 01]

The issue then becomes who opens? If you drop Crawley to fit Bairstow youve got to make major changes to a batting lineup that's been England's most successful in a while.

if Stokes will be a meme batsman in tests who swings at everything from now on then he should open as he isn’t getting dropped if he averages 10 with the bat anyway. it’ll be an upgrade on whatever Crawley is

 

[WICFan]

As there is a chance Pope could be asked to captain at some stage during the Ashes, he's definitely playing regardless of how erratic he is at the crease, I think it's Foakes who's getting chopped while Crawley gets a stay of execution.

Maybe with Stokes issue with his knee, if he does miss a test they may be looking at Bairstow coming in at 6 and keeping so they can play an all-rounder at 7.

 

[Socerer 01]

Nah his keeping wasn't amazing but it was fine (other than very early on when he deputised for Prior and was Not Fine).

He didn't lose the gloves to Buttler due to poor keeping, it was because his batting form had slumped and it was hoped that taking the gloves off him would help him get it back. (He was batting at #5 at the time.)

if this is the case then its all the more reason to not give him the gloves again and mess his form

 

[Nas207]

Stokes opening sounds mental but given our current leadership its not a bad prediction

 

[ashley bach]

'Popening'

Have always been told never to trust a Pope.

 

[Prince EWS]

'Popening'

Stokening

 

[ashley bach]

Stokening

Speaking of Stokening 68k up old chap!

 

[trundler]

I expected to see Woakes at 7 in this thread but I did not expect it from someone other than @Red_Ink_Squid

 

[slowfinger]

Surely we protect our asset Bairstow and send Foakes in to open? Would he do worse than, say, Denly?

 

[Chin Music]

Morning Chin, how are you?

I am good thanks. Couldn’t help reflect on the old debate. By any stretch, Foakes has done fine overall when he has played in tests although there are perfectly understandable doubts over his prospects against high quality pace. With Bairstow, I have questions over his ability to do the dual role competently given his previous efforts. You have his pre injury form and he is a must pick, but no-one is dropping Brook at 5.

 

[Ali TT]

I expected to see Woakes at 7 in this thread but I did not expect it from someone other than @Red_Ink_Squid

There are very important non-cricketing reasons why Stokes, Foakes and Woakes should play together.

 

[Socerer 01]

Surely we protect our asset Bairstow and send Foakes in to open? Would he do worse than, say, Denly?

opening and keeping is a huge thing to ask of anyone

especially when you will likely be fielding for more overs because Bazball

 

[halba]

The only case Foakes has is if Bairstow is willing to bat elsewhere as a specialist batsman ,be it as an opener for the bang average Zak Crawley or in place of Ollie Pope whose been okay at No.3 but nothing too special. It would be unfair on Bairstow to warm the bench after 6 test hundreds in his last 10 Tests , somebody has to make way for Jonny .

The bear slots straight back Into the middle order. Foakes is the one to miss out.

Crawley has the toughest job - opening , cos no one else does it.

 

[Socerer 01]

The bear slots straight back Into the middle order. Foakes is the one to miss out.

Crawley has the toughest job - opening , cos no one else does it.

spoken like a true Aussie fan

 

[Brook's side]

England have had a few cases of selecting batting keepers who are a bit hapless with the gloves to start with, improve over time but at the expense of their batting. GoJo, Bairstow, Buttler... Prior might be the exception and he was dropped for his keeping.

Prior was never a specialist keeper. No different to the others.

I'd struggle to think of a specialist keeper who's played more tests than Foakes since Jack Russell.

Edit:
Since Russell (54) there have been:
Rhodes 11
Hegg 2
Read 15
Foster 7
Foakes 20

Non keepers:
Stewart 82
Blakey 2
Jones 34
Prior 79
Ambrose 11
Bairstow 49
Buttler 35
Pope 3
Bracey 2
Billings 1