I know it doesn't make much difference to Bairstow, but it does to many others (Sangakkara for example). What would Prior have averaged with the bat if he didn't keep?
Yeah but I don't think they would have been any weaker if Bairstow was the WK/Bat instead of Prior. If Bairstow this summer was that bad with the gloves before, I would definitely be more hesitant to pick him but he was generally fine with the gloves and Prior was poor with the gloves early on in his career if we're going to cherry-pick little periods. On eye test, Prior probably wouldn't have averaged much more without the gloves. It's not like he had to worry about batting shortly after keeping too.
Bairstow literally cost us an Ashes series - that's unforgivable.
2017-2021 was one of the most bowler-friendly periods in test cricket history. Prior's career overlapped with one of the most batsman-friendly periods in test cricket history. And English pitches in both eras were no exceptions to the global norms. The runs-per-wicket in tests Bairstow has featured in is very low.
Maybe batsmen just weren't very good from 2017-21?
Think it's possible for there to be a few factors at play. It's arguable that was one of them. But I don't think it's valid to say that's the only reason. There is actually evidence that seam movement increased.
Ryder averaged 33 (with a decent sr) and obviously didn't achieve what he could have, where Baz averaged 3 runs less over a much longer career but his career was essentially 3 parts and that final run as a 100+sr opener was literally game changing for the side.
Mike Hussey surely walks into this side
And Nathan Bracken
Collingwood over Stokes?
Stokes is obviously a more dynamic and better ODI bat, but Collingwood was a much better bowler and a slightly better fielder.
Pakistan-
I wouldn't have Ajmal in there because of chucking but good job. That's pretty dead on.
