England Test Team

[Red_Ink_Squid]

It'd be really funny if Ben Duckett hits a run a ball century though.

So it's a dilemma.

 

[kevinw]

Re Craig Overton, the only thing that makes me not entirely rule him out is that he has never really had too many games on the bounce. The last two on the bounce were the home two tests v India in 2021, where he succeeded at Headingley but was mediocre to say the least at the Oval.

Coverton is a good county player, not good enough at the top level.

 

[Victor Ian]

I'd love to see England continue the bazball in India. I mean, root aside, India will bowl England out cheaply anyway. But tonking a few could get England a win by having more runs on the board before they get out anyway. Just don't slog sweep it!

 

[wpdavid]

Especially if they're batting first and want to make the most of conditions before the pitch turns into a sandpit after lunch.

 

[Chin Music]

Especially if they're batting first and want to make the most of conditions before the pitch turns into a sandpit after lunch.

My feelings exactly. It should be remembered that India only turned to sandpits on England's last tour there, after getting whacked by a Root double ton in the first test. I am fully expecting day 1 sandpits for the forthcoming tour.

 

[Chin Music]

Coverton is a good county player, not good enough at the top level.

I can't say that I was convinced by him at all. Probably a yard short of pace if you are going to be a 'channel' bowler at test level when there is less help.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

We could easily turn out with Crawley,Duckett,Pope,Brook,Ahmed, Tongue in our next XI?

Add in Foakes as a solid keeper till Rew is ready and things don't look quite so bad. Huge reliance on Duckett, Pope and Brook though and obviously eeking another 3/4 years of top class Root.

 

[Molehill]

My feelings exactly. It should be remembered that India only turned to sandpits on England's last tour there, after getting whacked by a Root double ton in the first test. I am fully expecting day 1 sandpits for the forthcoming tour.

Not so sure, the one time they produced a sandpit against Australia it backfired. If you make it a minefield for everyone then it negates the advantage the Indian spinners clearly have.

 

[Blenkinsop]

I feel quite positive about our batting stocks, we have the likes of Rew, Hain, Bohannon, Haines, Jamie Smith all waiting in the wings. Foakes has shown himself to be a Test standard player and should be persevered with.

Not so sure about pace bowling. The selectors made some strange choices on the Lions tour. I think Atkinson and Lawes both have a lot of potential but there will definitely be a post-Anderson/Broad slump before we form another balanced and consistent attack.

Spin bowling is thin gruel as usual, but Dawson had such a spectacular all-round season they surely have to pick him and give him a proper go.

 

[Owzat]

I'm saying England needs to blood the next generation of young players, because I'm still skeptical about this lot (other than Brook)

has been apparent for a long long time England play series by series which may not sound daft, but with little regard for the future.

problem also is lingering players like Broad and Anderson, do a good enough job and fill their boots, but takes up two bowling slots and not as if either is a shoe in for #7 or #8 ie any newbs will have to bat a bit or scrap for the scraps ie one bowling slot maybe

also England are dinosaur like when it comes to spinners, Leach has done a decent job, then they try someone for one tour, another for another, no consistency which is same for other bowlers - not helped by injuries and indeed some not cutting it.

Batting they have gone against their longstanding chop n change policy, bottom line is most newbs got reasonable runs in the side, averaged mid 20s to low 30s, were discarded, start over with next. They worked out that might as well pick one and stick with them because the 27-33 the player they could bring in would likely average is going to be much the same as the Crawley (31.49) in situ. Trying the next, and the next, and the next, and..... hoping they will be the next Cook or Root is crazy

Is Duckett the real deal? 182 vs Ireland certainly has boosted his average but in fairness without it he is still averaging 37.56 helped by a healthy record against Pakistan, will have to revert to his early days form to knock his average down in a hurry, although his average has dropped by five runs in the last three aussie Tests

 

[Owzat]

Spin bowling is thin gruel as usual, but Dawson had such a spectacular all-round season they surely have to pick him and give him a proper go.

0, 0, 13 and 5no against saffers at home hardly helped his case, picked up 3 pairs of wickets in opening 3 bowls of which first was in India, next two included 3 out of 4 as decent but not big all-rounders in Mahara, Morkel (M) and Rabada. Did LBW Amla twice, however in spite of his being in for a batting/spinning all-rounder he didn't get perservered with and England do like spinners who can bat

he may do himself no favours if he's the one criticised the England set-up not so long ago, honestly not sure if he isn't on a hiding to nothing anyway, not as if much call for spin first innings in England unless you are a Swann and he's more an ugly duckling like most of the rest!

 

[BazBall21]

I don't rate Duckett against high release pace bowers but he will be mostly fine against attacks that aren't Australia and South Africa for the next few years. India away is likely be a struggle too because of Ashwin.

 

[Rob22888]

Add in Foakes as a solid keeper till Rew is ready and things don't look quite so bad. Huge reliance on Duckett, Pope and Brook though and obviously eeking another 3/4 years of top class Root.

I don't see how Foakes gets into Stokes & McCullum's team at the moment. They seem totally committed to wanting Bairstow in for the *potential* that he hits a quick ton every now and again. I'd argue his net contribution to the team is weak given the runs conceded through iffy keeping.

It's fair to say I am not overly enthused by the idea of Bairstow keeping wicket in India.

 

[Nintendo]

I don't see how Foakes gets into Stokes & McCullum's team at the moment. They seem totally committed to wanting Bairstow in for the *potential* that he hits a quick ton every now and again. I'd argue his net contribution to the team is weak given the runs conceded through iffy keeping.

It's fair to say I am not overly enthused by the idea of Bairstow keeping wicket in India.

I don't mind bairstow in most cases, honestly. He's a better keeper than Jos. Not 100% on him in india, but I also wouldn't worry about how he did at the start of the Ashes. Pretty sure he just wasn't fully fit coming into that (that's still the stupidest call that's been made under baz IMO. Playing a half fit keeper when foakes is available was mental in thought, and it arguably cost them the series).

 

[GoodAreasShane]

I don't mind bairstow in most cases, honestly. He's a better keeper than Jos. Not 100% on him in india, but I also wouldn't worry about how he did at the start of the Ashes. Pretty sure he just wasn't fully fit coming into that (that's still the stupidest call that's been made under baz IMO. Playing a half fit keeper when foakes is available was mental in thought, and it arguably cost them the series).

Nah, his glovework has always been poor

 

[Nintendo]

Nah, his glovework has always been poor

You reckon? He looked far better by the end of that ashes. I didn't watch enough test cricket when bairstow was a regular keeper in ~2016 to have a string opinion, mind you.

 

[GoodAreasShane]

You reckon? He looked far better by the end of that ashes. I didn't watch enough test cricket when bairstow was a regular keeper in ~2016 to have a string opinion, mind you.

I can remember him having an absolute shocker against Sri Lanka around that point in time, so he's always had the capability to completely lose the plot with the gloves occasionally.

Wouldn't say he was usually quite as bad as that or as early in the Ashes all the time, but I wouldn't say he was ever particularly good either

 

[GIMH]

Foakes will surely at least travel to India.

 

[kevinw]

I don't see how Foakes gets into Stokes & McCullum's team at the moment. They seem totally committed to wanting Bairstow in for the *potential* that he hits a quick ton every now and again. I'd argue his net contribution to the team is weak given the runs conceded through iffy keeping.

It's fair to say I am not overly enthused by the idea of Bairstow keeping wicket in India.

Chances are they will go with a batter-keeper because Stokes can't bowl. They'd feel confident with Bairstow in the top six, but less so with Foakes. I'm not sure it's a great trade-off wrt any chances your spinners create because YJB will shell chances Foakes would take.

Either Stokes or Root has to move to three in India imo, probably Stokes. A 3-5 of Stokes, Root and Brook, followed by Bairstow, then the five bowlers, with ideally Dawson, Rehan Ahmed and Leach as your spinners, and then I'd be rotating Anderson/Robinson and Wood/Atkinson(?)

 

[GIMH]

I’d be shocked if Dawson was involved