England players and selection discussion thread

[the big bambino]

Yeah and they still keep breaking my programs by changing the format.

Very inconsiderate of them.

 

[Pothas]

I've no issue with Bairstow coming back into the side, he has to play given his recent form.

But we've managed to make the worst decision possible by dropping Foakes.

Not only is Foakes a very good keeper, he's also a good batsman. But also, by playing Bairstow at 7, we're not going to get the best out of him.

He should be batting at 4 or 5. He's wasted at 7, where at times he's going to have to take risks as our tail is too long, particularly if Woakes doesn't play.

You can see it now - Bairstow out for a quick fire 20 to a wild slog because Cummings has ripped through our tail and he was in danger of being left stranded.

Pope should have been moved up to open with Root at 3, Bairstow at 4, Brook 5 and Stokes 6.

I don't know 1 single person who knows anything about the game, that thinks this move was the way to go.

Nah I think this would be worse outcome. It both messes with Pope and moves Root away from his best position. I like Foakes and all but he is not worth that. Until Bairstow's crazy run of form last season he had actually done much better as a keeper further down the order. If it comes down to it I would rather have him at 7 than Foakes.

The fact that they continue to pick Crawley to open should be seen as a separate issue.

 

[Pothas]

As others have said though not having Foakes in the squad is absolutely bizarre.

 

[Molehill]

One other factor not mentioned so far is that Bairstow at slip 84% (Root a very impressive 87%, Stokes 77%). Crawley 50%.

 

[ashley bach]

Crawley's dad must be ****ing loaded.

 

[Molehill]

Crawley's dad must be ****ing loaded.

Funny you should say that.......

Crawley was born in Bromley in south-east London and was educated at New Beacon School and Tonbridge School;[2][3] his father Terry is a retired City of London futures trader who had begun his working life as a carpet fitter, before becoming one of Britain's highest paid men and making the Sunday Times Rich List following his change of profession.

 

[Ashes81]

Funny you should say that.......

Crawley was born in Bromley in south-east London and was educated at New Beacon School and Tonbridge School;[2][3] his father Terry is a retired City of London futures trader who had begun his working life as a carpet fitter, before becoming one of Britain's highest paid men and making the Sunday Times Rich List following his change of profession.

How the **** do you go from a carpet fitter to a futures trader ?

I'm trawling Youtube to when Rob Key was on Sky during the pandemic and they did loads of videos etc from their homes.

If Key has some expertly fitted carpets on show, we'll finally know why Zak keeps getting selected. ?

 

[greg]

Very disappointing. I feel that the success of England’s approach over the last year has been built as much, if not more, on their aggressive approach in the field as their batting. Their batting has often set games up, but when that approach is built around “taking the draw out of the equation” you simply have to take 20 wickets or you lose. That is axiomatic. And to take 20 wickets you need the best bowling and fielding attack you can put on the park. And that means the best keeper (and it’s hardly as if Foakes hasn’t played a number of crucial innings with the bat either).

 

[trundler]

Maybe he fit some really nice carpets

 

[honestbharani]

eng xi for first ashes test locked in

Crawley
Duckett
Pope
Root
Brook
Bairstow (W/K)
Stokes (C)
Broad
Leach
Robinson
Anderson(if fit)/ Woakes(if anderson not fit)

Stokes as a specialist #7 bat/captain is an interesting choice.

 

[kevinw]

Nah I think this would be worse outcome. It both messes with Pope and moves Root away from his best position. I like Foakes and all but he is not worth that. Until Bairstow's crazy run of form last season he had actually done much better as a keeper further down the order. If it comes down to it I would rather have him at 7 than Foakes.

The fact that they continue to pick Crawley to open should be seen as a separate issue.

Pope doesn't even average 40 under Bazball. He is talented, sure, but flatters to deceive. He shouldn't be guaranteed a slot.

 

[kevinw]

Funny you should say that.......

Crawley was born in Bromley in south-east London and was educated at New Beacon School and Tonbridge School;[2][3] his father Terry is a retired City of London futures trader who had begun his working life as a carpet fitter, before becoming one of Britain's highest paid men and making the Sunday Times Rich List following his change of profession.

Also bought a flat at the Kent ground so Zac could access the facilities. Nothing against Zac but imagine what kind of cricketer he would be without all those opportunities. Or if you gave them to someone with more talent. He's barely Sunday league on his own merits.

 

[peterhrt]

Predictable selection but not necessarily the correct one. With all those seamers in the squad they may be thinking of leaving out Leach, which would make the wicket-keeping less of an issue.

Woakes doesn't get behind the line when it's bouncing so won't open. When Crawley loses his place it will be to another specialist opener.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

Predictable selection but not necessarily the correct one. With all those seamers in the squad they may be thinking of leaving out Leach, which would make the wicket-keeping less of an issue.

Yeah I guess leaving out Leach is a possibility. Stokes and McCullum have done nothing but hype him up, but no more than they did Foakes, and they've dropped him pretty quickly.

If they do want four seam options with Stokes unfit, then you'd think they'd want Woakes in for his batting. But Anderson/Broad/Robinson/Woakes feels way too samey so you'd think they need Wood for a point of difference.

So a tail of either Robinson/Broad/Leach/Anderson and use Root (or Brook lol) for part time overs or something like Woakes/Wood/Robinson/Anderson with Root as the only spin option.

 

[Starfighter]

In case you feel lacking in anger today: https://wisden.com/series-stories/e...nd-pure-stats-after-naming-england-test-squad

 

[slowfinger]

Funny you should say that.......

Crawley was born in Bromley in south-east London and was educated at New Beacon School and Tonbridge School;[2][3] his father Terry is a retired City of London futures trader who had begun his working life as a carpet fitter, before becoming one of Britain's highest paid men and making the Sunday Times Rich List following his change of profession.

Does this look like an aristocrat's son to you?

 

[slowfinger]

If this is another series of Crawley averaging in the 20's or lower i will be fuming. 30+ average MINIMUM against Ireland + Australia.

 

[FBU]

If this is another series of Crawley averaging in the 20's or lower i will be fuming. 30+ average MINIMUM against Ireland + Australia.

I'd be fuming at every dropped catch more than his batting. Since Root was dropped as captain his fielding has been excellent so you would imagine his dropped catches were down to not having a clear mind. Same with Crawley, lack of runs, all the drops.

 

[Molehill]

Also bought a flat at the Kent ground so Zac could access the facilities. Nothing against Zac but imagine what kind of cricketer he would be without all those opportunities. Or if you gave them to someone with more talent. He's barely Sunday league on his own merits.

I believe his father also funded a Winter in Aus so he could play Grade Cricket there too. He's certainly not been short of opportunities, time to repay them.

 

[Burgey]

Foakes is very unlucky to miss this squad. If stokes was t skipper he’d probably be out given he isn’t bowling atm but obviously he and Bairstow have to play.
Must have been tempting to open with YJB for Crawley and play Foakes at seven with Stokes at six.
Not really sold on Bairstow as a keeper-bat medium to long term but I understand they had to get him in the side somewhere given his preinjury form