yeah everyone assumes he'll lose the gloves one day, but he's remarkably good with them so far. Cox, Robinson and Rew are probably the best three young bats around, all 'keepers.Smith is inked in for a decade I reckon
If Pope's not the answer get an actual top order batter instead of shoehorning a middle order batter in, like we did with Pope.BBC already asking the question if Smith can be England's next 3, obviously he won't be as long as he has the gloves, but regardless, surely it's a long time before that happens, if at all, it's a jump from 6/7 to 3!
Need to think outside of the first class game, runs in the championship not essential these days.If Pope's not the answer get an actual top order batter instead of shoehorning a middle order batter in, like we did with Pope.
At least he's not making pretty little fifties, right?Three hundreds this year (and not small ones either) and still averages just over 30 for the calendar year, comfortably the lowest for anyone who has achieved 3 tons.
Probably depends what kind of spinner we want in NZ. Do we want one who can hold down an end whilst the seamers rotate? Or one who will go for a few but might bowl the odd magic wicket taking delivery (and also offers little with the bat)?Just a question on the back of the performances of the spinners this test. After the second test, many England fans wanted Leach to be the selected spinner for NZ. Will this still be the case? He was largely anaemic in the first innings at Rawalpindi. In fairness, he won't bowl anywhere near as many overs in NZ but even so, I guess this could be a tougher series now that NZ seem to be in good form coming off a likely series win in India.
You would probably want a Liam Dawson in this situation, if I can be a little facetious. Likely to be canny enough to avoid getting blitzed and able to offer a fair bit with the willow.Probably depends what kind of spinner we want in NZ. Do we want one who can hold down an end whilst the seamers rotate? Or one who will go for a few but might bowl the odd magic wicket taking delivery (and also offers little with the bat)?
If we have a spinner at all, surely it’ll be Bashir, he seems to be the go to man in non-Asian countries these daysJust a question on the back of the performances of the spinners this test. After the second test, many England fans wanted Leach to be the selected spinner for NZ. Will this still be the case? He was largely anaemic in the first innings at Rawalpindi. In fairness, he won't bowl anywhere near as many overs in NZ but even so, I guess this could be a tougher series now that NZ seem to be in good form coming off a likely series win in India.
I just don't understand how he's not the main spinner after the last two seasons he's had with bat and ball. You can bat him at seven and it takes Stokes's fitness to bowl out of the equation. I know he doesn't want to give up the franchise stuff to carry drinks but he would be in the starting xi, surely?You would probably want a Liam Dawson in this situation, if I can be a little facetious. Likely to be canny enough to avoid getting blitzed and able to offer a fair bit with the willow.