England players and selection discussion thread

[Bijed]

Is Hales still eligible

He's retired from the longer form of the game. Rashid had too, and still got picked, but since then the selectors have stated that Rashid is a one-off case and players will not be considered for test selection if they are not making themselves available to play first-class cricket for their counties.

 

[Gremlin]

England going with an unchanged XI for The Oval with Bairstow keeping and Moeen batting at 3.

Couple of observations -

Rashid is a lucky chap, he was a passenger at Southampton (although I'm sure he'll be more in the game at the next test after The Oval!)

Maybe they could look at swapping the middle order positions - say, Stokes at 5, Buttler in as 6 with Bairstow back to 7.

 

[marc71178]

It goes beyond lucky for Rashid - he's done about as much good for this series as Collingwood did in the entire 2005 Ashes. A total passenger and I cannot fathom why he's still being selected.

 

[Singh767]

It goes beyond lucky for Rashid - he's done about as much good for this series as Collingwood did in the entire 2005 Ashes. A total passenger and I cannot fathom why he's still being selected.

Perhaps knowing the Sri Lanka tour is not far away. He will be the main spinner there in my opinion along with Leach. Ali away from home is not good enough selectors may have that in mind (assume he will start and play the 3rd spinner role in sri lanka)

 

[Groundking]

I hope we don't play 3 spinners, we made that mistake in the UAE. Just have Moeen plugging away from one end and Root to turn his arm a bit, and just have the seemers going at the other end.

 

[FBU]

I hope we don't play 3 spinners, we made that mistake in the UAE. Just have Moeen plugging away from one end and Root to turn his arm a bit, and just have the seemers going at the other end.

Yes. Looking at the fast bowlers since 2010 Southee and Boult had a good time out there.
Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo

 

[TheJediBrah]

Depends on the wickets SL dish up though, we all know they're not shy about cultivating exactly what they want

If it's anything like the SA series I can't imagine Jimmy, Broad or Woakes doing much damage. Even Steyn and Rabada struggled for impact, and Philander was all but useless.

 

[marc71178]

Perhaps knowing the Sri Lanka tour is not far away. He will be the main spinner there in my opinion along with Leach. Ali away from home is not good enough selectors may have that in mind (assume he will start and play the 3rd spinner role in sri lanka)

Why on earth do you think he'll be the main spinner? He's done absolutely nothing in 4 Tests now and clearly isn't rated by Root.

 

[Agricultural]

It appears Bairstow will keep wicket. I read an article in the telegraph that said Buttler would be England's long term keeper. Bairstow needs to bring something to the party this game. He's struggled as of late. Rashid should have been dropped for Woakes. It is possible they do not want to risk Woakes in a dead rubber. I believe he missed the fourth test injured. The Jennings thing has been covered to death everywhere on the internet of course.

 

[TheJediBrah]

It appears Bairstow will keep wicket. I read an article in the telegraph that said Buttler would be England's long term keeper. Bairstow needs to bring something to the party this game. He's struggled as of late. Rashid should have been dropped for Woakes. It is possible they do not want to risk Woakes in a dead rubber. I believe he missed the fourth test injured. The Jennings thing has been covered to death everywhere on the internet of course.

I honestly think you could pick Woakes as a specialist opening batsman and he'd do a better job than Jennings

 

[Hicheal Michael]

It goes beyond lucky for Rashid - he's done about as much good for this series as Collingwood did in the entire 2005 Ashes. A total passenger and I cannot fathom why he's still being selected.

Collingwood only played at the Oval.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Collingwood only played at the Oval.

Doesn't really affect the point, in fact I think that was the point

 

[Hicheal Michael]

Doesn't really affect the point, in fact I think that was the point

Oh.

 

[Groundking]

Depends on the wickets SL dish up though, we all know they're not shy about cultivating exactly what they want

If it's anything like the SA series I can't imagine Jimmy, Broad or Woakes doing much damage. Even Steyn and Rabada struggled for impact, and Philander was all but useless.

Yeah but our spin bowlers really aren't up to scratch, and Pakistan showed how to play our bowling attack, leave the seamers alone, and fest when the spinners come on. Granted Sri Lanka probably aren't good enough to replicate what Pakistan did, but I still think our best chance is to just keep it as tight as possible and use run rate pressure to get them out.

I honestly think you could pick Woakes as a specialist opening batsman and he'd do a better job than Jennings

My left nut would do a better job opening the batting than Jennings...

 

[Bijed]

Not trying to make excuses for them, but does anyone else feel that there might well be some burnout setting in for our regular cross-format players? The players who have decent batting records this summer are essentially Curran and Buttler, who have just come into the test side (back into the side, in Buttler's case). Do we need to think about deciding who we want to be a long-term test player and scaling back the amount of ODIs they play? Unlikely to happen with the world cup next year, but I'd be for it as it should allow Root and Bairstow especially to start regaining more of a test match batting mentality. Obviously they need a bollocking from someone too, some of our batting this series has been shameful.

OTOH, Kohli is managine to play every(?) test and ODI for India and doesn't it doesn't appear to be affecting him, though maybe India don't play quite as much cricket as us? Would have to check.

 

[Agricultural]

Not trying to make excuses for them, but does anyone else feel that there might well be some burnout setting in for our regular cross-format players? The players who have decent batting records this summer are essentially Curran and Buttler, who have just come into the test side (back into the side, in Buttler's case). Do we need to think about deciding who we want to be a long-term test player and scaling back the amount of ODIs they play? Unlikely to happen with the world cup next year, but I'd be for it as it should allow Root and Bairstow especially to start regaining more of a test match batting mentality. Obviously they need a bollocking from someone too, some of our batting this series has been shameful.

OTOH, Kohli is managine to play every(?) test and ODI for India and doesn't it doesn't appear to be affecting him, though maybe India don't play quite as much cricket as us? Would have to check.

I believe it to be complacency. Certain players appear to be undroppable in the eyes of English selectors. It means said player isn't mentality in the right mindset. One knowing they can fail repeatedly yet still picked is not good. It is a recipe for disaster. I personally put "decent" series batting as an average of forty as a minimum benchmark. Meaning Woakes, Curran (just) make the cut for England and no one else. This post had to be updated as the fifth test is in play.

 

[theegyptian]

It certainly has been. Only Porter has stayed fit for 99% of the season.

Olly Stone back knocking over div 2 batsmen ?

What you make of Tongue ? You include him in potential tests ? From what I have seen with his size he can be quicker but his approach and action doesn't look smooth and strong enough.

Even with the 11 fer in the current game I haven't been that impressed by Stone this year. He looks down on pace compared to pre injury. Maybe someone who gets a run in two or three years when he can really build back the fitness required for bowling.

I always kinda liked the tongue runup - looked balanced and good. I always kinda thought he looked like someone who should be bowling 5mph quicker than they actually are (he's around 80mph right now) . Looking at the slowmos of his action I think I can see why



I'm no bowling coach but sure looks inefficient with the bowling arm going towards the slips rather than straight down the wicket. Probably losing a load of pace right there. So yes there is probably plenty of work to do their with his action and getting his body into a better position.

 

[Prince EWS]

I honestly think you could pick Woakes as a specialist opening batsman and he'd do a better job than Jennings

I was going to say that I think Woakes would really struggle on the bouncier pitches in that role, but that's true of Jennings anyway. It's probably true.

 

[Agricultural]

Thirty-three runs in the game for Keaton Jennings, who averages 17 with the bat in 10 tests under Joe Root's captaincy. For comparison, bowling all-rounder Chris Woakes averages 32 with the bat in 9 games under Joe Root's captaincy. Keaton Jenning has now gone ten tests without a test match fifty. This is a run that is the longest in test history for an English opening bat without a fifty. This is compounded by the fact Jennings cannot bowl nor is he good in the field. Will England pick Jennings for Sri Lanka?

 

[flibbertyjibber]

I was going to say that I think Woakes would really struggle on the bouncier pitches in that role, but that's true of Jennings anyway. It's probably true.

Tommy could do a better job than Jennings. He may be a deaf dumb and blind kid but he sure plays a mean pinball.

Jennings is dreadful.