*Official* 3rd Test at Edgbaston

[GIMH]

All the guardian journalists are replacing Ballance with Bairstow whilst leaving Lyth and Bell. Testing times for England: our writers pick the top six for Edgbaston | Sport | The Guardian

It's definitely the way I'm leaning

 

[theegyptian]

Interestingly the Gillespie article for the guardian suggests they haven't worked technically with Bairstow since he played his last test for England.

Jonny Bairstow is good enough for the Ashes but be brave and back him | Sport | The Guardian

'So we made a pact: the Yorkshire coaches – myself included – agreed we would not speak to him about his method and instead judge him solely on his returns. This would be our only feedback. No longer would he have support staff stopping him every second ball in the nets, telling him to change his grip, stance, backlift or alignment. Instead, the only advice would be when he sought it and based solely on his gameplan for any given day. Sure, we still discuss conditions and what his approach for an innings will be, but in the 18 months that have followed his technique has not been brought up.'

 

[91Jmay]

Bairstow has the talent, but he bats 5 I assume so Bell 3, Root 4. Not sure I like moving Root. He is the form horse though, nothing more he could have done.

 

[Pothas]

It's definitely the way I'm leaning

Yeah I am just about happy with the Selvey lineup there, Stokes is easily the biggest plus of this summer so far, his batting so much further on than I thought it was.

 

[GIMH]

KP moaning on Twitter that he's not in contention. Lolz

 

[GIMH]

Warne's answer is to drop Ballance for Rashid, who bats at 8, bumping everyone from 4-8 up one. That will certainly help the batting

 

[Furball]

KP moaning on Twitter that he's not in contention. Lolz

Look, he's got a point, but the England management have made their bed and as much as I disagree with what they've done, the best thing really is to thank KP for the memories and move on.

 

[GIMH]

Yeah I am just about happy with the Selvey lineup there, Stokes is easily the biggest plus of this summer so far, his batting so much further on than I thought it was.

Yep, defo think Stokes could bat higher, as long as we continue to play four seamers (ie **** off warne)

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Warne's answer is to drop Ballance for Rashid, who bats at 8, bumping everyone from 4-8 up one. That will certainly help the batting

Probably would as Rashid will score more than Ballance.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Stokes at 4? This line up gets scarier by the minute.

 

[Pothas]

Selvey had him at 5, Bairstow at 6.

 

[Furball]

At least Bell at 3 would mean we'd get the disappointment from his inevitable tame dismissal out the way quicker.

 

[91Jmay]

Bell at 3 and tell him to counter attack. It's a gamble, but if it comes off we have a decent platform and the Aussies on the back foot. If it doesn't come off we are in the same position. I don't see many other options to be honest.

 

[Compton]

No idea why anyone would advocate calling up Bairstow over Taylor. Taylor is a much, much better batsman.

 

[Uppercut]

Bell at 3 and tell him to counter attack. It's a gamble, but if it comes off we have a decent platform and the Aussies on the back foot. If it doesn't come off we are in the same position. I don't see many other options to be honest.

Just let him bat however he likes.

 

[91Jmay]

No idea why anyone would advocate calling up Bairstow over Taylor. Taylor is a much, much better batsman.

I'm torn there, Taylor: I rate and he shouldn't have been dropped (he has been treated poorly by England in my opinion ) but Bairstow is in rare touch.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Really don't see much point in moving Stokes above 6. He's someone who can bat well with the tail since he scores quickly, and also counterattack from a poor position, and seems okay starting against the old ball, but he has looked a bit shaky at the start of his innings and might not be a great choice to come in early on a regular basis. 6 isn't a position every batsman is at their best in, no reason to mess with a good thing. I'd look to maybe move Root to 4 to protect one of the weaker batsmen, and put Bairstow in at 5 if he gets brought in for Ballance. Or Taylor if they go that way. Or you could put the new guy at 4, but I think Root at 4 in the long term is probably a bit better for the team.

 

[Uppercut]

Far too much weighting being given to "form" here imo. Someone needs to dig Pickup's post about it from years ago.

 

[adub]

At least Bell at 3 would mean we'd get the disappointment from his inevitable tame dismissal out the way quicker.

So just make him open. Won't be worse than Lyth.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Far too much weighting being given to "form" here imo. Someone needs to dig Pickup's post about it from years ago.

"Form" doesn't necessarily mean much but equally I think people have a tendency to write off batsmen based on past performances when there's evidence they may have improved. Bairstow is what, 25? A lot of highly successful international batsmen have poor periods early in their career and look to have been found out in one way or another and come back a while later with a much better idea of how to play to their strengths. Sometimes it's a technique overhaul like Clarke and sometimes its just experience etc. If Bairstow is making a ton of runs and there's clear opportunities to bring him in for an underperforming player, he's worth another shot IMO. If he was 35 or this had happened several times in the past it might be a bit different.

I think form not mattering applies more when a player is a known quantity. Weight of runs in domestic cricket could be evidence that someone is legitimately better than before.