honestbharani
Whatever it takes!!!
I agree about Shaw but I think SKY is worth the try too.
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***Official*** 4th Test @ The Oval, London - 2nd-6th September
- Thread starter GIMH
- Start date
Blenkinsop
U19 Captain
I get why England want a left-arm swing bowler who can bat a bit, but it's not as though Curran has been the only option. David Willey has more control, bowls slightly faster and is a better bat (though like Curran has moved away from red ball cricket). David Payne looks a decent prospect. Keith Barker has been a consistent county performer for many years though it's too late for him now. What do the selectors see in Curran that makes him stand out?
Nintendo
Cricketer Of The Year
Treated india like a dirty cumrug in his debut series.
Red_Ink_Squid
Global Moderator
Looking most likely that the England XI will be:
Burns
Hameed
Malan
Root
Pope
Bairstow +
Moeen
Woakes
Overton
Robinson
Anderson
I'd be happy enough with that. Might not win but that's pretty close to our best lineup available I think.
Burns
Hameed
Malan
Root
Pope
Bairstow +
Moeen
Woakes
Overton
Robinson
Anderson
I'd be happy enough with that. Might not win but that's pretty close to our best lineup available I think.
Arachnodouche
International Captain
Even without gloves, Bairstow and Buttler may never have realized their full batting potential in Tests, (or perhaps they have at that and England have just been expecting too much from them) but damn if they haven't been jerked around in that line-up, Bairstow in particular. Foakes should always play when fit and Eng ought to rear another long-term option alongside him. Applies to all teams really, this obsession with batting keepers is getting to be stupid.
honestbharani
Whatever it takes!!!
Why not keep Bairstow at 5? Pope is best suited for #6, I feel.
Red_Ink_Squid
Global Moderator
Not a huge amount of difference between the 5 and 6 spots but Bairstow has struggled in the past batting 5 and keeping wicket (his one truly golden run in Tests came when he batted 7 while keeping; that came to a sharp halt when he got promoted up to 5, still with the gloves). From memory I think his stats were particularly bad there when England batted second (i.e. when he'd had to keep first, then bat at 5). Not sure whether that would still be the case now, but I think to give him a fair crack at the wicketkeeping slot he shouldn't have to carry quite the same level of expectation for runs as when he is in the side as a pure batsman.
I agree that the ideal spot for Pope right now would be at #6 but while Stokes is out someone needs to fill the #5 slot and I'd rather it be a specialist batsman rather than making the keeper do it.
honestbharani
Whatever it takes!!!
Yeah but you are then pushing a batsman who is in some sort of form down for a batsman who has not played tests in a while.
Red_Ink_Squid
Global Moderator
True, but again I think keeping wicket in Tests is a challenging job and there needs to be some lessening of Bairstow's batting responsibility if his role in the team is changing. Not many players can be a de Villiers and gun it at 5 while keeping.
If Pope isn't good enough to bat 5 then he probably shouldn't be getting picked to be honest; it's not like he's being asked to bat in the top 3. If Buttler was still there then Pope's position wouldn't be discussed at all; he'd have to go in at 5 if at all.
honestbharani
Whatever it takes!!!
Not with our current lot batting in England though..
Red_Ink_Squid
Global Moderator
Well, based on the evidence of Headingley, keeping to you guys is certainly a busy job!Not with our current lot batting in England though..
AndyZaltzHair
Hall of Fame Member
I read Burns
Red_Ink_Squid
Global Moderator
For some reason it was being reported yesterday (before ECB had announced any decision) that Burns was going to be the one named VC.
Then the announcement came today and it's actually Ali.
honestbharani
Whatever it takes!!!
Its the back up to the back up vice-captain. The cynic in me tends to think it is kinda an apology from the ECB towards how they treated Moeen and also to kinda put some positive news in the press given the yorkshire and Robinson/Overton stuff going on.
Yes, seems to be a political move. Burns ought to be vice.
I am considering Burns has won a county championship as captain. I would have thought he would be vice over Buttler or Ali.
honestbharani
Whatever it takes!!!
I hope sense prevails and we play Ash and Jaddu together. Maybe Shardul for Shami too.