***Official*** England in India 2016/17

[Bijed]

Yes it's probably a bit of hindsight now, certainly in my case, but now we've got Balance predictably not looking the goods and Duckett with some major technical flaws in these conditions and against this attack and Buttler with no red ball cricket for months and months, it does look like we've not exactly selected wisely, but again there is a degree of hindsight on my part with that. I do think Buttler is the best of our options, he has played in India, albeit in a different format, and I'm sure won't have encountered these types of pitches too frequently in the IPL, but he is a supremely talented guy that has to be remain true to his strengths.

Where does he bat ? Presumably it's too much for Barstow to move up to four, especially if he's put in a decent shift behind the stumps. Maybe Moeen goes to four and Buttler slots in at five, though I wouldn't be overly concerned if Buttler goes four.

Yeah, even though he had been poor in the summer beforehand, I don't think people were expecting Ballance to be quite so dire. Duckett was obviously a bit of an unknown and might have been expected to struggle, but not this much. Buttler was presumably included due to concerns that Bairstow's keeping might not prove good enough, and he's been fine so far so we've essentially got a 'merely' serviceable batsman as our batting cover. Ansari's been poor to, so not our selector's finest hour but then I guess they made what at the time seemed pretty reasonable choices (possibly excepting Ballance). As you rightly say, though, hindsight is a wonderful thing.

As for his batting position, him at 4 seems as reasonable as anything. I'd be tempted to drop Mo down to 7 since he seems to to well there and move Stokes and Bairstow up a spot each.

 

[Woodster]

Yeah, even though he had been poor in the summer beforehand, I don't think people were expecting Ballance to be quite so dire. Duckett was obviously a bit of an unknown and might have been expected to struggle, but not this much. Buttler was presumably included due to concerns that Bairstow's keeping might not prove good enough, and he's been fine so far so we've essentially got a 'merely' serviceable batsman as our batting cover. Ansari's been poor to, so not our selector's finest hour but then I guess they made what at the time seemed pretty reasonable choices (possibly excepting Ballance). As you rightly say, though, hindsight is a wonderful thing.

As for his batting position, him at 4 seems as reasonable as anything. I'd be tempted to drop Mo down to 7 since he seems to to well there and move Stokes and Bairstow up a spot each.

Think I'd persevere with Moeen in the top five, he said himself how he's started to think like a batsman again now he's up at five, and he did play very well in Rajkot. For me it's Ali or Buttler at four and the other at five.

As for the make-up of the rest of the team, Broad appears to be struggling, that being the case then Woakes comes in as a straight-ish swap. Zafar Ansari I agree has to be left out, he hasn't shown anywhere near enough threat with the ball, there is a case for getting another seamer in there, but I think I'd edge towards Gareth Batty. He'd hopefully give us better control and perhaps more of a threat against the left-handers than what we currently have.

 

[Dan]

Ansari to 4. Woakes in.

 

[Bijed]

Yeah, I'd like to see Batty back, especially as he was unlucky to be dropped in the first place.

As I knew very little of him before this winter, I'd be curious to know how Ansari's performance compares to what people expected of him.

 

[Woodster]

Ansari to 4. Woakes in.

Very bold shout. Personally would be most disappointed if that's the way they go.

 

[Woodster]

Yeah, I'd like to see Batty back, especially as he was unlucky to be dropped in the first place.

As I knew very little of him before this winter, I'd be curious to know how Ansari's performance compares to what people expected of him.

I'd not seen much of him before this series, especially in four-day cricket, but he's probably performed as I'd have expected. It's a lot to ask of him to bowl with complete control and dry the Indians scoring up, and he didn't strike me as the kind of bowler that was going to be too threatening, presume from where he releases the ball he's going to struggle to get massive revs on the ball. I expect more from Batty.

 

[mackembhoy]

Yeah, much as I'd balk at the thought of bringing in Buttler under most circumstances, it's got to be him now (unless we can fly in someone else?). I don't expect he'll do much but he should be able to average more than 6 and even if he is worse he literally can't be enough of a step down for it to mean it wasn't worth trying him.

Assuming Bairstow's keeping the gloves (and he deserves to), anyone know what Buttler's general fielding is like?

Well he rarely kept for Somerset and with his athleticism you'd think he'd be half decent.

 

[honestbharani]

Think I'd persevere with Moeen in the top five, he said himself how he's started to think like a batsman again now he's up at five, and he did play very well in Rajkot. For me it's Ali or Buttler at four and the other at five.

As for the make-up of the rest of the team, Broad appears to be struggling, that being the case then Woakes comes in as a straight-ish swap. Zafar Ansari I agree has to be left out, he hasn't shown anywhere near enough threat with the ball, there is a case for getting another seamer in there, but I think I'd edge towards Gareth Batty. He'd hopefully give us better control and perhaps more of a threat against the left-handers than what we currently have.

Yeah coz you guys really need to sort out your bowling at Ravindra Jadeja...

 

[viriya]

Impressive from Anderson doing something that no Englishman has done since 1906.

 

[vcs]

Why doesn't Buttler play FC cricket?

Anyway, if the pitch is a minefield, he's the kind of batsman that really scares me, since he can smash 70-80 runs in a session and single-handedly decide a low-scoring game. Outrageously talented stroke-player. If the pitch is more like the ones we've seen so far, he might not have the technique or the patience to grind it out. Either way, can't be any worse than Duckett so it's an easy choice for England.

 

[morgieb]

Why doesn't Buttler play FC cricket?

Anyway, if the pitch is a minefield, he's the kind of batsman that really scares me, since he can smash 70-80 runs in a session and single-handedly decide a low-scoring game. Outrageously talented stroke-player. If the pitch is more like the ones we've seen so far, he might not have the technique or the patience to grind it out. Either way, can't be any worse than Duckett so it's an easy choice for England.

IPL and short format commitments.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah he gets picked in FC cricket when he's available; it's just not that often these days.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

One first class match in a year since he was dropped as test keeper. Be a gamble but a bigger one would be playing Duckett or Ballance.

 

[Pothas]

I know it is because the way this winter was structured but Ballance really should have been replaced by someone else when he was dropped, having Buttler next in line as a specialist bat is pretty stupid. Still really hope it works, I really wanted him to be a success when he came into the test side, the idea of him playing the sort of innings he does in ODIs is still hugely appealing.

 

[Woodster]

Yeah coz you guys really need to sort out your bowling at Ravindra Jadeja...

Yes fair point, that's the only difference between the two sides at the moment, our inability to work out Jadeja with the bat! Perhaps it's best I keep my mouth shut!

 

[honestbharani]

lol. nah.. usually it is a very good point to have someone who can be effective at left hand batsmen. We just have a dearth of good ones at the moment here in India.

 

[Dan]

Very bold shout. Personally would be most disappointed if that's the way they go.

Ansari is more of a batsman than bowler, tbf.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Ansari is more of a batsman than bowler, tbf.

He isn't either.

 

[Prince EWS]

Ansari is more of a batsman than bowler, tbf.

Yeah maybe but he's much higher up England's spin stocks than he is up England's middle order batting stocks (despite the dwindling nature of the latter), so what he is in a vacuum doesn't particularly matter.

I'd sooner bat Woakes at four than Ansari, and I sure as hell wouldn't be batting Woakes at four.

 

[Stapel]

So........, flying in Ian Ronald Bell is the only logical option!

.....Ducks for cover......