*Official* England Tour of West Indies 2019

[Prince EWS]

how long has bairstow been the #3? never really seen him as one

Two Tests. He scored a ton in the other one.

It's obviously not his best role/position but I think it's worth a go given the resources they've got. Much better to have a crack at that than drop him (or drop another good player batting lower down to accommodate him) for a spud like Denly at #3 IMO.

 

[Woodster]

Yes I think it’s worth the experiment rather than throw in another batsman from county cricket that would struggle with the rise in quality and inevitably require a degree of settling in time. We have few options available unfortunately for both the number three position and the role of opening bat.

Bairstow’s ‘opportunity’ at 3 will no doubt have been aided by his success opening in ODI’s, if he can face the new white ball then surely he’ll have no issues at 3 in Test cricket? Sadly, not the case, but I think other than Bairstow it’d be another shot in the dark with an unproven cricketer from domestic cricket at a time when there are so many question marks and pressure over the top order as a whole.

As has been alluded to, this isn’t Bairstow’s natural position for Test cricket you wouldn’t think, that’s not to say he won’t still make some decent runs from there in this series just not sure it’s a long term viable option.

 

[the big bambino]

Well a bit early to throw out the Bairstow at 3 experiment then. Leave him there.

 

[Hicheal Michael]

What happens if Bairstow fails at 3? Does he take the gloves back? One fears this could get ugly if it doesn't work out.

 

[Woodster]

What happens if Bairstow fails at 3? Does he take the gloves back? One fears this could get ugly if it doesn't work out.

It would have been unfair to leave Foakes out of this series after his exploits in Sri Lanka, and while he'sprobably the weakest bat of the three keepers and so will probably be under most pressure to score runs, he is by far the best keeper. We'll probably juggle things around so we can keep all three keepers in and plenty of all-rounders still.

 

[criccontent]

WI surprised all. All thought Eng will roll over WI very easily.
Root is not consistent in overseas isn't it.? Scored one century in Sri Lanka, but not that consistent.

 

[Beamer]

jason holder is a superb cricketer but i'd like to see him consistently bat at #6 (or even higher, like cairns and flintoff sometimes had to) before i'll name him better. cairns in particular is also clearly ahead on bowling, but given he was often given the new ball as a 135-140kph swing bowler that's no shame on holder's role in his team.

would love holder to do it tbh. i'm scarred by richard and tec always bleating about 2005 ashes and mr x, despite his extended peak of circa 40 with the bat and 26 with the ball, can go do one for how he's taken advantage of former teammates and treated the game.

I think Jase should bat at 7 now if we need to fit a spinner in. He's way too good for number 8. I think he's technically an excellent batsman and could average 40 fairly comfortably. Still, let's not get too carried away, I'd like to see how the current lineup performs in Antigua. England have a habit of bouncing back and we have a habit of not building on potentially game changing victories.

What feels different about this victory though is that we bossed it from start to finish. Even our recent victories against England and Pakistan have come from behind thanks to outstanding 2nd innings batting or bowling. Here we bossed it and finish the job. Hopefully that's a sign of things to come.

 

[Woodster]

I think Jase should bat at 7 now if we need to fit a spinner in. He's way too good for number 8. I think he's technically an excellent batsman and could average 40 fairly comfortably. Still, let's not get too carried away, I'd like to see how the current lineup performs in Antigua. England have a habit of bouncing back and we have a habit of not building on potentially game changing victories.

What feels different about this victory though is that we bossed it from start to finish. Even our recent victories against England and Pakistan have come from behind thanks to outstanding 2nd innings batting or bowling. Here we bossed it and finish the job. Hopefully that's a sign of things to come.

If you bowl a team out in the first innings for 77 you are going to have pretty much full control from there on in, providing you don't suffer a similar first innings fate. I'd say England would have been pretty happy after WI's first innings, of course WI then assumed full control thereafter.

 

[Cow]

Burns
A traffic cone/Denly
Bairstow
Root
Stokes
Buttler
Mo
Foakes
Woakes
Broard
Anderson

 

[GotSpin]

I think Jase should bat at 7 now if we need to fit a spinner in. He's way too good for number 8. I think he's technically an excellent batsman and could average 40 fairly comfortably. Still, let's not get too carried away, I'd like to see how the current lineup performs in Antigua. England have a habit of bouncing back and we have a habit of not building on potentially game changing victories.

What feels different about this victory though is that we bossed it from start to finish. Even our recent victories against England and Pakistan have come from behind thanks to outstanding 2nd innings batting or bowling. Here we bossed it and finish the job. Hopefully that's a sign of things to come.

The top 5 need to put some solid runs on the board before you start getting too hopeful

 

[Groundking]

This would be my team:

Burns
Denly
Bairstow
Root
Buttler
Stokes
Foakes
Curran
Moeen
Broad
Anderson

Jennings needs to go, he's awful, unfortunately the only top order bat we've brought is Denly, but **** it may aswell give him a go, we know that Jennings isn't going to do anything against pace, that's obvious now so why persist with him? Buttler should be batting ahead of Stokes, and Mo should only be batting ahead of Broad and Anderson. I'm fine with either Curran or Woakes, though I think we should stick with Curran, yeah he didn't do well in Barbados but it's the first time he's lead the attack (alongside Jimmy) on a wicket he's expected to make an impact (as compared to the pitches in SL) and he's such a massive tallent that it's worth persisting with and giving him a bit of protection by having another seemer available to pick if he's not doing so hot.

 

[Cow]

This would be my team:

Burns
Denly
Bairstow
Root
Buttler
Stokes
Foakes
Curran
Moeen
Broad
Anderson

Jennings needs to go, he's awful, unfortunately the only top order bat we've brought is Denly, but **** it may aswell give him a go, we know that Jennings isn't going to do anything against pace, that's obvious now so why persist with him? Buttler should be batting ahead of Stokes, and Mo should only be batting ahead of Broad and Anderson. I'm fine with either Curran or Woakes, though I think we should stick with Curran, yeah he didn't do well in Barbados but it's the first time he's lead the attack (alongside Jimmy) on a wicket he's expected to make an impact (as compared to the pitches in SL) and he's such a massive tallent that it's worth persisting with and giving him a bit of protection by having another seemer available to pick if he's not doing so hot.

Is Curren better than Woakes at either batting or bowling? I'm not so sure.

 

[Groundking]

Is Curren better than Woakes at either batting or bowling? I'm not so sure.

Woakes is a proven failure abroad with the ball and I'd say they're about the same batting wise.

 

[mr_mister]

Woakes looks the better bat. Could buy him in the top 6 more than Curran who remember hasnt scored a FC ton yet

 

[Cow]

Woakes is a proven failure abroad with the ball and I'd say they're about the same batting wise.

While Curran was Wasim reborn in that first test.

I think Woakes is a better player at the moment. Failing on the roads of Aus doesn't make u a bad bowler.

 

[Woodster]

This is what I'm thinking at the moment, providing the pitch is going to similar to that one at Barbados -

1. Burns
2. Denly
3. Bairstow
4. Root
5. Buttler
6. Stokes
7. Foakes
8. Ali
9. Woakes
10. Broad
11. Anderson

You have Denly and Bairstow batting in positions they don't bat in for their counties but needs must. Jennings needs to be left out of the side for his own confidence levels, and while Denly wouldn't be my normal replacement he is the only option so as we've brought him let's get him in there.

Stokes needs a bit of time to recover from his bowling spells, he is bowling well so will inevitably get through plenty of overs and at number five in the England side at the moment you're generally in pretty soon. Six might not give him much more respite but it's worth a try.

Foakes bats above Ali for me.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Results are what matters not what others thought of him. He averaged 33 with the ball and 32 with the bat. Hardly the figures of a super star. His entire rep is virtually build on one phenomenal series.

This is definitely untrue. 05 Ashes is what he'll always be remembered for but r was genuinely incredible for a good 3 years or so (2004-06 ish) and a serviceable cricketer for the rest. His performance to earn a drawn series in India in 06 is right up there among all round performances I've seen in the country.

Career stats aren't spectacular but they definitely undersell his quality imo. Holder is superb but it's a little much to say he's better than flintoff ever was. I hope he has a better career though, he's much much more likeable.

 

[Groundking]

While Curran was Wasim reborn in that first test.

I think Woakes is a better player at the moment. Failing on the roads of Aus doesn't make u a bad bowler.

No but failing miserably in all three of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa does suggest that he's not got much going for him abroad.

Curran is young, I full expect him to have a few more stinkers as he establishes himself. Broad and Anderson certainly did having similarily gotten into the team at a very young age.

This is what I'm thinking at the moment, providing the pitch is going to similar to that one at Barbados -

1. Burns
2. Denly
3. Bairstow
4. Root
5. Buttler
6. Stokes
7. Foakes
8. Ali
9. Woakes
10. Broad
11. Anderson

You have Denly and Bairstow batting in positions they don't bat in for their counties but needs must. Jennings needs to be left out of the side for his own confidence levels, and while Denly wouldn't be my normal replacement he is the only option so as we've brought him let's get him in there.

Stokes needs a bit of time to recover from his bowling spells, he is bowling well so will inevitably get through plenty of overs and at number five in the England side at the moment you're generally in pretty soon. Six might not give him much more respite but it's worth a try.

Foakes bats above Ali for me.

TBF Denly does bat at 3 most games and has opened before so it's not exactly like it's uncharted territory for him.

 

[Cow]

Curran's bowling looks way too military medium for me... almost part-time'ish.

 

[Woodster]

TBF Denly does bat at 3 most games and has opened before so it's not exactly like it's uncharted territory for him.

Yes it shouldn't be too alien, but once again we are batting players in positions where they don't play for their counties.