***Official*** English Domestic Season 2014

[Watson33]

I like that team a lot! Be tempted to go for Root ahead of Compton, and either play him at 3, or Bell at 3 with Root at 4, but other than that I'd be more than happy to see that side turn out for the First Test. Won't happen though, Foster doesn't seem particularly highly regarded within the England set-up, despite being far and away the best keeper in the country for the last 5 years.

In all honesty I forgot about Joe Root! Yeah i'd probably put him in ahead of Compton. Better batsmen, and also can provide some KP-esque part time spin if needed.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Cook, Robson, Compton, Bell, Ballance, Ali, Stokes, Foster, Broad, Anderson, Finn.

Personally think that bowling attack is just not well balanced. I mean you're going to have Anderson and Broad opening which is great of course - but you'll be having a guy not intrusted to play one Ashes test over the winter as 1st change, and then someone who has the potential to take big hauls - but will go for a few.

For that attack to possibly work you've really got to conserve the energy of Anderson and Broad - as an injury to either would be pretty catastrophic.

It's a tough one though, as Finn is a luxury that could pay off - who I suppose has some form. I think guys like Barker, Roland-Jones, Woakes should be in the mix.

I'd go...Cook, Robson, Moeen, Bell, Ballance, Stokes, Prior, Woakes, Broad, Anderson, Panesar

 

[Dan]

If Prior isn't fit they'll pick Buttler IMO. He's clearly the one with the most potential, even if his 'keeping needs work, and his FC batting has been solid enough this season to justify putting some faith in him.

 

[Dan]

Personally think that bowling attack is just not well balanced. I mean you're going to have Anderson and Broad opening which is great of course - but you'll be having a guy not intrusted to play one Ashes test over the winter as 1st change, and then someone who has the potential to take big hauls - but will go for a few.

For that attack to possibly work you've really got to conserve the energy of Anderson and Broad - as an injury to either would be pretty catastrophic.

It's a tough one though, as Finn is a luxury that could pay off - who I suppose has some form. I think guys like Barker, Roland-Jones, Woakes should be in the mix.

I'd go...Cook, Robson, Moeen, Bell, Ballance, Stokes, Prior, Woakes, Broad, Anderson, Panesar

Wood.

Cook, Robson, Bell, Root, Ballance, Moeen, Buttler, Woakes, Broad, Wood, Anderson.

Assuming neither Prior nor Stokes are proven fit.

 

[stumpski]

No doubt Pothas and others will be delighted by the goings on at Leicester - the home side are 79-9 chasing 375.

 

[stumpski]

Eleven in the match - with the chance to take two more - for Roland-Jones with Northants still 90 away from making Middlesex bat again. He also made 60, to justify coming in ahead of Harris.

And Kent went down as expected this morning. Might be time to consider getting Geraint back in the team. I must be one of the very few people in the county who've seen him play this season, caught a bit of the 2nds game at Maidstone yesterday.

 

[King Pietersen]

Ended up with 12 in the match! Roland-Jones doesn't really get talked about a lot, but has a really good record. Never averaged over 30 in a season, has 18 wickets already this season at under 20 a piece. Not really seen much of him though, what sort of pace does he operate at?

 

[Pup Clarke]

Video | ECB Video

Saw a bit of outswing from him (4:25).

Plunkett's front-arm is all over the place.

 

[Watson33]

Personally think that bowling attack is just not well balanced. I mean you're going to have Anderson and Broad opening which is great of course - but you'll be having a guy not intrusted to play one Ashes test over the winter as 1st change, and then someone who has the potential to take big hauls - but will go for a few.

For that attack to possibly work you've really got to conserve the energy of Anderson and Broad - as an injury to either would be pretty catastrophic.

It's a tough one though, as Finn is a luxury that could pay off - who I suppose has some form. I think guys like Barker, Roland-Jones, Woakes should be in the mix.

I'd go...Cook, Robson, Moeen, Bell, Ballance, Stokes, Prior, Woakes, Broad, Anderson, Panesar

Personally Woakes wouldn't be anywhere the test side. I don't think that last test at the Oval was a one-off, I personally think he'd get destroyed in test cricket. If you're going for that no.8 who is a bits and pieces cricketer i'd go for Bresnan.

 

[grecian]

Interesting how many of these child (u19) prodigies fail, and then comeback later to be half-decent, when it maybe too late TR-J, Chopra, Nathan Buck, Fletcher, Moeen. Something to do with the pressure being off I guess.

Anyway good stuff from a current prodigy, usurping his more hyped bro, in this match. Could be an interesting last day if weather doesn't deter at Taunton.

I'm guessing Borthwick is injured?

 

[91Jmay]

Barker and Roland-Jones are very slow. Maybe they'd work in England, but you couldn't tour with them virtually anywhere in the world.

Calling Woakes a bits and pieces cricketer suggests you have watched him once in red ball cricket. The idea that he and Bresnan's batting is comparable is laughable.

 

[stumpski]

Somerset going at five an over in pursuit of 248. Durham need to get a couple out tonight really.

 

[Watson33]

Barker and Roland-Jones are very slow. Maybe they'd work in England, but you couldn't tour with them virtually anywhere in the world.

Calling Woakes a bits and pieces cricketer suggests you have watched him once in red ball cricket. The idea that he and Bresnan's batting is comparable is laughable.

Watched him quite a bit in championship cricket, and his bowling is nothing short of average. If you're picking him in the team and batting him at 8, it suggests to me you're picking him as a bowler who can bat. If you pick Woakes, it has to be as a batter who can bowl a bit. Could possibly bat at 6 if Stokes isn't gonna play in the first test.

 

[theegyptian]

That could be that at Taunton. Forecast overnight and tomorrow is not good.

Nice to see the Craig Overton getting wickets.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Lucky escape for Durham if they are saved by the weather.

 

[grecian]

That could be that at Taunton. Forecast overnight and tomorrow is not good.

Nice to see the Craig Overton getting wickets.

Indeed, but at least Somerset gave themselves a chance by batting flat-out today, just need about two hours somehow between the rain.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Barker and Roland-Jones are very slow. Maybe they'd work in England, but you couldn't tour with them virtually anywhere in the world.

See, I think this is a mentality that is exclusively English when it comes to selecting players.

I guarantee if TRJ/Barker/Woakes - hell even Chris Wright were Australian they would have played a few tests by now. Not all might of been successes (maybe only 1/4 would have gone well) but you would at very least know if they were up to the rigours of test cricket.

When was the last time England debuted a young fast bowler? You're probably looking at Finn and that would of been around 4 years ago.

 

[91Jmay]

Show me an Aussie test bowler who operates in the mid 70s. That's the speed Barks + TRJ are bowling at.

Woakes is good enough to bat 7 at least in Tests and be a good 4th seamer. Batting him 8 is pointless, problem is I don't think you can pick him and Stokes. Its and either or.

 

[Prince EWS]

Woakes is good enough to bat 7 at least in Tests and be a good 4th seamer. Batting him 8 is pointless, problem is I don't think you can pick him and Stokes. Its and either or.

I wish I could tag @hendrix so he could argue with you about this. I might even send him a VM.

 

[BeeGee]

Show me an Aussie test bowler who operates in the mid 70s.

Dennis Lillee. Also operated in the early 80s at the end of his career.