*Official* India Tour of England 2018

[Borges]

Pope has been treated quite shabbily. The middle order bat probably would have made a better opener than Jennings, if you ask me.

 

[Daemon]

shortest reigning pope ever

 

[Daemon]

I'm really worried about Moeen. I just know he's going to hit a breezy 70 once we have the ****ers 5 down for **** all. Not to mention the wickets we'll gift him.

Anyone else think he should've come in for Rashid instead of Pope?

 

[StephenZA]

Anyone else think he should've come in for Rashid instead of Pope?

That's what I don't understand Moeen in for Rashid makes sense, not Pope being dropped. Someone already mentioned the number of all rounders in the English team being silly.... and that's coming from a SA fan.

 

[Borges]

I'm really worried about Moeen.

I'm not; they have already seen enough of him when they made all those mountains of runs when England toured India.

Anyone else think he should've come in for Rashid instead of Pope?

That is what I'd expected before they announced the team. I suspect that this test is going to be played on an absolute road.

 

[Bijed]

That's what I don't understand Moeen in for Rashid makes sense, not Pope being dropped. Someone already mentioned the number of all rounders in the English team being silly.... and that's coming from a SA fan.

Tbf our all rounders these days often prove to be better test bats that most of the specialist bats we try. Pope not being treated too well here, though, even if he hadn't done much so far

 

[Gremlin]

Tbf our all rounders these days often prove to be better test bats that most of the specialist bats we try. Pope not being treated too well here, though, even if he hadn't done much so far

Completely agree, hence my argument for Stokes at 4. I hope we see Pope back quickly, I think he is a genuine talent that needs investing time in.

 

[vcs]

I'm sure Pope will get opportunities very soon, England's batting order ATM is far from solid.

 

[Singh767]

Completely agree, hence my argument for Stokes at 4. I hope we see Pope back quickly, I think he is a genuine talent that needs investing time in.

There is absolutely no way you put a fast bowling all rounder, who recently seems to be Roots 2nd favourite bowler after Jimmy, in at number 4. Unless Stokes cannot bowl of course, but even then it is an odd one.

 

[Moonsorrow999]

Bad treatment of Pope really but then again a number 6 wasn’t needed by England, they have so many 6s and 7s, and no real quality between 1-5 bar Root who hasn’t made a hundred in well over 12 months.

Moeen another guy who can’t bat higher than 7 brought in for the kid who could have had his chance lower down the order but not good enough this time for some reason. That change suggests the wicket might be flat. Who knows what goes in with England nowadays. At least if it is ICC reportable flat Cook might get some runs I suppose.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Is Durham like the Chennai of England?

Worse

 

[Jarquis]

People missing the fact that Pope has effectively been dropped for Stokes.

There are a couple of factors at play - Curran probably isn't as reliable as a third seamer a Woakes so they want some extra insurance; then also the fact that Stokes isn't fit for lengthy spells.

 

[Kirkut]

India are pretty good at getting players out of a terrible patch tbf. Cook himself looked rubbish back in 2014 before he was dropped at Southampton.

Not happening this time, letting the match slip away and going through the motions was a very Dhoni thing.

 

[the big bambino]

Based on what I've read here Pope seems to be the odd man out, batting at 6 when the side needs a top order player. So I can see why he was left out and I'd guess he's been told he's out for team balance reasons or some such. If England thinks he's that good then maybe its time to bat him higher for his county.

I'd have played Vince and omitted Rashid. Vince's record is toilet but his form is good. It also serves a preference I have to see the captain bat at 4. I wouldn't expect much from the top 3 anyway and just set them the bar of trying to average 25 in the game and bank on runs coming from 4 to 9. Root and possibly Vince to bowl a few extender overs if Stokes has a niggle.

 

[Shri]

I'm really worried about Moeen. I just know he's going to hit a breezy 70 once we have the ****ers 5 down for **** all. Not to mention the wickets we'll gift him.

Anyone else think he should've come in for Rashid instead of Pope?

Wouldn't be surprised if he bats at 3 tbh.

Jennings
Cook
Ali
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Buttler
Curran
Rashid
Broad
Anderson

 

[cnerd123]

Nah it's been confirmed that Bairstow is batting at 4 and Butler is keeping and batting 7

Moeen at 5 I would assume

 

[Prince EWS]

Based on what I've read here Pope seems to be the odd man out, batting at 6 when the side needs a top order player.

But the bloke coming in for him is going to bat 6, so it's a bit of a cop-out IMO.

 

[the big bambino]

But the bloke coming in for him is going to bat 6, so it's a bit of a cop-out IMO.

That's just my side basically to get Root batting at 4. As for the selected side I suppose they want a few overs from Moeen as insurance against Stokes' fitness and the possibility of a flat deck. But yeah if you are looking at the selected side and insist on playing Root at 3 then play them both and leave out Rashid. I think that way they still have enough bowling options and the potential for more runs.

 

[TheJediBrah]

I would have left out Rashid if Moeen is playing anyway. Unless we're looking at a real slow and/or dusty and/or grippy track

 

[the big bambino]

Yep can't see reason for the both of them otherwise and I think Moeen's the better player.