**Official** Ireland in England 2019

[Burgey]

Have England ever lost their first test against another country? Other than Australia in the first ever test match obviously.

That’s a really cool record and a good spot

 

[morgieb]

I'm trying to think who's playing for the Lions against Australia. If Sibley makes runs in that game, he must have a chance. But there really isn't anyone else I can think of.

Sibley hit 70-odd. Other than that Hain made a 50 and a 30 and Curran twin 50's.

 

[Starfighter]

A notable addition to the modern fashion for fast scoring collapses, run rate 3.59. It simply seems impossible to grind it out these days.

 

[Spintolose]

Who comes into this england batting line up? Stokes and Buttler I presume, but is there anyone else who’s a lock I haven’t factored in? Because it looks really bad for them tbh

Er..... Foakes.....Pope.....er.....um....Alex Davies???....um....

 

[King Pietersen]

#BringBackKP

 

[TimAngas]

Kevin O'Brien, big game player he is, should be good for a hundred here.

 

[Groundking]

No doubt broad will waste the new ball bowling too short

 

[aussie tragic]

I'm trying to think who's playing for the Lions against Australia. If Sibley makes runs in that game, he must have a chance. But there really isn't anyone else I can think of.

That games was last week. Sibley made 74 and 30 to be the best bat

 

[wpdavid]

Sibley hit 70-odd. Other than that Hain made a 50 and a 30 and Curran twin 50's.

OK, so I managed to completely miss that game. Sibley's 70 may well be enough unless our second innings is very different to what we've seen today.

 

[Uppercut]

Will struggle to get past 150. None of these batsman are good enough for a county side when it comes to batting.

Put on 130 and 339 in much more difficult conditions against Pakistan.

 

[wpdavid]

That games was last week. Sibley made 74 and 30 to be the best bat

Ta.

 

[Burgey]

I'm trying to think who's playing for the Lions against Australia. If Sibley makes runs in that game, he must have a chance. But there really isn't anyone else I can think of.

Who do stokes and Buttler replace? Root is doing a Tendulkar and refusing to move up to put the team first, so if they’re all fit and firing is it:

Burns
Roy
Denley
Root
Stokes
Buttler
Bairstow
Ali
Woakes/ Archer
Broad
Anderson

?

 

[mr_mister]

Ali has to go. Has become useless with the bat

 

[Burgey]

Yeah but the talk is he’s bowled well recently. Haven’t watched them much or at all, so can’t really say

 

[Starfighter]

Yeah but the talk is he’s bowled well recently. Haven’t watched them much or at all, so can’t really say

He's taken wickets, but in rather conducive conditions.

 

[wpdavid]

Who do stokes and Buttler replace? Root is doing a Tendulkar and refusing to move up to put the team first, so if they’re all fit and firing is it:

Burns
Roy
Denley
Root
Stokes
Buttler
Bairstow
Ali
Woakes/ Archer
Broad
Anderson

?

Archer's not fit until the 2nd test.
Woakes bats ahead of Ali, surely, which means Ali vs Leach for the one spinner's spot becomes a subplot over the next few days.

 

[Starfighter]

Root is doing a Tendulkar and refusing to move up to put the team first

His test average has been sliding recently, I don't think a move up will help things.

 

[Burgey]

He’s their best bat an has played there before. If he moved there it would improve the balance of their side immeasurably imo, but if he wants to bat four it’s his prerogative

 

[cnerd123]

Englol

 

[Groundking]

Yeah but the talk is he’s bowled well recently. Haven’t watched them much or at all, so can’t really say

Since the start of 2017 he's taken 43 @ 21.21 at home.