**Official** Pakistan and England in the UAE 2015/16

[Furball]

England's selectors woes go back much further than the West Indies series earlier this year.

 

[91Jmay]

Fingers crossed for Stokes. The real question mark over Taylor remains quick bowling rather than county trundler seamers. I guess that question will be getting answered in the next couple of months. I do have sympathy with the selectors in the sense I remember the bad old days of the revolving door and not giving players time to either succeed or fail. To a degree Bell and Bairstow have improved as the series has progressed, so the two previous games have probably resulted in the right player getting the bullet in Buttler.

The spinner slot look more interesting after the first innings. Patel bowled the most overs, so has he become the preferred spinner? I think Ali is the best bat of the 3, although he was always going to be an abysmal opener. Patel is probably more of a decent number 8, rather than a real all rounder with the bat. I think county form and the little test cricket so far shows Rashid to be very inconsistent with the bat, but probably somewhere in the middle of the other 3. Patel is probably the steadiest of the spinners, so the most likely to tie up an end. Rashid is the one who could rip through the tail, given a spinning wicket in the fourth innings, but I think will always struggle to bowl economical spells in a first innings. Ali for me is still a work in progress ... but despite everything has more wickets and a lower average in this series so far than Rashid (8 at 46 vs 7 at 66). I don't see it as an easy call for South Africa, but I think they'll stick with Ali on the basis he was prepared to open when required, spin is unlikely to play a big part in the series and hopefully they take a spin bowling coach (Bracewell?) to try and further his development. There might be a case for not playing a spinner at all in South Africa if Stokes isn't fit, with 4 seamers and 10 overs a day from Root ... although that could be a risky ploy with his back problems. As I don't see Rashid or Patel as anywhere near a number 6 bat that may also be Ali's way to stay in the side if Stokes is out. I guess a fit Ansari might still up as a left field option as he is a potential top order batsman and his bowling did improve significantly last season.

Patel can't tie down an end, he bowls too many four balls.

 

[smash84]

How much of a lead can pakistan hope to give and realistically expect to set England a target of at least 200 in the final innings?

 

[weldone]

England is likely to get 50+ lead. Yasir and co. must make sure it doesn't become 100+. After that, it's upto the batsmen to stand up and deliver and post a 250+ target for the 4th innings.

 

[JRC67]

Patel can't tie down an end, he bowls too many four balls.

I don't disagree ... I just think he's marginally more likely to do it as both the others bowl so many. In all honesty I see very little between the three of them, which is why I would slightly favour Ali as I think he is the more likely to score some runs on a regular basis when not opening.

 

[Howe_zat]

They might go

6 Bairstow
7 Moeen
8-11 seamers

if Stokes isn't fit for South Africa. Woakes could get a game

 

[aussie]

I can't remember the last time a non-sub-continental batsman looked so comfortable on the sweep in sub-continental conditions.

Pietersen. Before that Hayden.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

They might go

6 Bairstow
7 Moeen
8-11 seamers

if Stokes isn't fit for South Africa. Woakes could get a game

I agree, no idea how fit Woakes is now after his troubles of last season and whether he is a viable option at present but I wouldn't be upset if they chose him as Stokes replacement. I guess 3, 4 and 5 will be Bell, Root and Taylor so we just need an opener.

 

[JRC67]

I agree, no idea how fit Woakes is now after his troubles of last season and whether he is a viable option at present but I wouldn't be upset if they chose him as Stokes replacement. I guess 3, 4 and 5 will be Bell, Root and Taylor so we just need an opener.

I think that's probably how they'll go, perm 2 from Woakes, Finn and Wood. Wouldn't be surprised if Woakes got in as the best bat of the 3.

 

[Cabinet96]

Taylor WAG. Pretty interesting day and a good one for England to boot.

I know he is on just 37 but I'm really pleased for Taylor - Can't believe he hasn't played a Test since 2012.

So weird to think he played those tests before Root had even debuted.

They might go

6 Bairstow
7 Moeen
8-11 seamers

if Stokes isn't fit for South Africa. Woakes could get a game

Yeah, he's a genuine chance IMO. Depends whether the selectors have faith in Moeen to perform as part of a four man attack or be in the top 7 with no all-rounder sort at 8. He's never done either before.

Edit: Hadn't thought about Woakes' injuries though. If he's currently fit he could really do with trying to get some first class cricket lined up for the next month.

 

[Howe_zat]

News on Stokes - all that's been ruled is that he won't bowl in the second innings. No comment on whether he could bat.

Safe to say, hope he doesn't have to

 

[flibbertyjibber]

News on Stokes - all that's been ruled is that he won't bowl in the second innings. No comment on whether he could bat.

Safe to say, hope he doesn't have to

Safe to say the nutter probably expects to though.

 

[smash84]

pakistan can't afford to be stoked

 

[theegyptian]

He'll bat 11 and dead bat it for whoever is batting at the other end in the first innings - and the same in the second if England are anywhere close imo.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

pakistan can't afford to be stoked

You been waiting over 24 hours for the opportunity to use that.

 

[Prince EWS]

Taylor WAG. Pretty interesting day and a good one for England to boot.



So weird to think he played those tests before Root had even debuted.



Yeah, he's a genuine chance IMO. Depends whether the selectors have faith in Moeen to perform as part of a four man attack or be in the top 7 with no all-rounder sort at 8. He's never done either before.

Edit: Hadn't thought about Woakes' injuries though. If he's currently fit he could really do with trying to get some first class cricket lined up for the next month.

I just hope they don't pick Jordan at #8 as an 'allrounder' as the cop out option halfway between a proper fourth seamer and a proper allrounder. I'd definitely pick Woakes if he was fit.

 

[harsh.ag]

I think I would prefer Rashid. He could be a big factor when it comes to helping win England games in the second innings.

 

[Cabinet96]

Not for SA IMO. Too much of a liability in the first innings for a start.

 

[morgieb]

I just hope they don't pick Jordan at #8 as an 'allrounder' as the cop out option halfway between a proper fourth seamer and a proper allrounder. I'd definitely pick Woakes if he was fit.

I don't see what's all that bad about a Broad - Wood - Finn - Anderson tail anyway. If you're that concerned about your lower order, I'd pick Plunkett if Woakes isn't available.

 

[smash84]

if pak can bundle england for less than 275 we might have a match on our hands, although the way things stand it seems difficult that pak can restrict them to that score