*Official* Pakistan in England and Ireland 2016

[Top_Cat]

You're probably right but they have no reason to though. They won two major tests against Australia and South Africa without Anderson. Finn was awesome in South Africa. Woakes is awesome now. Ball was pretty decent and can improve. Wood is likely to come back. I just don't see a shortage of competent seam bowlers in England. The batting depth is what I would worried about.

It's not about competent or potential or who 'can improve', we're talking who the selectors regard as their bankers. Woakes is most definitely not 'awesome' now, he's had one good Test (albeit is also having a good FC season). Just as likely, at this point, to take ****-all poles for the rest of the series especially as he's in for his batting too. The rest are inexperienced or, in the case of Finn, just as likely to wreck a team as go for a run-a-ball.

Take Anderson out of the team and that leaves Broad as to who they can rely on over the course of a series. That's it. It's no wonder they're being conservative. They're just lucky that Pakistan's batting is even more of a shambles than theirs is.

 

[91Jmay]

It's not about competent or potential or who 'can improve', we're talking who the selectors regard as their bankers. Woakes is most definitely not 'awesome' now, he's had one good Test (albeit is also having a good FC season). Just as likely, at this point, to take ****-all poles for the rest of the series especially as he's in for his batting too. The rest are inexperienced or, in the case of Finn, just as likely to wreck a team as go for a run-a-ball.

Take Anderson out of the team and that leaves Broad as to who they can rely on over the course of a series. That's it. It's no wonder they're being conservative. They're just lucky that Pakistan's batting is even more of a shambles than theirs is.

Why do people keep saying this? It patently isn't true.

 

[Niall]

Why do people keep saying this? It patently isn't true.

Question marks over both batting line ups, but Pakistan have more concerns over their batting I think. Openers who are doomed in England, a number three who struggles to rotate strike something you can get away with it in the UAE and Younis a man close to 40 who looked all at sea in the last test.

If you were to combine the batting for a test series in England what would be your make up out of curiosity?

 

[91Jmay]

Cook
Ali
Root
Younis
Misbah
Shafiq
Bairstow


Can't see an England player desperately unlucky to miss out.

Bairstow over Sarfraz may be contentious but I feel like they are on opposite trajectories and may recently have crossed. He is clearly a good player though still.

 

[Howe_zat]

Cook
Ali
Root
Younis
Misbah
Shafiq
Bairstow


Can't see an England player desperately unlucky to miss out.

Bairstow over Sarfraz may be contentious but I feel like they are on opposite trajectories and may recently have crossed. He is clearly a good player though still.

At full strength I think both sides would like to pick Stokes in the top 7.

 

[vogue]

Jake Ball and Steven Finn left out of England squad for second Test
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...-test-pakistan-cricket?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

 

[smash84]

understandably so

 

[Daemon]

England has the most ridiculous batting lineup now. There's like 2 middle orders to get through.

 

[Furball]

God this Anderson story is ****ing tedious. If there was any doubt whatsoever about his fitness (and there was), then not picking him was the correct decision. England bowled Pakistan out for 340 and 200 (give or take) at Lord's which doesn't suggest that they missed him.

 

[Furball]

It's not about competent or potential or who 'can improve', we're talking who the selectors regard as their bankers. Woakes is most definitely not 'awesome' now, he's had one good Test (albeit is also having a good FC season). Just as likely, at this point, to take ****-all poles for the rest of the series especially as he's in for his batting too. The rest are inexperienced or, in the case of Finn, just as likely to wreck a team as go for a run-a-ball.

Take Anderson out of the team and that leaves Broad as to who they can rely on over the course of a series. That's it. It's no wonder they're being conservative. They're just lucky that Pakistan's batting is even more of a shambles than theirs is.

Bit unfair on Woakes, the bloke averages something like 25 with the ball for his county and has been a gun in county cricket with the ball for years. Even without his batting ability he would there or thereabouts in terms of selection.

 

[theegyptian]

Please don't play two spinners England.

 

[Grumpy]

Please don't play two spinners England.

A lot of noise coming from the media that Bayliss wants to play 2 spinners.

What I don't understand is who would they drop for Rashid if they want that combo. You can't drop Anderson, Broad and Woakes. That leaves either Stokes or Vince. All the hoo-hah about Stokes not playing in Lords, don't they think would drop him. So Bayliss wants Rashid for Vince? WTF. Don't need 6 bowling options, and after last week, dropping a batsman for an all rounder is not the right call.

I do want Rashid to play though. Mo deserves to be dropped.

 

[theegyptian]

A lot of noise coming from the media that Bayliss wants to play 2 spinners.

What I don't understand is who would they drop for Rashid if they want that combo. You can't drop Anderson, Broad and Woakes. That leaves either Stokes or Vince. All the hoo-hah about Stokes not playing in Lords, don't they think would drop him. So Bayliss wants Rashid for Vince? WTF. Don't need 6 bowling options, and after last week, dropping a batsman for an all rounder is not the right call.

I do want Rashid to play though. Mo deserves to be dropped.

Yes if he wants Rashid, drop Moeen. Very unlikely England win with spin. Don't play two bad spinners instead of one. Then again Cook and Bayliss managed to pick 3 for the last test in Sharjah. I'd prefer no spinner over two spinners - not that that is an option anymore now that Ball and Finn are gone.

 

[smash84]

If England have to play a spinner I would think moeen is just a better option, brings more with the bat and there is marginal difference between their bowling

 

[Cabinet96]

Please don't play two spinners England.

Yeah, I have this horrible feeling they'll do it and not play one of Woakes/Stokes (basically the only option if they do tbf).

 

[Pothas]

Yeah, I have this horrible feeling they'll do it and not play one of Woakes/Stokes (basically the only option if they do tbf).

There is no way they will do that, I mean it would be insane. It will be surely be Stokes or Bairstow at 5 and Vince making way, would still disagree with that because 6 bowlers is just silly but it would not be quite as bad.

 

[Daemon]

Yeah, I have this horrible feeling they'll do it and not play one of Woakes/Stokes (basically the only option if they do tbf).

Nah if they do it's likely to be Vince who misses out. They're not dropping Woakes after the last game. Stokes perhaps..

 

[Niall]

Rashid is a tricky one, he failed in the UAE overall, but did have one spell where he ran riot and nearly won England a test. Pakistan have a few spin bullies, however they are a side who have collapsed to some journeymen spinners over the years, Craig and North the 2 obvious ones, so wouldn't be totally shocked to see Younis and a few others try to be aggressive when the spinners come on and get out.

 

[Howe_zat]

If Rashid plays I will stab a kitten for every time a full toss gets swept for four.

 

[Niall]

If Rashid plays I will stab a kitten for every time a full toss gets swept for four.

Might want to go for a walk if he is bowling when Sarfraz is at the crease