***Official*** West Indies Tour of the UK 2017

[Bijed]

I went out when they were 154/6 or thereabouts, did not expect to come back to this. Pleased though.

Also, JIMMY!!!

 

[91Jmay]

Great win, Westley scoring runs could cost us long term but Stoneman has actually looked pretty decent

 

[TestMatch]

Seems West Indies collapse unless Brathwaite makes 40+ runs.

 

[MW1304]

Going to miss Ottis Gibson again. Always been a massive figure, in both his stints, all the bowlers seem to place great importance on his influence. Also the guy's just great, hope he goes well for South Africa.

 

[91Jmay]

Yeah Ottis is class, the fact when Broady went past Botham he acknowledged him with the ball not his Dad speaks volumes. Although his Dad is an arsewipe so no massive shock

 

[Beamer]

Seems West Indies collapse unless Brathwaite makes 40+ runs.

He is vital as our current batting lineup has so many gaps. I think Darren Bravo will make a big difference as he can make big runs. It just felt like Kyle Hope getting out was inevitable, he didn't look up to it.

Also with Dowrich terribly out of form the lower order, which has actually been ok for the last few series, really didn't perform.

It's tricky though as batting here was exceptionally difficult. Do we stick with the guys we think have the goods and hope they learn from it or do we try someone new and give them a run?

 

[Beamer]

Going to miss Ottis Gibson again. Always been a massive figure, in both his stints, all the bowlers seem to place great importance on his influence. Also the guy's just great, hope he goes well for South Africa.

He is a superb bowling coach. I don't think he has the man management skills required for a more senior position based on his time as our head coach. Unless he has learned from the experience of course.

 

[Bijed]

He is vital as our current batting lineup has so many gaps. I think Darren Bravo will make a big difference as he can make big runs. It just felt like Kyle Hope getting out was inevitable, he didn't look up to it.

Also with Dowrich terribly out of form the lower order, which has actually been ok for the last few series, really didn't perform.

It's tricky though as batting here was exceptionally difficult. Do we stick with the guys we think have the goods and hope they learn from it or do we try someone new and give them a run?

Shai Hope has shown that this approach can pay off big-time. Definitely some who have to go, though

 

[Furball]

Anyone else think Stokes should be MotM over Anderson? His 6fer was sensational to watch and that 60 in the first innings was incredibly crucial.

Yes but you'd have to be brave to not give it to Jimmeh.

 

[Beamer]

Shai Hope has shown that this approach can pay off big-time. Definitely some who have to go, though

Yep For the Zimbabwe tour I imagine Kyle Hope will go and Shane Dowrich must be very vulnerable. Bishoo deserves his place but Holder isn't comfy with him so he might be vulnerable.

The xi for the first test in Zimbabwe:

Braithwaite
Powell
Bravo
Hope
Chase
Blackwood
Wicket keeper batsman (either stick with Dowrich or try Hamilton/Ambris)
Holder
Spinner who can bat a bit/Joseph (if seamer friendly)
Roach
Gabriel

Reserves

Hetmeyer
Spinner or Joseph
Reifer
Cummins/fast bowler

 

[Howe_zat]

Re the question of potentially dropping Anderson, I don't think it needs to happen right now anyway, even though Jimmy definitely is on the way out. He had a decent test at Lord's so whilst he probably won't be running through sides anymore, he's not yet a spent force. Wood really hasn't done much so far and though he can save his place by doing well from here on in, he's the only seamer that we should be looking at dropping right now.

There's the argument that bringing Woakes in for Wood might leave the attack a bit samey, but the probable step up in quality would more than make up for that.

That said, one more injury will probably be the end of Jimmy so between that and the undeniable fact that he is fading away, giving Woakes another shot with the new ball wouldn't be the worst thing ever.

I'm sure there is a proper succession plan in place and I hope it doesn't involve Jimmy going to Australia in all honesty, as I think he'd really struggle and would in all likelihood finish him off - not only would he deserve a better end to his career but if we rest him over the winter it's not inconceivable that he'd be able to play in some of our home tests next year, should he be needed (since by then we really ought to be at least trying to move on)

29 wickets at an average of 12 since Bijed made this post ftr

 

[Beamer]

As for England my xi for the ashes test:

Cook
Stoneman (he just might be a keeper. I think he is positive and looked technically ok)
Westley (deserves a go for the first test but I have my doubts about that technique)
Root
Malan (again, not convinced but deserves a couple of ashes tests)
Stokes
Bairstow
Ali
Woakes (if fully fit as I think he'll go better in Australia)
Broad
Anderson

Reserves

Hameed (reserve opener)
Hales (to come in if Malan struggles)
Roland Jones (starts if woakes hasn't got his pace up)
Crane (spare spinner. An attacking option but a good one)

My gut feeling is Australia will win because England have 3 batsmen fighting for their career and their catching is poor. It will be close though because Anderson and Broad are obviously excellent (particularly Jimmy) and that England lower order is insanely good. It will get them out of trouble a few times I think.

 

[Howe_zat]

Yep For the Zimbabwe tour I imagine Kyle Hope will go and Shane Dowrich must be very vulnerable. Bishoo deserves his place but Holder isn't comfy with him so he might be vulnerable.

The xi for the first test in Zimbabwe:

Braithwaite
Powell
Bravo
Hope
Chase
Blackwood
Wicket keeper batsman (either stick with Dowrich or try Hamilton/Ambris)
Holder
Spinner who can bat a bit/Joseph (if seamer friendly)
Roach
Gabriel

Reserves

Hetmeyer
Spinner or Joseph
Reifer
Cummins/fast bowler

What do you think of 'spinner who can bat a bit' being Cornwall?

 

[honestbharani]

Congrats England. Good series win against what turned out to be a very competitive Windies side. And well done Windies on running England much closer than anyone anticipated.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Feel a bit sorry for the Windies. They faced perfect conditions for English seamers in two Tests. The only time the conditions weren't exaggeratedly in favour of the bowlers they acquitted themselves well.

 

[91Jmay]

You can't stick with Dowrich. Not saying he is as bad as he has shown but the kid needs to get some runs under his belt and catch a few nicks again.

 

[Bijed]

29 wickets at an average of 12 since Bijed made this post ftr

Never have I been so wrong about anything, or so glad to be so

Actually, I want credit for Jimmy gunning it since that post

 

[Beamer]

What do you think of 'spinner who can bat a bit' being Cornwall?

I would absolutely love that and it would strengthen the side considerably. But it won't happen until he has lost some more weight.

Feel a bit sorry for the Windies. They faced perfect conditions for English seamers in two Tests. The only time the conditions weren't exaggeratedly in favour of the bowlers they acquitted themselves well.

I agree those conditions were tough and facing Jimmy of all people would have been too much for every other test side too tbh. Still, I hope we look back on this in 12 months and realise this tour really helped with the development of our batsmen.

You can't stick with Dowrich. Not saying he is as bad as he has shown but the kid needs to get some runs under his belt and catch a few nicks again.

I completely agree, mainly because his keeping was so bad. Lots of batsmen struggled but we can't be having a keeper dropping straight forward edges. I guess Jahmar Hamilton would be next as he did well for the A team and is a superb keeper.

Sunil Ambis is a promising batsman who can keep and he's in the ODI squad. Hopefully he gets some game time so we can see what he's got.

 

[JRC67]

As for England my xi for the ashes test:

Cook
Stoneman (he just might be a keeper. I think he is positive and looked technically ok)
Westley (deserves a go for the first test but I have my doubts about that technique)
Root
Malan (again, not convinced but deserves a couple of ashes tests)
Stokes
Bairstow
Ali
Woakes (if fully fit as I think he'll go better in Australia)
Broad
Anderson

Reserves

Hameed (reserve opener)
Hales (to come in if Malan struggles)
Roland Jones (starts if woakes hasn't got his pace up)
Crane (spare spinner. An attacking option but a good one)

My gut feeling is Australia will win because England have 3 batsmen fighting for their career and their catching is poor. It will be close though because Anderson and Broad are obviously excellent (particularly Jimmy) and that England lower order is insanely good. It will get them out of trouble a few times I think.

The problem is it's easy to imagine 3 of the starting batsmen being unselectable by the 4th test, as Ballance and Duckett were last winter. The solution; I have no idea. Dawson will go not Crane would be my bet. If Crane was going he'd probably be in the T20 or ODI squad.

 

[Beamer]

The problem is it's easy to imagine 3 of the starting batsmen being unselectable by the 4th test, as Ballance and Duckett were last winter. The solution; I have no idea. Dawson will go not Crane would be my bet. If Crane was going he'd probably be in the T20 or ODI squad.

I just think Dawson would be such a meh selection. Crane is a risk but just might offer something different. I fear you might be right though and Dawson will get the nod.