Cricket fred

[Stom]

I tell you what, that Moeen is rubbish, isn't he...

What's the betting on fielding 3 wks in the next test?

Jennings
Burns
Bairstow
Root
Moeen
Stokes
Buttler
Foakes
Curran
Leach
Anderson

lol.

No thanks, leave the ginger yorkie at home to put his feet up for another week and see how the other two go again.

[fivepointer]

We've had 5 good sessions on the trot. Foakes was excellent with good support from Curran and the bowlers have backed it up today.

[Big D]

I tell you what, that Moeen is rubbish, isn't he...

What's the betting on fielding 3 wks in the next test?

Jennings
Burns
Bairstow
Root
Moeen
Stokes
Buttler
Foakes
Curran
Leach
Anderson

lol.

No thanks, leave the ginger yorkie at home to put his feet up for another week and see how the other two go again.

Agreed, Bairstow plays towel boy again.

From what I have read over the last 2 seasons or so, it has been well known that Foakes was the best keeper that could be picked. Good to see him get a go and do well.

[Stom]

I tell you what, that Moeen is rubbish, isn't he...

What's the betting on fielding 3 wks in the next test?

Jennings
Burns
Bairstow
Root
Moeen
Stokes
Buttler
Foakes
Curran
Leach
Anderson

lol.

No thanks, leave the ginger yorkie at home to put his feet up for another week and see how the other two go again.

Agreed, Bairstow plays towel boy again.

From what I have read over the last 2 seasons or so, it has been well known that Foakes was the best keeper that could be picked. Good to see him get a go and do well.

Just muddies the picture even more, though...

Now we've somehow got to pick players 3, 5 and 6 out of Moeen, Stokes, Buttler, Bairstow. When all of them are naturals in the middle order, but none of them are no3s.

The Talksport team were all calling for Stokes at 3. Which is insanity. First, he's a quick bowler. Secondly, the man would win a gold medal in the sweating olympics. I don't want him playing a patient innings at 3, I want him coming in at 6 and swatting the opposition away. Or maybe 5 and doing the same with a little restraint.

I thought, considering his ability against spin, we could have sent Buttler in at 3 for the 2nd innings...

[Big D]

I tell you what, that Moeen is rubbish, isn't he...

What's the betting on fielding 3 wks in the next test?

Jennings
Burns
Bairstow
Root
Moeen
Stokes
Buttler
Foakes
Curran
Leach
Anderson

lol.

No thanks, leave the ginger yorkie at home to put his feet up for another week and see how the other two go again.

Agreed, Bairstow plays towel boy again.

From what I have read over the last 2 seasons or so, it has been well known that Foakes was the best keeper that could be picked. Good to see him get a go and do well.

Just muddies the picture even more, though...

Now we've somehow got to pick players 3, 5 and 6 out of Moeen, Stokes, Buttler, Bairstow. When all of them are naturals in the middle order, but none of them are no3s.

The Talksport team were all calling for Stokes at 3. Which is insanity. First, he's a quick bowler. Secondly, the man would win a gold medal in the sweating olympics. I don't want him playing a patient innings at 3, I want him coming in at 6 and swatting the opposition away. Or maybe 5 and doing the same with a little restraint.

I thought, considering his ability against spin, we could have sent Buttler in at 3 for the 2nd innings...

Buttler is vice captain and Stokes gives England balance. Given Moeen is really the no.1 spinner then I think away from home does Bairstow demand a place back?

In recent series (since last summer):
v South Africa - 41.25
v WIndies - 14.25
in Australia - 34.00
in NZ - 40.75 (2 match series, 1x100)
v Pakistan - 16.00
v India - 25.55

Total average across 21 matches - 30.70.

No doubting his 1 day form, but if he is not the best keeper and not getting runs, although I like him, I am not sure what he'd be contributing to the test side.

I think the no.3 for next summer may need to be a new face. Not sure who though.

[Stom]

Agreed, Bairstow plays towel boy again.

From what I have read over the last 2 seasons or so, it has been well known that Foakes was the best keeper that could be picked. Good to see him get a go and do well.

Just muddies the picture even more, though...

Now we've somehow got to pick players 3, 5 and 6 out of Moeen, Stokes, Buttler, Bairstow. When all of them are naturals in the middle order, but none of them are no3s.

The Talksport team were all calling for Stokes at 3. Which is insanity. First, he's a quick bowler. Secondly, the man would win a gold medal in the sweating olympics. I don't want him playing a patient innings at 3, I want him coming in at 6 and swatting the opposition away. Or maybe 5 and doing the same with a little restraint.

I thought, considering his ability against spin, we could have sent Buttler in at 3 for the 2nd innings...

Buttler is vice captain and Stokes gives England balance. Given Moeen is really the no.1 spinner then I think away from home does Bairstow demand a place back?

In recent series (since last summer):
v South Africa - 41.25
v WIndies - 14.25
in Australia - 34.00
in NZ - 40.75 (2 match series, 1x100)
v Pakistan - 16.00
v India - 25.55

Total average across 21 matches - 30.70.

No doubting his 1 day form, but if he is not the best keeper and not getting runs, although I like him, I am not sure what he'd be contributing to the test side.

I think the no.3 for next summer may need to be a new face. Not sure who though.

They called up Denly, maybe he's in with a shout...

Clarke should get a look in at some point, but our lack of top 3 batsmen is faintly ridiculous. I know English conditions are tough for openers, but still...

[fivepointer]

Bob Willis was opining that you have to play your best players so that means picking guys completely unsuited to fill in at the top of the order.
If Bairstow is available, the thinking is he plays, even if he has to open.
I think its probably better to pick a player who is more likely to succeed in a given position, than a more talented one who likely wont.
No 3 requires a specialist batsman. We would be far better looking for an opener who could drop down one, rather than shorhorn an effective 5/6/7 into the position.
Which is what we've got out n SL in Denley.

[Big D]

Denly is a good shout for 3.

I am just not sure Bairstow has shown enough form to be pushed back into the side.

[Galfon]

Away win - what a rarity.211 run margin is pretty emphatic. Two fourfa's for Moeen some consolation for his No3 fails.

[Digby]

Moeen could maybe bat as high as 6. He's being forced up the order as we were short of decent openers even with Cook available and Root's batting is failing the team

[Stom]

Moeen could maybe bat as high as 6. He's being forced up the order as we were short of decent openers even with Cook available and Root's batting is failing the team

Moeen is good at 5, too. But it's all much of a muchness. We have him, Stokes, Buttler and Bairstow for those 2 spots. And I know I'd always want extra bowling options if the batting is similar.

Having so many all rounders does give great flexibility from 5-9.

[Digby]

Moeen could maybe bat as high as 6. He's being forced up the order as we were short of decent openers even with Cook available and Root's batting is failing the team

Moeen is good at 5, too. But it's all much of a muchness. We have him, Stokes, Buttler and Bairstow for those 2 spots. And I know I'd always want extra bowling options if the batting is similar.

Having so many all rounders does give great flexibility from 5-9.

I'd put Moeen at 7 or ideally 8. Any higher and he loses out when looking to take on the bowlers with his attacking approach when the bowlers remain fresher
For Moeen to go higher either his defence needs to radically improve or our top four or five needs to radically improve, both look unlikely

[Stom]

Moeen could maybe bat as high as 6. He's being forced up the order as we were short of decent openers even with Cook available and Root's batting is failing the team

Moeen is good at 5, too. But it's all much of a muchness. We have him, Stokes, Buttler and Bairstow for those 2 spots. And I know I'd always want extra bowling options if the batting is similar.

Having so many all rounders does give great flexibility from 5-9.

I'd put Moeen at 7 or ideally 8. Any higher and he loses out when looking to take on the bowlers with his attacking approach when the bowlers remain fresher
For Moeen to go higher either his defence needs to radically improve or our top four or five needs to radically improve, both look unlikely

I think you're harsh on him, but I'd have him at 6 in this team, potentially, behind Stokes and ahead of ONE wicketkeeper.

Then we've got to fit in Curran, Woakes, Broad, Rashid or Leach at 8,9 and 10.

[Digby]

Curran and Woakes, and that additional to Stokes?

[Stom]

Curran and Woakes, and that additional to Stokes?

Well, I wouldn't personally go for both Curran and Woakes, just listing the potential picks. And yes, as well as Stokes. He's not bowling as much as he used to now, so he's more like the 5th or even 6th bowler. So I'd want 3 other quicks, depending on the conditions.

We do have a serious problem when it comes to producing quick bowlers, though...Could do with someone genuinely quick to add a little variation to the attack. And I'm not convinced of Stone (yet).

[Digby]

Curran and Woakes both look far more organised, and even more simply better playing down the right line, which as a Worcs fan is annoying but there we are

[Mellsblue]

Ffs

[Digby]

Ffs

It's deja vu all over again

[Big D]

Pitch feels a bit more "Sri Lankan" than last weeks.

[Digby]

Without doubt this pitch is doing more

[Digby]

Also for all Stokes has vastly improved his batting as regards resilience he's not a 3 yet, whether he could be is at most a maybe

[Big D]

Also for all Stokes has vastly improved his batting as regards resilience he's not a 3 yet, whether he could be is at most a maybe

Agreed, I do feel they are fannying around with it because it is the sub-continent, there is no way Stokes bats at 3 next summer. They could easily drop one of the spinners and play Denly if need be as he can bowl a few overs too.

[Galfon]

Comfortable win in the end and the series with it.
Spinners doing their job on a receptive track.
Jimmy A must be bored in these conditions.
Ed Smith's selection changes appear to have been to good effect result wise, thus far.

[Lizard]

Just in case you missed it...

NZ could only set Pakistan 176 to win in the first test of three in Abu Dhabi. They began steadily, getting to 40 before a mini-collapse to 48/3. Pakistan regained control and were cruising at 130-3 before 30 yr old test debutant Ajaz Patel through the middle and lower order with help from Neil Wagner and a run out. Pakistan fell 7 runs short, when Azhar Ali lost his composure having fought to 65 off 136 while farming the strike well. Patel ended with 5/59, the 9th NZer to take a fivefer on debut. This is New Zealand’s closest ever test win by runs.

[Digby]

I wonder what the odds were of Pakistan losing from there?