That's a big call, after his dismal form in the ODIs. I can't believe he's down as a first choice opener, so presumably Moeen or even Taylor will open with Cook?
Moeen will be pencilled in to open, so as to create space for the additional spinner (Rashid or Ansari). They have to keep three seamers, and use Stokes as back up.
The team for the 1st test will presumably look like this -
Cook Ali Bell Root Bairstow Stokes Buttler Rashid Plunkett (or Finn or Wood) Broad Anderson
Would it be fair to say that Hales is more vulnerable against pace than spin? That seemed to be the case in the ODIs, not that he generally lasted long enough to face the spinners!
Moeen will be pencilled in to open, so as to create space for the additional spinner (Rashid or Ansari). They have to keep three seamers, and use Stokes as back up.
The team for the 1st test will presumably look like this -
Cook Ali Bell Root Bairstow Stokes Buttler Rashid Plunkett (or Finn or Wood) Broad Anderson
I'd have Ansari for Bairstow, Stokes up to 5, possibly #gambit
No real problem with the squads although I would not have had Hales in the Test squad (but would have left him in the ODI & T20 squads). There is a reason why his average in T20s (36.40) is infinitely better than his ODI record (21.47) and I really don't see him being technically sound enough to be a long term Test opener.
Ansari, should he play well in the warm up games (and Hales doesn't), might just get in, even as an opener, especially if we feel we don't need four seamers. He has more control with the ball than either Rashid or Ali for that matter and might help to tie down one end. Ansari has also scored 106 and 99 in his last two CC innings, the latter yesterday against an attack that included one James Anderson.
So, we could see something like this:
Cook Ali/Ansari Bell Root Bairstow/Taylor Stokes Buttler Ansari/Ali Rashid Broad Anderson
Ansari is a good call imo. Scored a fair few runs this season and has opened for Surrey quite a few times. His bowling has come on leaps and bounds this season as well.
pretty much as expected .. Ansari the only 'newcomer' .. Buttler and Hales a bit lucky and I would have thought that Compton was worth another look as an opener ..
As an aside, bearing in mind how important spin will be in the UAE, Essex have released Monty Panesar. It's a sign of how far he has fallen, he would have been a shoe in for the tour, now you wonder if he has a future in the game.
As an aside, bearing in mind how important spin will be in the UAE, Essex have released Monty Panesar. It's a sign of how far he has fallen, he would have been a shoe in for the tour, now you wonder if he has a future in the game.
I'm afraid that probably is the last we will see of him. His off the field issues have been a major distraction and given that he can't bat or field counties aren't going to take a chance on a spinner who might "turn up" and bowl to the best of his ability.
Ansari has suffered an open dislocation of his left thumb and the situation is being monitored over the next few days.
I have not got a clue how serious this is but it is, clearly, on his bowling hand so if he can't grip the ball properly he ain't going to be able to spin it!
Ansari has suffered an open dislocation of his left thumb and the situation is being monitored over the next few days.
I have not got a clue how serious this is but it is, clearly, on his bowling hand so if he can't grip the ball properly he ain't going to be able to spin it!
Blimey, called up and potentially ruled out in one day! Fingers crossed he makes it. That would be horrendous luck.
Durham coach Paul Collingwood and Mahela Jayawardene will both join England’s management team in different consultancy roles, the ECB have announced.
On the day England's squad to play Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates was named, the ECB have announced former ODI captain Collingwood and former Sri Lanka skipper Jayawardene will work with different England squads at separate stages during the winter.
Collingwood, who captained England to World T20 success in 2010 and was part of Scotland's coaching staff during the 2015 ICC World Cup, will work with England's limited overs squads in the UAE. He will also assist the team during next year's World T20 after performing a similar role with England during last year's tournament in Bangaldesh.
Jayawardene, who recently retired from international cricket after playing more than 650 matches for Sri Lanka over the last 18 years, will act as a batting consultant to the Test squad for the first part of England's tour to UAE, ending after the first Test.
ECB England Cricket director, Andrew Strauss said: "We are delighted that Mahela and Paul will be joining the England management team, supporting our existing specialist coaches in this area.
"Both will bring a vast wealth of cricketing knowledge and expertise to the team, and in Mahela's case, extensive experience of batting in the sub-continent which will be invaluable as part of our wider preparations for the UAE tour."
I am Alex Hales biggest fan but even I'm surprised to see him named in the test squad given his recent form.
Having said that, I'm still convinced he'll come good and go on to be a very good player for England. Looks like the England selectors see it that way too
Ansari has suffered an open dislocation of his left thumb and the situation is being monitored over the next few days.
I have not got a clue how serious this is but it is, clearly, on his bowling hand so if he can't grip the ball properly he ain't going to be able to spin it!
Blimey, called up and potentially ruled out in one day! Fingers crossed he makes it. That would be horrendous luck.
Let's hope he signed his central contract in time.
Durham coach Paul Collingwood and Mahela Jayawardene will both join England’s management team in different consultancy roles, the ECB have announced.
On the day England's squad to play Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates was named, the ECB have announced former ODI captain Collingwood and former Sri Lanka skipper Jayawardene will work with different England squads at separate stages during the winter.
Collingwood, who captained England to World T20 success in 2010 and was part of Scotland's coaching staff during the 2015 ICC World Cup, will work with England's limited overs squads in the UAE. He will also assist the team during next year's World T20 after performing a similar role with England during last year's tournament in Bangaldesh.
Jayawardene, who recently retired from international cricket after playing more than 650 matches for Sri Lanka over the last 18 years, will act as a batting consultant to the Test squad for the first part of England's tour to UAE, ending after the first Test.
ECB England Cricket director, Andrew Strauss said: "We are delighted that Mahela and Paul will be joining the England management team, supporting our existing specialist coaches in this area.
"Both will bring a vast wealth of cricketing knowledge and expertise to the team, and in Mahela's case, extensive experience of batting in the sub-continent which will be invaluable as part of our wider preparations for the UAE tour."
Comments
That's a big call, after his dismal form in the ODIs. I can't believe he's down as a first choice opener, so presumably Moeen or even Taylor will open with Cook?
Same goes with rashid, been following his career since he emerged at Yorkshire at a very young age.
The team for the 1st test will presumably look like this -
Cook
Ali
Bell
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Buttler
Rashid
Plunkett (or Finn or Wood)
Broad
Anderson
Ansari, should he play well in the warm up games (and Hales doesn't), might just get in, even as an opener, especially if we feel we don't need four seamers. He has more control with the ball than either Rashid or Ali for that matter and might help to tie down one end. Ansari has also scored 106 and 99 in his last two CC innings, the latter yesterday against an attack that included one James Anderson.
So, we could see something like this:
Cook
Ali/Ansari
Bell
Root
Bairstow/Taylor
Stokes
Buttler
Ansari/Ali
Rashid
Broad
Anderson
As an aside, bearing in mind how important spin will be in the UAE, Essex have released Monty Panesar. It's a sign of how far he has fallen, he would have been a shoe in for the tour, now you wonder if he has a future in the game.
I have not got a clue how serious this is but it is, clearly, on his bowling hand so if he can't grip the ball properly he ain't going to be able to spin it!
Durham coach Paul Collingwood and Mahela Jayawardene will both join England’s management team in different consultancy roles, the ECB have announced.
On the day England's squad to play Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates was named, the ECB have announced former ODI captain Collingwood and former Sri Lanka skipper Jayawardene will work with different England squads at separate stages during the winter.
Collingwood, who captained England to World T20 success in 2010 and was part of Scotland's coaching staff during the 2015 ICC World Cup, will work with England's limited overs squads in the UAE. He will also assist the team during next year's World T20 after performing a similar role with England during last year's tournament in Bangaldesh.
Jayawardene, who recently retired from international cricket after playing more than 650 matches for Sri Lanka over the last 18 years, will act as a batting consultant to the Test squad for the first part of England's tour to UAE, ending after the first Test.
ECB England Cricket director, Andrew Strauss said: "We are delighted that Mahela and Paul will be joining the England management team, supporting our existing specialist coaches in this area.
"Both will bring a vast wealth of cricketing knowledge and expertise to the team, and in Mahela's case, extensive experience of batting in the sub-continent which will be invaluable as part of our wider preparations for the UAE tour."
Having said that, I'm still convinced he'll come good and go on to be a very good player for England. Looks like the England selectors see it that way too
Ali, opening, out pulling for 22, Bell LBW (which he wasn't happy with) for 19 and Cook was caught for 53 in a 43 over net.
Much the same story of the summer. Root retires not out 59, Bairstow is 33 not out but both Stokes (6) and Buttler (1) go cheaply.
Bairstow 66* and Rashid 51* so they haven't done their cause any harm
Wood has one wicket and Ali has the impressive figures of 11-3-15-2
Ali 22-6-41-3 as opposed to Rashid 16-1-45-0