Another Zedfest. I have not seen or listened to one ball of this series and do not intend to. Pointless waste of time.
Don't let that stop you giving your opinion on it though...
Nothing will ever stop that. I hear reports, I see the scores, I read this thread. So my knowledge of this series is probably in line with most people on here.
Wood out caught at slip off Shah but not given out immediately as Rieffel isn't sure whether it is a bump ball or not. Umpires ask 3rd Umpire who gives it out. Broad then complains and they review it and it is finally given out.
Just woken up to this - oh dear! Too many batsmen failing at the moment, I thought Buttler would come good - still think he will but might need some time away. Taylor for Bell is a bit of a no brainer now.
Cook, Root and Bairstow got 199 of the 228 off the bat.
Ali isn't an opener, Bell has long since lost any consistency, Buttler can't buy a run and Stokes blows hot and cold.
If we are going to make changes then we need to make them for the next Test - otherwise the likes of Taylor and Hales will really wonder what it takes to get into the team.
So, this is what I would do for the final Test:
Cook Hales Root Taylor Stokes Bairstow Ali Rashid Wood Broad Anderson
Right, I'm signing off now. Got a bit of horse racing studying to do before I physically (and mentally!!) prepare myself for The Sofa this afternoon with Seb (who has a lot to answer for in this regard) and the Mrs!
Cook, Root and Bairstow got 199 of the 228 off the bat.
Ali isn't an opener, Bell has long since lost any consistency, Buttler can't buy a run and Stokes blows hot and cold.
If we are going to make changes then we need to make them for the next Test - otherwise the likes of Taylor and Hales will really wonder what it takes to get into the team.
So, this is what I would do for the final Test:
Cook Hales Root Taylor Stokes Bairstow Ali Rashid Wood Broad Anderson
I find it quite amazing how Pakistan's pair at the crease right now Younus Khan (37 years old) and Misbah-ul-Haq (41 years old) are potentially taking both the test match and the series away from us right now with there partnership. That's a combined age of 78 years at the crease an average of 39 years each.
Then you look at the Sri Lanka and India teams of recent also with many players batting on until there late 30's / early 40's.
It does make me wonder why we have a culture within the English team that once a player gets to about 33/34 years old they're too old to go on but other nations see there top players go on for longer.
Cook is 30 years old, are we likely to see him for another 7-11 years? Probably not. In fact in 11 years time we'd have probably seen the back of him and probably his replacement at the top of the order too whoever that may be.
At 38 years old Andrew Strauss wouldn't look out of place in this match!
Comments
Cook 31*
Root 34*
Can anyone confirm these strange occurances??? :-)
216-6
Bairstow 45*
Bairstow has to keep with James Taylor coming in.
Then again, England may as well just play cook, root, a keeper and then 7 bowlers. No one else gets any runs!
223-8
233-9
Anderson, as he tends to, fends off a short ball from Khan and it loops in the air to the keeper.
Broad 15*
Ali isn't an opener, Bell has long since lost any consistency, Buttler can't buy a run and Stokes blows hot and cold.
If we are going to make changes then we need to make them for the next Test - otherwise the likes of Taylor and Hales will really wonder what it takes to get into the team.
So, this is what I would do for the final Test:
Cook
Hales
Root
Taylor
Stokes
Bairstow
Ali
Rashid
Wood
Broad
Anderson
Can't see another opening option from the squad though.
Oh, and I'd leave Bairstow and 5, Stokes at 6.
Then you look at the Sri Lanka and India teams of recent also with many players batting on until there late 30's / early 40's.
It does make me wonder why we have a culture within the English team that once a player gets to about 33/34 years old they're too old to go on but other nations see there top players go on for longer.
Cook is 30 years old, are we likely to see him for another 7-11 years? Probably not. In fact in 11 years time we'd have probably seen the back of him and probably his replacement at the top of the order too whoever that may be.
At 38 years old Andrew Strauss wouldn't look out of place in this match!
I rate him but he needs to take a break from internationals to try to get some form.