Outstanding effort by Broad, Wood and Rashid, just a shame likes of Buttler and Stokes couldn't come anywhere near their effort. Both have to be dropped for final test.
Bairstows not playing much better, but should keep Wicket with Taylor coming in, batting line up much stronger with that change. Think 3 seamers is enough, don't agree Hales deserves his chance but think he should come in for Stokes making this the line up: Cook Hales Taylor Root Bell Bairstow (W) Ali Rashid Broad Wood Anderson
Bairstows not playing much better, but should keep Wicket with Taylor coming in, batting line up much stronger with that change. Think 3 seamers is enough, don't agree Hales deserves his chance but think he should come in for Stokes making this the line up: Cook Hales Taylor Root Bell Bairstow (W) Ali Rashid Broad Wood Anderson
Bairstows not playing much better, but should keep Wicket with Taylor coming in, batting line up much stronger with that change. Think 3 seamers is enough, don't agree Hales deserves his chance but think he should come in for Stokes making this the line up: Cook Hales Taylor Root Bell Bairstow (W) Ali Rashid Broad Wood Anderson
You'd drop Stokes and keep Bell in?
I would for the final test yes, one more chance for Bell to save his career and although he's not in form, he has scored more runs than Stokes. Plus think the balance looks better with him at 5 and Bairstow at 6, rather than Bairstow 5 and Stokes 6 IMO
I agree and to be honest, I wouldn't mind that as a left arm seamer who could bat would be ok. I don't think they will drop him and I think Ali will open again. One change that simply has to happen is Taylor in for Buttler.
Cook Ali Taylor Root Bell Bairstow Stokes Rashid Wood Broad Anderson
that's the team I think would happen. I would prefer to strengthen batting by bringing in Hales for Stokes, but wouldn't be upset if Patel was given a chance either. Not sure Stokes is a good enough player of spin to play IMO, but would be surprised if he doesn't.
Comfy thanks! Seb probably enjoyed it more than me because he was close to the action but there were times when we had to rely on the big screen because of silly things like players warming up.
We were interviewed before the game for CAFC Youtube. Hoping the end of it is included because Seb had to make a reaction save from Henderson!
Well they did include Seb's save but not the bit where I suggested that we needed an early goal and hoped that we would do better than we did against Preston!
The reason why I think they will keep Stokes in is because the seamers have looked more dangerous than the spinners, so no point going to 3 seamers and 3 spinners.
Buttler has done nothing with the bat, and Bairstow is handy with the gloves so we can sure up the batting by adding Taylor and taking Bell, Bairstow and Stokes out of the firing line a little by moving them down the order a bit.
Comfy thanks! Seb probably enjoyed it more than me because he was close to the action but there were times when we had to rely on the big screen because of silly things like players warming up.
We were interviewed before the game for CAFC Youtube. Hoping the end of it is included because Seb had to make a reaction save from Henderson!
Well they did include Seb's save but not the bit where I suggested that we needed an early goal and hoped that we would do better than we did against Preston!
Both tests have been reasonably poor with exciting endings. Think Pakistan will want to bat us out of the game in the final one, will be nice to bat first and score 500 (optimistic I know) and finally put some pressure on them.
Comments
Cook
Hales
Taylor
Root
Bell
Bairstow (W)
Ali
Rashid
Broad
Wood
Anderson
Joe Root and Stuart Broad...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3190755/WAGs-batty-England-Ashes-heroes-guess-partner.html
Cook
Ali
Taylor
Root
Bell
Bairstow
Stokes
Rashid
Wood
Broad
Anderson
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Q-Cox18xXCE
Buttler has done nothing with the bat, and Bairstow is handy with the gloves so we can sure up the batting by adding Taylor and taking Bell, Bairstow and Stokes out of the firing line a little by moving them down the order a bit.
It brings an all round better balance IMO.
Taylor should come in for Buttler, with Bairstow taking the gloves and moving down to number seven.
Not sure that Hales is cut out open on the sub-continent, so would stick with Ali as the opener for the final test.
As for who is going to open in SA, well that is just a lottery, possibly bring back Compton as a stop gap, until someone younger put their hand up?
Young but played a fair bit of cricket! Tough nuggety opener who can adapt his game..