England have a big problem in deciding what to do with Hales, Ballance and Vince. Do they persevere or drop one or two? or all three.
Would expect , with the emergence of Woakes, that they will likely persevere with Hales, but give Ballance and Vince a break, and then promote Bairstow to 4, bring back Buttler to keep and bat 6 and Stokes will bat at 5, so, a first choice team of...
Might also start to see the emergence of Sam Curran next year too, though maybe they might leave him til after an Ashes series.
I suppose Ballance might be given a second third chance as his record against the Indians is very good. Hales will keep his place until someone with a better technique/temperament comes along. Vince won't tour and will need to score big in the county championship to be considered again.
Heard an interesting story about Vince while I was still the Oval on Friday. I won't go into any detail, but it's clear that he's a very, very talented cricketer, but he has one, major technical issue he needs to overcome before he'll make the leap from county batsman to Test-class cricketer: his asronishing lack of self-belief.
For his sake, I wouldn't take him on tour yet; let him spend a year or two making millions of runs at first class level; and bring him back when he's ready and when he knows he's ready.
He's certainly got 'it' when you look at his technique. Lets hope he comes back (having got rid of *that* shot that keeps getting him out. Don't think he needs the likes of stupid Boycott saying publicly that he shouldn't ever play tests again.
Also getting a bit bored with Warne , has probably the best insight into the game, but getting a bit fed-up with his stupid sayings, 'salmon trout', talking about hair gel, 'getting a few on-board', - Arlott he is not. Just stick to talking about cricket.
I think the selectors have been too loyal to Hales, Vince and Ballance this series. It's the classic situation where a winning team masks the failures of certain players, whereas if we had lost at Edgbaston changes would probably have been made.
I think that they will keep Ballance but drop Hales and Vince. I also believe that Bell will be recalled and that they will add two young up and coming batsmen to the squad - one of which maybe Duckett and the othe will be Ansari who could double up as the third spinner to Ali and Rashid.
Something like this:
Cook Duckett Root Bell Ballance Ansari Ali Rashid Bairstow Buttler Stokes Woakes Broad Anderson Wood Finn
One of the things that this series shows is how Englnad struggle when there is little lateral movement - shows that both this years (SL aside) and last seasons touring both won both games in London, where we probably have the flattest wickets going.
One of the things that this series shows is how Englnad struggle when there is little lateral movement - shows that both this years (SL aside) and last seasons touring both won both games in London, where we probably have the flattest wickets going.
Scoreboard pressure does play a part though. If England had got 450-500 in the first innings, then Pakistan would have been under more pressure batting first time.
As if happened, the pitch was very flat on days 2 and 3, so a perfect time for Pakistan to get a big score then whittle out a few knackered and frazzled England batsmen...
2-2 is a fair reflection of the series. England lost to Pakistan in the UAE, so it was never going to be an easy series
I think that they will keep Ballance but drop Hales and Vince. I also believe that Bell will be recalled and that they will add two young up and coming batsmen to the squad - one of which maybe Duckett and the othe will be Ansari who could double up as the third spinner to Ali and Rashid.
Something like this:
Cook Duckett Root Bell Ballance Ansari Ali Rashid Bairstow Buttler Stokes Woakes Broad Anderson Wood Finn
Not likely to be ansari. Suffering from various injuries this year. Just as he looks like he has regained form or confidence he gets struck by another one. Has underperformed with the bat too. Think that player will be Borthwick. Can bat in the top order and bowl.
looking at the Oz innings, they seem to have bigger problems than us in middle order, with Voges,Henriques,Marsh and Nevill batting at 4,5,6,7 respectively, that's not a middle order to give bowling attacks nightmares.
England: Alex Hales, Jason Roy, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (capt), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett, Mark Wood
Pakistan: Azhar Ali (capt), Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Umar Gul
Stokes plays as a batsman, though to me that leave's the bowling slightly short. Presumably Root will be the 6th bowler, if required
England: Alex Hales, Jason Roy, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (capt), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett, Mark Wood
Pakistan: Azhar Ali (capt), Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Umar Gul
Stokes plays as a batsman, though to me that leave's the bowling slightly short.Presumably Root will be the 6th bowler, if required
Definite lbw apart from the inside edge and possibly hitting him outside the line.
No reviews ?
As above, only 1 review permitted & Sharjeel used it up appealing his wicket. Holding said he'd drop him for that selfish action. (He may have said he'd never play him again, but in this heat I'm not certain).
Comments
secondthird chance as his record against the Indians is very good. Hales will keep his place until someone with a better technique/temperament comes along. Vince won't tour and will need to score big in the county championship to be considered again.For his sake, I wouldn't take him on tour yet; let him spend a year or two making millions of runs at first class level; and bring him back when he's ready and when he knows he's ready.
Also getting a bit bored with Warne , has probably the best insight into the game, but getting a bit fed-up with his stupid sayings, 'salmon trout', talking about hair gel, 'getting a few on-board', - Arlott he is not. Just stick to talking about cricket.
Cook *
Hales
Root
Ballance
Ali
Stokes
Bairstow +
Woakes
Rashid
Broad
Anderson
Something like this:
Cook
Duckett
Root
Bell
Ballance
Ansari
Ali
Rashid
Bairstow
Buttler
Stokes
Woakes
Broad
Anderson
Wood
Finn
As if happened, the pitch was very flat on days 2 and 3, so a perfect time for Pakistan to get a big score then whittle out a few knackered and frazzled England batsmen...
2-2 is a fair reflection of the series. England lost to Pakistan in the UAE, so it was never going to be an easy series
Herath took 7 wickets against England but no less than 28 against the Aussies.
Pakistan won the toss & bat first.
Pakistan: Azhar Ali (capt), Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Umar Gul
Stokes plays as a batsman, though to me that leave's the bowling slightly short. Presumably Root will be the 6th bowler, if required
Sharjeel c Buttler b Wood 16
Hafeez c Hales b Root 11
113-3
Definite lbw apart from the inside edge and possibly hitting him outside the line.