Playing 5 seamers makes no sense. What can a captain do with them? Obviously if Stokes can't bowl then that is different. Hopefully he can be given a good rest before the Ashes series.
As for the batting we do have options. Both Hales and Ballance are getting runs and this is now their favoured position. As 2 and 3 it hasn't worked for them but they have both got a hatful of runs and deserves to be given a chance in their now favoured position if Malan continues to fail.
I think Bairstow has good technique and could do a good job at 3 (or even 2). This may mean taking the gloves off him but we have some good options here.
Playing 5 seamers makes no sense. What can a captain do with them? Obviously if Stokes can't bowl then that is different. Hopefully he can be given a good rest before the Ashes series.
As for the batting we do have options. Both Hales and Ballance are getting runs and this is now their favoured position. As 2 and 3 it hasn't worked for them but they have both got a hatful of runs and deserves to be given a chance in their now favoured position if Malan continues to fail.
I think Bairstow has good technique and could do a good job at 3 (or even 2). This may mean taking the gloves off him but we have some good options here.
It makes sense if they are getting wickets. We are not getting enough runs so need to get wickets. Stokes 6, Ali 7 and Woakes 8 is decent anyway, with TRJ chipping in from 9. Possibly could go with 2 spinners as Rashid is a good Number 9. Hales and Ballance are decent players, but neither have done all that at test level. Would go with Hales over Ballance, he's been tried now and doesn't do it, whether that's 3, 4 or 5, he hasn't scored runs.
Playing 5 seamers makes no sense. What can a captain do with them? Obviously if Stokes can't bowl then that is different. Hopefully he can be given a good rest before the Ashes series.
As for the batting we do have options. Both Hales and Ballance are getting runs and this is now their favoured position. As 2 and 3 it hasn't worked for them but they have both got a hatful of runs and deserves to be given a chance in their now favoured position if Malan continues to fail.
I think Bairstow has good technique and could do a good job at 3 (or even 2). This may mean taking the gloves off him but we have some good options here.
It makes sense if they are getting wickets. We are not getting enough runs so need to get wickets. Stokes 6, Ali 7 and Woakes 8 is decent anyway, with TRJ chipping in from 9. Possibly could go with 2 spinners as Rashid is a good Number 9. Hales and Ballance are decent players, but neither have done all that at test level. Would go with Hales over Ballance, he's been tried now and doesn't do it, whether that's 3, 4 or 5, he hasn't scored runs.
I'm not his biggest fan but I'd pick Bell over either Ballance or Hales. Would the selectors eat that much humble pie though?
Playing 5 seamers makes no sense. What can a captain do with them? Obviously if Stokes can't bowl then that is different. Hopefully he can be given a good rest before the Ashes series.
As for the batting we do have options. Both Hales and Ballance are getting runs and this is now their favoured position. As 2 and 3 it hasn't worked for them but they have both got a hatful of runs and deserves to be given a chance in their now favoured position if Malan continues to fail.
I think Bairstow has good technique and could do a good job at 3 (or even 2). This may mean taking the gloves off him but we have some good options here.
It makes sense if they are getting wickets. We are not getting enough runs so need to get wickets. Stokes 6, Ali 7 and Woakes 8 is decent anyway, with TRJ chipping in from 9. Possibly could go with 2 spinners as Rashid is a good Number 9. Hales and Ballance are decent players, but neither have done all that at test level. Would go with Hales over Ballance, he's been tried now and doesn't do it, whether that's 3, 4 or 5, he hasn't scored runs.
I'm not his biggest fan but I'd pick Bell over either Ballance or Hales. Would the selectors eat that much humble pie though?
Bell is in terrible form though. Gave up Warwickshire captaincy to Trott to find some form though so might end the season well.
Playing 5 seamers makes no sense. What can a captain do with them? Obviously if Stokes can't bowl then that is different. Hopefully he can be given a good rest before the Ashes series.
As for the batting we do have options. Both Hales and Ballance are getting runs and this is now their favoured position. As 2 and 3 it hasn't worked for them but they have both got a hatful of runs and deserves to be given a chance in their now favoured position if Malan continues to fail.
I think Bairstow has good technique and could do a good job at 3 (or even 2). This may mean taking the gloves off him but we have some good options here.
It makes sense if they are getting wickets. We are not getting enough runs so need to get wickets. Stokes 6, Ali 7 and Woakes 8 is decent anyway, with TRJ chipping in from 9. Possibly could go with 2 spinners as Rashid is a good Number 9. Hales and Ballance are decent players, but neither have done all that at test level. Would go with Hales over Ballance, he's been tried now and doesn't do it, whether that's 3, 4 or 5, he hasn't scored runs.
I'm not his biggest fan but I'd pick Bell over either Ballance or Hales. Would the selectors eat that much humble pie though?
Bell is in terrible form though. Gave up Warwickshire captaincy to Trott to find some form though so might end the season well.
Doubt it. His form has been symbolic for over 2 years now. I doubt he has it still in him. Anyone who's seen him or followed county cricket knows he's not got it any more.
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As for the batting we do have options. Both Hales and Ballance are getting runs and this is now their favoured position. As 2 and 3 it hasn't worked for them but they have both got a hatful of runs and deserves to be given a chance in their now favoured position if Malan continues to fail.
I think Bairstow has good technique and could do a good job at 3 (or even 2). This may mean taking the gloves off him but we have some good options here.
It's England who've been Hopeless today
On a hattrick
Stokes gets another penalty point, 1 point away from a ban. Do something else naughty in this match to get the ban out of the way before the Ashes?
Great comeback by the Windies this test though