I'd also be tempted to take the captaincy from Root and give it to Bairstow if he struggles in the upcoming English summer or the next winter tour.
Vince has just about done enough imo
I think Bairstow keeps the gloves, stays at six and Vince at three in that scenario.
Can't see any situation in which Ali gets in the team alongside Crane/Rashid/Leach/next-man-up as a second spinner. It's just not needed outside of sub continent conditions.
Broad needs to be dropped and play a season for Notts. Cook ideally the same for Essex but I don't see a long line of in form openers waiting to replace him.
He's not just been unlucky though. He looks horribly out of form and we might as well not be playing a spin bowler at all at this point in the series. A lot can change in a few months.
If he'd had an ok series with the bat and had done enough to keep his place in the top six then he could stay in the team on his batting alone. Problem there is he's already been dropped down the order behind Bairstow so clearly the coaching staff don't rate his batting currently.
And if he can't take wickets he can't stay in the team as a bowler.
His inability to look at all threatening with the ball is what's costing him. We need an effective spinner in the team ASAP and you can't carry a batsman at seven in the hope that he comes good and scores a few.
He may be averaging 100 but he's made two important top-order incisions that the four-man rfm attack hasn't been able to take advantage of. And Bairstow was promoted over him as he's a very good batsman and a right-hander. Moeen was just about our best batsman in the first Test and got very unlucky in the second innings. He's had some ropey dismissals since then but I'd back him to make a score in the next Test. He always bounces back - we've seen this before. And sure, he's struggled to adapt to the different ball when bowling, but aside from a brief spell defending 170 (an impossible task on that pitch) he's not bowled loosely, just been played exceptionally well on good pitches. In this Test, Lyon barely looked like getting a wicket in the first innings and only did so when Malan lost his mind. And the Adelaide Test was designed for our seamers to excel. They failed miserably.
Also, I agree that we need a more dangerous spinner. I've been calling for Crane since before the first Test. Three RFM, an offie and a leggie. I have no idea why this wasn't the line-up
If he plays, I hope you're right and he has a 100+ run test match.
I just don't like two spinners in the team in conditions outside the sub continent. Seems like a bit of a cop out, just incase one of them has a bad game because we surely can't have two spinners play badly, right?
If you want a part time second spinner then Root will do a job for 5-10 overs an innings.
Root's spin has been picked off very easily by almost every other team for a while now. What's wrong with two spinners anyway? Old Colfeians 4s usually go into a game with four or five
Hameed Stoneman Root ffs Malan (and it is either/or with him and Vince, sorry guys) Stokes Bairstow (and it is either/or with him and Foakes, sorry guys) Ali Woakes (opening the bowling) Crane Someone who can bowl fucking fast Anderson
He's not just been unlucky though. He looks horribly out of form and we might as well not be playing a spin bowler at all at this point in the series. A lot can change in a few months.
Unlucky in Brisbane IMHO. Out LBW in the first innings when the review showed the ball just clipping the bails. Out in the 2nd innings to a not out stumping.
Root's spin has been picked off very easily by almost every other team for a while now. What's wrong with two spinners anyway? Old Colfeians 4s usually go into a game with four or five
Malan's part time leggies looked better actually, was impressed by how accurate he was, you expect part time leggies to bowl plenty of long hops
Also, if I were Vince I'd play county cricket solely as an opening batsman from now on. His technique is suited to it and it'll teach him to leave better
Root's spin has been picked off very easily by almost every other team for a while now. What's wrong with two spinners anyway? Old Colfeians 4s usually go into a game with four or five
Malan's part time leggies looked better actually, was impressed by how accurate he was, you expect part time leggies to bowl plenty of long hops
He has a decent county record. Should have been used more
He was pretty much our best batsman in India tbf...he's generally put on a performance with either bat or ball. This series is looking like an exception but I'd like to see how he does as part of a spin duo
He may be averaging 100 but he's made two important top-order incisions that the four-man rfm attack hasn't been able to take advantage of. And Bairstow was promoted over him as he's a very good batsman and a right-hander. Moeen was just about our best batsman in the first Test and got very unlucky in the second innings. He's had some ropey dismissals since then but I'd back him to make a score in the next Test. He always bounces back - we've seen this before. And sure, he's struggled to adapt to the different ball when bowling, but aside from a brief spell defending 170 (an impossible task on that pitch) he's not bowled loosely, just been played exceptionally well on good pitches. In this Test, Lyon barely looked like getting a wicket in the first innings and only did so when Malan lost his mind. And the Adelaide Test was designed for our seamers to excel. They failed miserably.
Firstly I wouldn't dream of Jennings coming back. Secondly Lyon is virtually guaranteed two wickets every Test this series and that's before he's even bowled a ball - five times from six he's got Ali and this morning was a classic. He played the same "non shot" twice in two balls but got lucky first time because of an inside edge. You can't just thrust the pad down the pitch nowadays and that seems to be Ali's only defence. Thirdly, Ali's three wickets include Hazlewood - a non batsman. Fourthly, he is struggling with injuries - the one that meant he missed the early warm up games and the recent finger injuries.
What have we to lose by bringing Crane in for him? Ali needs a rest if nothing else.
England's selectors are already on a sticky wicket this tour. Can you imagine the frightful racket that would ensue if Crane, Foakes and 'Someone who can bowl fucking fast' were picked and actually won us a match or two. Our gin swilling genius's would be out of a job before they touched back down in blighty. Safer to keep pick the same old useless carthorses for the remaining matches and hopefully the blame will fall squarely on their shoulders.
He may be averaging 100 but he's made two important top-order incisions that the four-man rfm attack hasn't been able to take advantage of. And Bairstow was promoted over him as he's a very good batsman and a right-hander. Moeen was just about our best batsman in the first Test and got very unlucky in the second innings. He's had some ropey dismissals since then but I'd back him to make a score in the next Test. He always bounces back - we've seen this before. And sure, he's struggled to adapt to the different ball when bowling, but aside from a brief spell defending 170 (an impossible task on that pitch) he's not bowled loosely, just been played exceptionally well on good pitches. In this Test, Lyon barely looked like getting a wicket in the first innings and only did so when Malan lost his mind. And the Adelaide Test was designed for our seamers to excel. They failed miserably.
Feck me, what a load of bollox - next thing you'll be saying Magennis has been unlucky. Ali has zero backbone - as I keep saying, he is fine at home when we're 400-5 against Windies and Pakistan, but he's been sussed by Oz as being someone who 1) doesn't like it 'up him' and 2) doesn't spin the ball and 3) cant cope with pressure. As I've also said, I dont want someone in my team who has no fight for the battle- coz it just means that every series against Oz we are going to be embarrassed. As soon as we find a decent spinner , then Ali has to go- i'm sure there are plenty of people out there who can spank Sri Lanka all around the ground when we're in the ascendancy.
England's selectors are already on a sticky wicket this tour. Can you imagine the frightful racket that would ensue if Crane, Foakes and 'Someone who can bowl fucking fast' were picked and actually won us a match or two. Our gin swilling genius's would be out of a job before they touched back down in blighty. Safer to keep pick the same old useless carthorses for the remaining matches and hopefully the blame will fall squarely on their shoulders.
I understand the sentiment behind this. I think we should possibly keep same side for next Test, get spanked, and then bring in Crane for Sydney (which is renowned for turning a bit (at least it used to)) and maybe Wood for Broad, and re-arrange to drop Cook and bring in Foakes to allow Vince to open and Bairstow to bat in top 5.
Hameed Stoneman Root ffs Malan (and it is either/or with him and Vince, sorry guys) Stokes Bairstow (and it is either/or with him and Foakes, sorry guys) Ali Woakes (opening the bowling) Crane Someone who can bowl fucking fast Anderson
6 bowlers is overkill by any measure.
Burns/Hameed Rocky Root Malan Bairstow c Stokes Foakes w Woakes Ali/Rashid Wood Anderson
Ali to compete with Rashid. Based on form basically. Subcontinent then we go with both. Crane isnt ready and the selectors know it.
Its an absolute travesty that Plunkett isnt out there given the injuries we have had to fast bowlers. I don't see him as the solution long term however.
Jimmy to be replaced by a genuine quick if we ever produce one.
Agree with Canters re 6 bowlers - dont need that, so...
Burns/Hameed Rocky Root Malan Bairstow Stokes Foakes w Woakes Rashid/Crane/Leach - anybody but Ali ! Wood Anderson
This, to me, looks a much better balanced team.
Dont agree with Bairstow as skipper, as 1) They wont demote Root after 1 bad series, and 2) Stokes, if he is playing, would be the skipper (after all, he would have been vice captain in this series)
All of a sudden, the batting seems like its got a bit of substance to it. Never seen Burns bat, but of what i've heard (primarily from Canters), i like.
Root says we weren’t blown away? Stop talking bollocks.
I do despair at times. Was he not watching the last few days or had he popped over the road to play golf ?. We were 368/4 and looking like we could actually post a decent total of around 500, but lost our last 6 wickets of 35 runs. When we then managed to get a glimmer of hope a day later, and got 3 quick wickets so that their lead may have only been around 100 or so, their no's 8&9 put on a 100 run stand and effectively sealed the test, the series & the little urn.
I'd have more respect if Root, Fairbrace etc just said" we were not good enough & we let everyone down - this will be addressed & we assure you that there will be changes"
Comments
Can't see any situation in which Ali gets in the team alongside Crane/Rashid/Leach/next-man-up as a second spinner. It's just not needed outside of sub continent conditions.
Broad needs to be dropped and play a season for Notts. Cook ideally the same for Essex but I don't see a long line of in form openers waiting to replace him.
And if he can't take wickets he can't stay in the team as a bowler.
His inability to look at all threatening with the ball is what's costing him. We need an effective spinner in the team ASAP and you can't carry a batsman at seven in the hope that he comes good and scores a few.
I just don't like two spinners in the team in conditions outside the sub continent. Seems like a bit of a cop out, just incase one of them has a bad game because we surely can't have two spinners play badly, right?
If you want a part time second spinner then Root will do a job for 5-10 overs an innings.
Hameed
Stoneman
Root ffs
Malan (and it is either/or with him and Vince, sorry guys)
Stokes
Bairstow (and it is either/or with him and Foakes, sorry guys)
Ali
Woakes (opening the bowling)
Crane
Someone who can bowl fucking fast
Anderson
What have we to lose by bringing Crane in for him? Ali needs a rest if nothing else.
Ali has zero backbone - as I keep saying, he is fine at home when we're 400-5 against Windies and Pakistan, but he's been sussed by Oz as being someone who 1) doesn't like it 'up him' and 2) doesn't spin the ball and 3) cant cope with pressure. As I've also said, I dont want someone in my team who has no fight for the battle- coz it just means that every series against Oz we are going to be embarrassed. As soon as we find a decent spinner , then Ali has to go- i'm sure there are plenty of people out there who can spank Sri Lanka all around the ground when we're in the ascendancy.
Would be a big mistake to bring him in.
Burns/Hameed
Rocky
Root
Malan
Bairstow c
Stokes
Foakes w
Woakes
Ali/Rashid
Wood
Anderson
Ali to compete with Rashid. Based on form basically. Subcontinent then we go with both. Crane isnt ready and the selectors know it.
Its an absolute travesty that Plunkett isnt out there given the injuries we have had to fast bowlers. I don't see him as the solution long term however.
Jimmy to be replaced by a genuine quick if we ever produce one.
Burns/Hameed
Rocky
Root
Malan
Bairstow
Stokes
Foakes w
Woakes
Rashid/Crane/Leach - anybody but Ali !
Wood
Anderson
This, to me, looks a much better balanced team.
Dont agree with Bairstow as skipper, as 1) They wont demote Root after 1 bad series, and 2) Stokes, if he is playing, would be the skipper (after all, he would have been vice captain in this series)
I'd have more respect if Root, Fairbrace etc just said" we were not good enough & we let everyone down - this will be addressed & we assure you that there will be changes"