We lack class batsmen - that being the case we can't afford to waste Bairstow at 7 - sheer madness.
Get him into the middle order and get someone else to take the gloves and bat down at 8 - I would go for Buttler although I know he is short of FC cricket.
Cook Stoneman Root Bairstow Malan/Westley Stokes Ali Buttler Woakes Broad Anderson
No way should Buttler play in Oz, may aswell play Rashid/Overton at 9 as they can bowl too with Woakes at 8, who is certainly a good enough 8. With Broad and Woakes lacking form at the minute, still think 5 seamers could be the way to go, possibly Overton could surprise people and at 9 still gives us good depth.
The above is how I see it but with Westley at 3, Root 4 and Bairstow 5. I do actually think Buttler will play but think it's a big mistake.
I also have reservations about Buttler but the bottom line is England have a massive problem in their top-order.
In the successful Ashes here in 10/11 England had five batsmen in the top five who scored big tons in the series - Cook, Strauss, Trott, KP and Bell.
Right now we only have two - Cook and Root - who are likely to get big runs and we cannot rely on Stokes, Bairstow and Ali to bail us out.
In Australia the MO is very, very simple, you put 500 on the board and then put pressure on the opposition, if you bat first and score 250 you will get crushed.
On the true, flat decks they have over here then Butler's style of batting will work well, his main struggles have been against spinners not quick bowlers.
yeah you're spot on no doubt about it. I know Buttler's struggles have been more against spinners, but I don't think he's a test match batsman. Not a massive follower of the County game but I believe Foakes is a better shout and a better keeper that's for sure. If we are talking about a number 8, I guess Buttler could do the job, and if he got a decent 50 then he could smash it around if we were 8/9 down.
That's not the priority to be fair, its who is going to join Root and Cook in the top 4/5.
We lack class batsmen - that being the case we can't afford to waste Bairstow at 7 - sheer madness.
Get him into the middle order and get someone else to take the gloves and bat down at 8 - I would go for Buttler although I know he is short of FC cricket.
Cook Stoneman Root Bairstow Malan/Westley Stokes Ali Buttler Woakes Broad Anderson
No way should Buttler play in Oz, may aswell play Rashid/Overton at 9 as they can bowl too with Woakes at 8, who is certainly a good enough 8. With Broad and Woakes lacking form at the minute, still think 5 seamers could be the way to go, possibly Overton could surprise people and at 9 still gives us good depth.
The above is how I see it but with Westley at 3, Root 4 and Bairstow 5. I do actually think Buttler will play but think it's a big mistake.
I also have reservations about Buttler but the bottom line is England have a massive problem in their top-order.
In the successful Ashes here in 10/11 England had five batsmen in the top five who scored big tons in the series - Cook, Strauss, Trott, KP and Bell.
Right now we only have two - Cook and Root - who are likely to get big runs and we cannot rely on Stokes, Bairstow and Ali to bail us out.
In Australia the MO is very, very simple, you put 500 on the board and then put pressure on the opposition, if you bat first and score 250 you will get crushed.
On the true, flat decks they have over here then Butler's style of batting will work well, his main struggles have been against spinners not quick bowlers.
yeah you're spot on no doubt about it. I know Buttler's struggles have been more against spinners, but I don't think he's a test match batsman. Not a massive follower of the County game but I believe Foakes is a better shout and a better keeper that's for sure. If we are talking about a number 8, I guess Buttler could do the job, and if he got a decent 50 then he could smash it around if we were 8/9 down.
That's not the priority to be fair, its who is going to join Root and Cook in the top 4/5.
That's the key right there - England could actually bat Buttler below Woakes anyway - not many people would fancy bowling to Buttler at #9 - he'd basically have a free hand to go mental and bang it around the ground at will.
I notice the Sky pundits have picked their squad... Cook,Stoneman,Root,Westley,Malan,Stokes,Bairstow,Ali,Woakes,Broad,Jimmy,Hales,Foakes,TRJ,Wood,Crane
And Warne has said the Oz team will likely be.. Renshaw,Warner,Khawaja,Smith,Handscomb,Maxwell,Wade,Starc,Cummins,Lyon,Hazlewood.
I think this may have been done before the TRJ injury though.
I notice the Sky pundits have picked their squad... Cook,Stoneman,Root,Westley,Malan,Stokes,Bairstow,Ali,Woakes,Broad,Jimmy,Hales,Foakes,TRJ,Wood,Crane
And Warne has said the Oz team will likely be.. Renshaw,Warner,Khawaja,Smith,Handscomb,Maxwell,Wade,Starc,Cummins,Lyon,Hazlewood.
I think this may have been done before the TRJ injury though.
Can the Aussies keep Hazlewood, Starc and Cummins all fit? That might be key...
That's always going to be the problem with them, however, its good , from a cricketing perspective to see that Cummins has had an extended period away from injury. If one of them does drop out then they always have Pattinson ready to slot in. IMO, their batting looks a bit suspect. Khawaja was found out by the spinners, and we all know what happens if there is a bit of sideways movement (not that there ever is in Oz).
With Test batting averages in brackets... Renshaw(36),Warner(48),Khawaja(45),Smith(59),Handscomb(53),Maxwell(26),Wade(28),Starc,Cummins,Lyon,Hazlewood.
The surprise stat for me there is Handscombs average.
Some poor selections in there. They wont change the batting order as most on have have suggested is the way forward and we'll be 3 down and the Ashes gone before Christmas.
So Stokes hurt his hand in the incident and it is this, as well as the possibility of a custodial sentence, that puts his place in doubt.
This is the same Stokes who was arrested following a drinking session in Cockermouth in 2011. The same Stokes that was sent home from a Lions Tour in 2013. The same Stokes that injured his hand resulting in him being ruled out of the World T20 in 2014 following his assault on a dressing room locker.
He is the England vice-captain. It really is time he grew up and acted as an example - on and off the pitch.
So Stokes hurt his hand in the incident and it is this, as well as the possibility of a custodial sentence, that puts his place in doubt.
This is the same Stokes who was arrested following a drinking session in Cockermouth in 2011. The same Stokes that was sent home from a Lions Tour in 2013. The same Stokes that injured his hand resulting in him being ruled out of the World T20 in 2014 following his assault on a dressing room locker.
He is the England vice-captain. It really is time he grew up and acted as an example - on and off the pitch.
Paul Collingwood is joining the coaching staff for the tour, he has scored almost twice as many 1st class runs this season as Vince, at a far healthier average.
Paul Collingwood is joining the coaching staff for the tour, he has scored almost twice as many 1st class runs this season as Vince, at a far healthier average.
Yes but Div 2 runs don't count. Just ask Sam Northeast about that.
So Stokes hurt his hand in the incident and it is this, as well as the possibility of a custodial sentence, that puts his place in doubt.
This is the same Stokes who was arrested following a drinking session in Cockermouth in 2011. The same Stokes that was sent home from a Lions Tour in 2013. The same Stokes that injured his hand resulting in him being ruled out of the World T20 in 2014 following his assault on a dressing room locker.
He is the England vice-captain. It really is time he grew up and acted as an example - on and off the pitch.
Stokes has a fractured finger but expected to be fit.
We have picked the best most mediocre of a bad bunch tbh.
Ideally, based on what we've got, I'd want to see the following side - Stoneman, Cook, Root (c), Bairstow, Vince, Stokes, Foakes (wk), Moeen, Woakes, Broad, Anderson
I'm amazed that Ballance has been recalled, and the same goes for Vince - though Vince is the better batsman technically. Why Samit Patel misses out I do not know; Westley wasn't good enough; and Rashid being given up on is harsh.
That said, Crane is an exciting inclusion (hell of a risk though); pleased for Craig Overton; and Foakes too.
Comments
That's not the priority to be fair, its who is going to join Root and Cook in the top 4/5.
Cook,Stoneman,Root,Westley,Malan,Stokes,Bairstow,Ali,Woakes,Broad,Jimmy,Hales,Foakes,TRJ,Wood,Crane
And Warne has said the Oz team will likely be..
Renshaw,Warner,Khawaja,Smith,Handscomb,Maxwell,Wade,Starc,Cummins,Lyon,Hazlewood.
I think this may have been done before the TRJ injury though.
If one of them does drop out then they always have Pattinson ready to slot in.
IMO, their batting looks a bit suspect. Khawaja was found out by the spinners, and we all know what happens if there is a bit of sideways movement (not that there ever is in Oz).
Renshaw(36),Warner(48),Khawaja(45),Smith(59),Handscomb(53),Maxwell(26),Wade(28),Starc,Cummins,Lyon,Hazlewood.
The surprise stat for me there is Handscombs average.
Some poor selections in there. They wont change the batting order as most on have have suggested is the way forward and we'll be 3 down and the Ashes gone before Christmas.
However, I'm also an England fan and I know who I'd rather see in the squad.
Wonder how long it will take the Aussies to work out how to get the likes of Stoneman, Ballance, Vince and Malan out?
This is the same Stokes who was arrested following a drinking session in Cockermouth in 2011. The same Stokes that was sent home from a Lions Tour in 2013. The same Stokes that injured his hand resulting in him being ruled out of the World T20 in 2014 following his assault on a dressing room locker.
He is the England vice-captain. It really is time he grew up and acted as an example - on and off the pitch.
Anderson
Bairstow
Ball
Ballance
Broad
Cook
Crane
Foakes
Malan
Moeen
Overton
Root
Stokes
Stoneman
Vince
Woakes
pleased for Foakes/Overton/Crane
bestmost mediocre of a bad bunch tbh.Ideally, based on what we've got, I'd want to see the following side - Stoneman, Cook, Root (c), Bairstow, Vince, Stokes, Foakes (wk), Moeen, Woakes, Broad, Anderson
I'm amazed that Ballance has been recalled, and the same goes for Vince - though Vince is the better batsman technically. Why Samit Patel misses out I do not know; Westley wasn't good enough; and Rashid being given up on is harsh.
That said, Crane is an exciting inclusion (hell of a risk though); pleased for Craig Overton; and Foakes too.
We will need some players to call up when it all goes pear shaped.
Anderson to 'do a Swann' and ditch the tour as the wheels start coming off.
Cook to retire at the end of the series.
FUCKING NORTHEAST
:-)