I actually think the penny has dropped and England think their best chance of winning test matches is with the batting line up of o1, o2, 3, Root, Buttler, Stokes, Bairstow and 4 bowlers.
Who o1, o2 and 3 are is anyone's guess but I think England actually look a better bowling attack, on paper, for this test and have an extra batsman.
I don't agree with picking Jennings, don't think Denly is the long term answer at 3, but if they called anyone else up they would be months away from their last red ball knock. As I said before they got the party wrong in the first place.
Everyone calling for Roy like he isn't just Aaron Finch in blue pyjamas
Huge fan of Jase as you all know but he is not the solution in the top 3 in test cricket.
Spot o as usual mate. In county cricket Roy hardly ever features as an opening batsman for Surrey. Although this coming season I do expect him to bat higher up the order . But until he opens on a regular basis he cannot be judged as an opening batsman in the longer version of the game.
Everyone calling for Roy like he isn't just Aaron Finch in blue pyjamas
Huge fan of Jase as you all know but he is not the solution in the top 3 in test cricket.
Spot o as usual mate. In county cricket Roy hardly ever features as an opening batsman for Surrey. Although this coming season I do expect him to bat higher up the order . But until he opens on a regular basis he cannot be judged as an opening batsman in the longer version of the game.
He batted 3 in the 2? Championship matches he played last year. Suspect he will do the same this year which he will do reasonably well in.
But.
To bat in the top 3 at test level he will have to significantly change his game which will run the risk of messing with/losing England's most destructive one day and T20 batsman. Big risk with no guarantee he will be any better than the likes of Hales and the host if others tried.
Jennings has been battered to death on here and there is no doubt that he shouldn't be anywhere near a Test side having to face pace (he has been successful against spin).
But there are two questions that I really would like someone to answer:
(1) How does the son of a former international coach develop and not be able to resolve such obvious technical flaws?
(2) How do our selectors not recognise that he isn't good enough?
He's from the right sort of family and is great to have around the squad or something.
This is like when Geraint Jones got that preposterous Ashes recall based on absolutely nothing except...well, Duncan Fletcher regarding him as some sort of long-lost son.
Openers both fall to England's premier spin bowler
(It kind of is amazing how Moeen has always raised one part of his game to stay in the side - his bowling AND batting have rarely both been bad at the same time, last Ashes aside)
Also, that shot from Brathwaite must be the worst shot he's played in his life. Captaining the side, England on the mat, he and Campbell looking very comfortable, and he goes and does that?!
Also, that shot from Brathwaite must be the worst shot he's played in his life. Captaining the side, England on the mat, he and Campbell looking very comfortable, and he goes and does that?!
How's stat?!
Andy Zaltzman
The Cricket Social statistician
Moeen Ali has taken 39 wickets in eight matches since being recalled against India last summer at an average of 23.
In the eight matches before he took seven wickets at 116.
Comments
Who o1, o2 and 3 are is anyone's guess but I think England actually look a better bowling attack, on paper, for this test and have an extra batsman.
I don't agree with picking Jennings, don't think Denly is the long term answer at 3, but if they called anyone else up they would be months away from their last red ball knock. As I said before they got the party wrong in the first place.
In county cricket Roy hardly ever features as an opening batsman for Surrey.
Although this coming season I do expect him to bat higher up the order .
But until he opens on a regular basis he cannot be judged as an opening batsman in the longer version of the game.
But.
To bat in the top 3 at test level he will have to significantly change his game which will run the risk of messing with/losing England's most destructive one day and T20 batsman. Big risk with no guarantee he will be any better than the likes of Hales and the host if others tried.
But there are two questions that I really would like someone to answer:
(1) How does the son of a former international coach develop and not be able to resolve such obvious technical flaws?
(2) How do our selectors not recognise that he isn't good enough?
This is like when Geraint Jones got that preposterous Ashes recall based on absolutely nothing except...well, Duncan Fletcher regarding him as some sort of long-lost son.
(It kind of is amazing how Moeen has always raised one part of his game to stay in the side - his bowling AND batting have rarely both been bad at the same time, last Ashes aside)
How's stat?!
Andy Zaltzman
The Cricket Social statistician
Moeen Ali has taken 39 wickets in eight matches since being recalled against India last summer at an average of 23.
In the eight matches before he took seven wickets at 116.
He should have played in all three tests in the Windies .
He is genuinely quick unlike the rest of England's bowlers
Missed a trick not playing him earlier