The issue for England was that they didn't know how the wicket was going to play - they thought it would spin in the first Test but nine of the final ten wickets were taken by quicks - so they hedged their bets by leaving out a front line keeper and having three spinners and four seamers. All of the quicks bring with them some element of doubt - Stokes (ongoing knee injury), Robinson (historic fitness issues), Anderson (age) and Wood (coming back from injury and little game time to build up stamina),
So, we have seven bowlers and if three spinners can't do the job then so be it. There is an argument for Rehan Ahmed coming in for Jacks (or even Leach) but this regime is about rewarding those that have done the business unless there is a convincing argument to do otherwise. And that convincing argument only arises as a result of hindsight.
My concern will be how Pope copes with on a pitch that is turning square. But I understand why we selected this team although Russell hasn't wasted time in pointing out that this was said, time after time, when Stewart took the gloves. The only thing that can change the balance to allow the specialist keeper is if you have another two all rounders in the side but having Crawley, Duckett, Pope, Brook and Foakes in the team means that you can only have five specialist bowlers plus Root.
If it really was Rizwan that called it then he needs to ask himself why, if it pitched in line, is his right foot is a yard outside the line of leg stump at the point of impact!
The issue for England was that they didn't know how the wicket was going to play - they thought it would spin in the first Test but nine of the final ten wickets were taken by quicks - so they hedged their bets by leaving out a front line keeper and having three spinners and four seamers. All of the quicks bring with them some element of doubt - Stokes (ongoing knee injury), Robinson (historic fitness issues), Anderson (age) and Wood (coming back from injury and little game time to build up stamina),
So, we have seven bowlers and if three spinners can't do the job then so be it. There is an argument for Rehan Ahmed coming in for Jacks (or even Leach) but this regime is about rewarding those that have done the business unless there is a convincing argument to do otherwise. And that convincing argument only arises as a result of hindsight.
My concern will be how Pope copes with on a pitch that is turning square. But I understand why we selected this team although Russell hasn't wasted time in pointing out that this was said, time after time, when Stewart took the gloves. The only thing that can change the balance to allow the specialist keeper is if you have another two all rounders in the side but having Crawley, Duckett, Pope, Brook and Foakes in the team means that you can only have five specialist bowlers plus Root.
Stewart was a more experienced keeper than Pope, while Jacks is very much a part time spinner, indeed a worse option than Denly, Malan or Lawrence
The issue for England was that they didn't know how the wicket was going to play - they thought it would spin in the first Test but nine of the final ten wickets were taken by quicks - so they hedged their bets by leaving out a front line keeper and having three spinners and four seamers. All of the quicks bring with them some element of doubt - Stokes (ongoing knee injury), Robinson (historic fitness issues), Anderson (age) and Wood (coming back from injury and little game time to build up stamina),
So, we have seven bowlers and if three spinners can't do the job then so be it. There is an argument for Rehan Ahmed coming in for Jacks (or even Leach) but this regime is about rewarding those that have done the business unless there is a convincing argument to do otherwise. And that convincing argument only arises as a result of hindsight.
My concern will be how Pope copes with on a pitch that is turning square. But I understand why we selected this team although Russell hasn't wasted time in pointing out that this was said, time after time, when Stewart took the gloves. The only thing that can change the balance to allow the specialist keeper is if you have another two all rounders in the side but having Crawley, Duckett, Pope, Brook and Foakes in the team means that you can only have five specialist bowlers plus Root.
Stewart was a more experienced keeper than Pope, while Jacks is very much a part time spinner, indeed a worse option than Denly, Malan or Lawrence
Jacks is definitely ahead of Denly and Malan. Lawrence is a good comparison actually
The issue for England was that they didn't know how the wicket was going to play - they thought it would spin in the first Test but nine of the final ten wickets were taken by quicks - so they hedged their bets by leaving out a front line keeper and having three spinners and four seamers. All of the quicks bring with them some element of doubt - Stokes (ongoing knee injury), Robinson (historic fitness issues), Anderson (age) and Wood (coming back from injury and little game time to build up stamina),
So, we have seven bowlers and if three spinners can't do the job then so be it. There is an argument for Rehan Ahmed coming in for Jacks (or even Leach) but this regime is about rewarding those that have done the business unless there is a convincing argument to do otherwise. And that convincing argument only arises as a result of hindsight.
My concern will be how Pope copes with on a pitch that is turning square. But I understand why we selected this team although Russell hasn't wasted time in pointing out that this was said, time after time, when Stewart took the gloves. The only thing that can change the balance to allow the specialist keeper is if you have another two all rounders in the side but having Crawley, Duckett, Pope, Brook and Foakes in the team means that you can only have five specialist bowlers plus Root.
Stewart was a more experienced keeper than Pope, while Jacks is very much a part time spinner, indeed a worse option than Denly, Malan or Lawrence
Stewart was but didn't keep much for Surrey and in those days players played a lot more for their counties between Tests. The sadly departed Graham Kersey (went to BETHS and a product of Bexley CC who died as a result of a car crash on Christmas Eve in Australia at the age of just 25) retained the gloves when Stewart returned. Something that, more than 40 years on, Foakes could find himself doing!
Comments
So, we have seven bowlers and if three spinners can't do the job then so be it. There is an argument for Rehan Ahmed coming in for Jacks (or even Leach) but this regime is about rewarding those that have done the business unless there is a convincing argument to do otherwise. And that convincing argument only arises as a result of hindsight.
My concern will be how Pope copes with on a pitch that is turning square. But I understand why we selected this team although Russell hasn't wasted time in pointing out that this was said, time after time, when Stewart took the gloves. The only thing that can change the balance to allow the specialist keeper is if you have another two all rounders in the side but having Crawley, Duckett, Pope, Brook and Foakes in the team means that you can only have five specialist bowlers plus Root.
231-7
Abrar 7-91
England 3.00
Draw 9.00
Just hope we get a few more first!
245-8
245-9