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Post by nemouk on Jul 21, 2021 12:05:08 GMT
England Men's Test Squad: Joe Root (captain), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood
No surprises in the 17 man squad for the first two tests, except maybe Bairstow being back ahead of Bracey. People are a bit mad about that but with Foakes injured I think he has to be the backup, no?
Archer and Woakes injured, Pope is also carrying an injury.
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Post by nemouk on Jul 21, 2021 12:16:55 GMT
Pretty sure the team will be:
Burns Sibley Crawley Root Stokes Lawrence (assuming Pope unfit) Buttler Robinson Broad Anderson Wood
Obviously I want to see Leach but I think England are going to go seam heavy. Bess is, rightly or wrongly, there as Covid cover.
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Post by Balladeer on Jul 21, 2021 12:50:43 GMT
With Foakes still out you're right that there are no obvious better options. Still don't like Hameed being there mind.
They'll go all seam again. I'll hate it again. New Zealand only made it work because New Zealand are stupid good. On the seam front, slightly surprised Mahmood didn't get a look-in, but only slightly.
Crawley should have had his time but, as with the last six or so years, nobody's put their hand up to replace him.
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Post by nemouk on Jul 21, 2021 14:23:51 GMT
Well, Has is doing his thing against India in the county select game. Although by that logic, maybe Craig Miles should be a bolter...
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Post by Balladeer on Jul 21, 2021 15:20:49 GMT
HAMEED THREE CONSECUTIVE FOURS KLAXON
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Post by nemouk on Jul 21, 2021 15:33:26 GMT
And now batting with Somerset's James Rew, 17 year old keeper making his professional debut against Yadav, Bumrah and Siraj. Good luck young man.
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Post by Balladeer on Jul 21, 2021 16:22:01 GMT
HAMEED TON MEGAKLAXON
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Post by nemouk on Jul 31, 2021 19:53:43 GMT
So no Stokes. Fully back him taking a break and props to him for asking for it and being up front about why - plenty in the past would have made up a physical injury, but no denying it's a huge blow to England.
Team selection now has to be Sam Curran at 7 or six batsmen you'd think, and the latter means probably having no spinner again - Jack Leach seems to be the permanent casualty of England's batting weaknesses.
I have a feeling they pick Bairstow at 5/6. I wouldn't do it, but pulling him out of the Hundred to carry drinks would seem unlikely.
Pope supposedly doubtful for the first test, so my expected side is:
Burns Sibley Crawley Root Bairstow Lawrence Buttler Robinson Broad Wood Anderson
I'd much prefer to see Scurran at 7, either Lawrence or Bairstow at 5 and Leach in for one of the right arm seamers. But I can't see it.
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Post by pierredelafranchesca on Aug 1, 2021 9:51:44 GMT
Bairstow back at 5 or 6 and he'll make runs I reckon.
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Post by nemouk on Aug 2, 2021 13:14:37 GMT
Gill and Mayank (concussion) both ruled out of the first test. Assume there's a decent chance Pujara gets pushed up to open and Vihari comes into the middle order? Or do they get KL Rahul to open? Can't imagine Anderson and Broad would be upset about that potential.
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Post by Balladeer on Aug 2, 2021 15:21:11 GMT
So is that Rohit and one non-regular opener? I agree, you'd think that would be a feast for the rfms early doors.
As for the side... bleah. I'm sure I'll hate it so there's no point getting worked up at this stage.
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Post by Balladeer on Aug 4, 2021 9:33:32 GMT
No spinner a-fucking-gain.
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Post by nemouk on Aug 4, 2021 9:33:47 GMT
England to bat first, looks like it might do a bit early on. Drop anchor, Dominic! Bairstow, Curran, Lawrence, four seamers and no Leach. Absolutely hate that we keep sacrificing a front line spinner on the altar of making our batting less shite. Not least because Jack Leach averages more opening than anyone else in the side does India leave out Ashwin. Another big call!
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Post by nemouk on Aug 4, 2021 9:45:09 GMT
Baffled by this England team. If you pick SCurran, you pick him at 7 as a fifth bowler allowing you Wood or Leach, surely? His batting is wasted at 8 and his bowling is well short of what Wood or Leach would offer, surely?
It looks like a team picked entirely because they don't trust the top six. Which is probably what it is.
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Post by Balladeer on Aug 4, 2021 10:10:34 GMT
Well that's a start to justify the selection.
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