|
Post by Balladeer on Nov 5, 2015 14:55:03 GMT
Yeah, we've still got the Limited Overs legs of England in what might as well be Pakistan to go, but people are already talking about the side for South Africa, so let's have a thread on it.
The funny thing is, a lot of the team still more or less picks itself. I gave my team as Cook x 3, Root, Taylor, Stokes, Bairstow, Ali, Wood/Finn, Broad, Anderson, and if Buttler remains out of form I don't think many will disagree. If they do, it'll be about injuries, or possibly Rashid > Moe.
But we don't have three Cooks, and too many spoil the broth anyway (badum tish). So, does Bell get a final shot? Bring back Gary Ballance? And who's going to open? Does it have to be Hales? Could Compton still do the job, despite indifferent county form? Or do we hope for Ansari's recovery?
Discuss. (SA have Harmer/Piedt/Tahir and Vilas/De Kock, although I'm yet to be convinced by Stiaan.)
|
|
|
Post by Srihari on Nov 6, 2015 5:27:51 GMT
over 1000 runs in a season is not indifferent county form. Ansari to open will be too soon. Bring back ballance at 5.
My XI Cook, Hales, Taylor, Root, Ballance, Stokes, Bairstow, Rashid, Wood, Broad, Anderson.
SA XI loook woefully short on experience and depth in batting unless injuries improve.
|
|
|
Post by Mattzo on Nov 6, 2015 11:40:12 GMT
Cook, Compton, Taylor, Root, Ballance, Stokes, Bairstow, Ali, Wood/Finn, Broad, Anderson
Not convinced about Taylor at 3, but I rather him than Bell. Never really went for Compton, but against SA's pace attack I expect he'd do better than Hales. He won't get picked of course, but he'd be my choice.
I think Ballance has a lot to offer, but with his technique and all I agree with Sri and I'd play him at 5.
In a year or two, providing performances in the CC go reasonably well, I'd want something like this:
Cook, Hales, Root, Vince, Ballance/Taylor, Stokes, Bairstow/Buttler, [Insert spinner here], Wood, Broad, Anderson
|
|
|
Post by nemouk on Nov 6, 2015 13:06:36 GMT
A lot of tough choices ahead.
Debuting Hales against that pace attack seems like a recipe for trouble, but the England hierachy seem to be set against going back to either Compton or Carberry, both of whom I think should still be involved.
At 3, Bell has been below what is required for a long time, but again, SA doesn't seem like the place to debut a new 3 and moving Root or Taylor up seems like asking for trouble as well. Ballance should come back into the equation at 5 or 6 for me.
Our keepers are a bit of a coin toss for me, Bairstow should keep the gloves until Buttler can prove a bit of long form quality for Lancashire. No harm in keeping him as a brilliant one day player for now.
Spinners, much of a muchness, I think I'd go with Moeen because Rashid just looks lost until the final innings of a match.
Stokes being injured, if he is, will seriously mess with the balance of the side. There's no like for like replacement save perhaps Woakes, who doesn't have quite the same X-factor.
From a clean slate I'd pick: (presuming Stokes, Finn and Wood are all crocked)
Cook, Carberry, Compton, Root, Ballance, Taylor, Bairstow, Ali, Broad, Anderson, Footitt
What I expect to actually see is:
Cook, Hales, Bell, Root, Taylor, Ballance, Bairstow, Ali, Broad, Plunkett, Anderson
That said, SA have plenty of choices ahead. They have three brilliant batsmen (Amla, ABDV, Faf) and three brilliant bowlers (Steyn, Morkel, Philander) and then a whole bunch of could be or maybe never wills. Rabada looks fun though.
|
|
|
Post by Mattzo on Nov 6, 2015 13:41:07 GMT
Interesting stat. In 2015, Cook and Root have scored 39% of England's runs. The other 61% are spread over 17 different players.
I think Stokes will be fit for SA, and I expect one of Wood/Finn at least to be fit as well. Otherwise Plunkett/Footitt should come into the reckoning.
At the moment Bairstow is the better FC batsman. Buttler is my first choice in one dayers, and possibly greater potential, but as things stand I reckon Bairstow is better for test cricket, even if he hasn't quite cracked it yet.
I would take Ali over Rashid for the moment. Ali may not be great, but Rashid hasn't done anything to justify taking his place.
|
|
|
Post by Steadzz on Nov 6, 2015 15:44:59 GMT
I'm happy to see people mentioning Ballance again. However, his technical issue was exposed against raw pace, something Morkel, Steyn & Rabada all have. I for one, would still love to see him there. I would also love to see Footitt out there. We need a serious pace/swing back up, Footitt fits the bill perfectly.
|
|
|
Post by Srihari on Nov 7, 2015 1:02:30 GMT
Anderson is 33, he can't go on forever, why won't England try anyone else in his place?
Agree 100 % re Footitt
I for one am dreaming of a rushie debut at CLS next summer and picking up 8 wkts including a 6-fer.
|
|
|
Post by nemouk on Nov 7, 2015 10:03:18 GMT
Anderson is 33, he can't go on forever, why won't England try anyone else in his place? Because he's bloody brilliant, so if he's fit he plays. We rotate our third bowler choice regularly enough that there's a good few options now with a bit of test experience that can come in when it does come to the time for Jimmy to step away: Finn, Wood, Jordan, Woakes and Plunkett have all been given a run of one sort or another.
|
|
|
Post by Srihari on Nov 7, 2015 10:16:48 GMT
I'm not saying drop him now, but saying he has a couple of years at the max, so you need to groom someone else to take his place.
|
|
|
Post by Steadzz on Nov 7, 2015 10:44:59 GMT
People suggesting we haven't found Jimmy's replacement are wrong i'd say. People seem to forget Jimmy didn't exactly set the world on fire when he played his first few tests. It took him time to become the bowler he is today. I agree with Nemo, the way we have rotated our 3rd seamer should be very beneficial for years to come. However, I still think out of that lot, i'd take Footitt above some of them. He definitely deserves his chance
|
|
|
Post by Mattzo on Nov 18, 2015 18:41:46 GMT
Unlikely that Finn or Wood will be available, althought Stokes will probably recover in time to play a part at some point. Jordan, Woakes, Plunkett and Footitt are the other seamers in contention of course.
Anyway, lots of changes from the UAE and the England squad will be announced tomorrow.
|
|
|
Post by Balladeer on Nov 18, 2015 22:36:08 GMT
So Plunkett providing the pace then. Please not Jordan. Woakes if you must.
At least Ali will probably outbowl Tahir, if the latter plays.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2015 23:10:39 GMT
Please no Jordan. Despite reports, Finn is optimistic of his chances at least.
Edit: Even more surprising, there are reports/rumours of Compton being named in tomorrow's squad (one source is the Mail though...which also claims Samit will be in the squad).
|
|
|
Post by Mattzo on Nov 19, 2015 10:02:10 GMT
Well, Ballance, Footitt, Compton and Samit are all in the squad...
No Rashid, Plunkett or Ansari, but just about everybody else who was in contention is.
NO IAN BELL. How I missed that at first glance I've no idea.
I am disappointed to see Jordan and Samit there. Otherwise I am pretty happy.
|
|
|
Post by Steadzz on Nov 19, 2015 10:03:46 GMT
|
|