England's Ashes Test Team

[IndoMike]

I'd go with Leach over either of them currently.

We're in a bit of an existential crisis point with our Test side, with several changes possibly needed.

Up top: Burns has justified his selection with his ton, plus we need to keep Roy in for now. Root should stay at 3, but I think Denly has been found wanting. With my Middx-tinted specs on I'd say to get Malan back in at 4, our best player in Australia last time and in scintillating form currently. Buttler needs to step up to remind us why we've picked him in the red ball game - getting out closing the face was symptomatic of his poor technique against the swinging ball.

I'd go with something like this:

Burns
Roy
Root
Malan
Bairstow
Stokes
Buttler
Woakes
Archer
Broad
Leach

I can accept most of that, but I'd prefer Curran to Bairstow and make Buttler keeper again, although he's not great.

 

[Jason H]

Bairstow is struggling for form at the moment, yes, but he is a class act and will come back soon enough.

 

[Colesman Ballz]

Root must be stripped of the captaincy, and return to just focus on his batting. Root totally lost it in the Ozzie first innings when Smith was making hay with the last pair, he was like a rabbit caught in the headlights, clueless ! To have all nine fielders back on the boundary at the end of the over and give Smith a single to retain the strike, jeeezzz ! To call it a schoolboy error, would be demeaning to kids. If you are going to fill your team with limited overs stars, it is the captains job to ram it into their heads not to make rash shots. Grrrrrrrr !

 

[Alistair20000]

Root must be stripped of the captaincy, and return to just focus on his batting. Root totally lost it in the Ozzie first innings when Smith was making hay with the last pair, he was like a rabbit caught in the headlights, clueless ! To have all nine fielders back on the boundary at the end of the over and give Smith a single to retain the strike, jeeezzz ! To call it a schoolboy error, would be demeaning to kids. If you are going to fill your team with limited overs stars, it is the captains job to ram it into their heads not to make rash shots. Grrrrrrrr !

Would you send for the cerebral Mike Brearley to mould this lot into a cohesive fighting unit Mr Ballz ?

 

[Alistair20000]

If you look back you'll see I also said we should pick Rashid and not Moeen. You weren't pilloried : it was just TPC , who tends to be wrong.

Me too and TPC boxed my ears for saying so. I think Rashid might be injured mind.

TPC also wanted to boot Broad out. Our esteemed poster seems to have gone quiet isn't it ?

 

[Colesman Ballz]

Would you send for the cerebral Mike Brearley to mould this lot into a cohesive fighting unit Mr Ballz ?

Nah, things have gone beyond that, it needs someone who can really kick arse. Getting Sir Alex Ferguson in the changing room would be a good start !

 

[IndoMike]

I'm afraid English cricket caved in to commercial demands. Test cricket is the thinking man's sport, but it's been decided that there are not enough thinking men, so they decided to focus on rounders instead.
The result is that we have a bunch of batsmen who think that one hour at the crease is a lifetime.
Boycott used to get slagged off for taking his time, but boy could he build an innings.
Australia seems to have found a way : we haven't. Smith could beat us on his own.

 

[Alistair20000]

I heard Dominic Cork on the TV following the Edgbaston debacle saying he would make only one change of Archer for Anderson. I cannot go along with that although I agree that sweeping change at this point is not the answer. Big Bob Willis wanted Moeen Ali and Denly to be replaced and I agree with that.

Suggestions that the groundsman may prepare a seamer friendly pitch to help our cause. Not sure it would necessarily be a good idea with the Strine pace attack mind.

I'd go with this:

Burns
Roy
Root
Hildreth
Stokes
Bairstow
Buttler
Dawson
Woakes
Archer
Broad

Roy to be given more time to prove himself in red ball cricket although I am not convinced by him.

I have been looking for a David Steele type player to do a short term job for this series but cannot think of one. Hence the choice of James Hildreth who is nearly 35 as was David Steele when he was selected for Tests. Hildreth is a technically correct player and averages 43+ in first class cricket. Worth the gamble.

I am going for Liam Dawson over Jack Leach as he is a decent bat and runs at number 8 may be more important at Lord’s if there is a sporting pitch. Dawson has been superb in the T20, Royal London and Championship for keeping runs down and is a regular wicket taker. Strine lefties fester mean I would prefer an off spinner but cannot think of one apart from Dom Bess who has hardly played lately.

Olly Stone for Archer if the latter is unfit. We must have pace.

Bairstow and Buttler have big questions to answer. Ben Foakes is a better keeper and once fit will be pushing for the gloves.

 

[IndoMike]

I heard Dominic Cork on the TV following the Edgbaston debacle saying he would make only one change of Archer for Anderson. I cannot go along with that although I agree that sweeping change at this point is not the answer. Big Bob Willis wanted Moeen Ali and Denly to be replaced and I agree with that.

Suggestions that the groundsman may prepare a seamer friendly pitch to help our cause. Not sure it would necessarily be a good idea with the Strine pace attack mind.

I'd go with this:

Burns
Roy
Root
Hildreth
Stokes
Bairstow
Buttler
Dawson
Woakes
Archer
Broad

Roy to be given more time to prove himself in red ball cricket although I am not convinced by him.

I have been looking for a David Steele type player to do a short term job for this series but cannot think of one. Hence the choice of James Hildreth who is nearly 35 as was David Steele when he was selected for Tests. Hildreth is a technically correct player and averages 43+ in first class cricket. Worth the gamble.

I am going for Liam Dawson over Jack Leach as he is a decent bat and runs at number 8 may be more important at Lord’s if there is a sporting pitch. Dawson has been superb in the T20, Royal London and Championship for keeping runs down and is a regular wicket taker. Strine lefties fester mean I would prefer an off spinner but cannot think of one apart from Dom Bess who has hardly played lately.

Olly Stone for Archer if the latter is unfit. We must have pace.

Bairstow and Buttler have big questions to answer. Ben Foakes is a better keeper and once fit will be pushing for the gloves.

I agree with Willis that Moeen and Denley have to go : they are deadwood and we can't afford that luxury.
Archer obviously has to come in.
Bairstow has a big innings in him but often fails.
Bringing in an old-timer with nothing to lose is not a bad idea, but IMO Curran has done well for us when called upon with bat and ball. Better to develop a young player than bring in an oldie (Sparkes v Moxey argument).
Regarding a spinner : you know better than I do.

 

[Alistair20000]

Sam Curran has not done too much wrong but in my eleven I prefer the specialist batsman. Broad or Woakes would need to drop out for Sam to get into my team.