Cricket

[Bruce Wayne]

I know it's a supposedly tough call but I think those three are extremely likely to play tbh, possibly Sam Curran will too but only if Stokes can't bowl. (if all pull up ok)

Woakes and Curran out and Anderson and Archer in are my thoughts - (even though the potentially omitted pair both played well). Possibly Jack Leach for Dom Bess too but Archer, Broad and Anderson are tailenders at test level and having another in Leach may be one too many.

It's an interesting one as to how England manage their bowling resources. Curran and Woakes both do really well in English conditions, but their average practically doubles overseas. Might we get to a point where we start picking bowlers specifically for home conditions and specifically for away conditions? Thinking of people like Mark Wood, whose average is much better overseas than it is in England, and Jofra Archer might even fall into the same camp.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

It's an interesting one as to how England manage their bowling resources. Curran and Woakes both do really well in English conditions, but their average practically doubles overseas. Might we get to a point where we start picking bowlers specifically for home conditions and specifically for away conditions? Thinking of people like Mark Wood, whose average is much better overseas than it is in England, and Jofra Archer might even fall into the same camp.

Yes if all are fit, and as the Aussies did last year, rotation is a decent policy with tests one after another, but to address your point more specifically, it has to be right to also rotate your bowlers in a horses for course way. So bowlers who can perform well on particular surfaces or tours are preferred. With Jimmy 38 and nearing 40 by the Ashes, life without him isn't too far away. Pace wins tests in Australia and Archer, Wood, Ollie Stone and the 'other' Overton - not his capped brother, could easily be to the fore when they consider the seam attack.

For the deciding test here my team would be Mr Incredible and ten others.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Yes if all are fit, and as the Aussies did last year, rotation is a decent policy with tests one after another, but to address your point more specifically, it has to be right to also rotate your bowlers in a horses for course way. So bowlers who can perform well on particular surfaces or tours are preferred. With Jimmy 38 and nearing 40 by the Ashes, life without him isn't too far away. Pace wins tests in Australia and Archer, Wood, Ollie Stone and the 'other' Overton - not his capped brother, could easily be to the fore when they consider the seam attack.

For the deciding test here my team would be Mr Incredible and ten others.

There will come a time when he'll need a breather as well. His form over the last few years has been simply breathtaking, but there must surely be a limit to how much he can carry the team. We desperately need the other batsman to step up on a regular basis. Root averages 10 runs fewer as captain than he did as a regular player. Butler has only managed 1 century in 43 test matches. Burns is seen as in possession of the openers slot, yet only averages 33 thus far. If you use the benchmark of 40 as a good test batsman, then over the past 2-3 years, only Stokes has managed it. You're always chasing a game if batsman don't score.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

There will come a time when he'll need a breather as well. His form over the last few years has been simply breathtaking, but there must surely be a limit to how much he can carry the team. We desperately need the other batsman to step up on a regular basis. Root averages 10 runs fewer as captain than he did as a regular player. Butler has only managed 1 century in 43 test matches. Burns is seen as in possession of the openers slot, yet only averages 33 thus far. If you use the benchmark of 40 as a good test batsman, then over the past 2-3 years, only Stokes has managed it. You're always chasing a game if batsman don't score.

Haven't they made over 400 in three of the last four first innings? That in itself represents a huge mindset change and an extremely significant improvement as they start to bond together as a formidable unit with a new 'go big first up' strategy. Keeping an essentially young batting unit together, (in test experience if not always years), has a lot of merit in my view. Sibley Burns, Crawley and Pope will get better and their averages look after themselves, it's the start not the end of their journey. They're moving in the tight direction for me and no need to disturb what is becoming an established top six.

Buttler's keeping and glovework standing up to Bess on a difficult surface was exceptional. His 40 showed good signs of confidence returning with the bat, forget the going in as an opener that was the situation. He had a period of long non stop cricket, the majority of it of the white ball variety in which he excelled. He was looking a tired and jaded figure in South Africa and urgently needed a break. He's not Ben Stokes and far more 'human' in his exploits - playing at this level without a break, non stop for too long csn have detrimental effects on form as a player finds it hard to keep the edge. No question he stays too for me - his keeping alone was good enough and the best I've seen from him tbh.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

A difficult selection. Anderson for Curran could well be the only change although it's possibly more likely Jofra plays for the incredibly unlucky Woakes. England are generally extremely wary of going in with half a side who just can't bat. That might be an exaggeration but three number elevens in Archer, Broad and Anderson represent a massive weak link and severely limits any powers of recovery for a faltering total. Maybe it's not something that should come into it but dropping Bess too will I think represent a step too far for Ed and Joe. If Leach plays one of Anderson or Archer don't for me, in which case I would think Jofra would sit it out and Chris Woakes be retained.

Manchester is usually either very cloudy or pouring with rain and losing the toss could easily be decisive without Ben as captain amazingly electing to bat under heavy cloud. Hopefully the batters will do their job, but the top order could face leaden skies and a moving ball, having some batting late on, especially as high as number eight, is essential to most top teams.

 

[Connor]

Stokes is now, officially, the worlds #1 all rounder

Was obvious already to everyone but the ICC have given their blessing and moved him up the rankings

Stuart Broad also ranked in the best bowlers list

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Haven't they made over 400 in three of the last four first innings? That in itself represents a huge mindset change and an extremely significant improvement as they start to bond together as a formidable unit with a new 'go big first up' strategy. Keeping an essentially young batting unit together, (in test experience if not always years), has a lot of merit in my view. Sibley Burns, Crawley and Pope will get better and their averages look after themselves, it's the start not the end of their journey. They're moving in the tight direction for me and no need to disturb what is becoming an established top six.

Buttler's keeping and glovework standing up to Bess on a difficult surface was exceptional. His 40 showed good signs of confidence returning with the bat, forget the going in as an opener that was the situation. He had a period of long non stop cricket, the majority of it of the white ball variety in which he excelled. He was looking a tired and jaded figure in South Africa and urgently needed a break. He's not Ben Stokes and far more 'human' in his exploits - playing at this level without a break, non stop for too long csn have detrimental effects on form as a player finds it hard to keep the edge. No question he stays too for me - his keeping alone was good enough and the best I've seen from him tbh.

They're improving for sure, but we're still a long way from a decent batting lineup, especially as Root sadly no longer merits mention alongside Smith, Williamson and Kohli, all of whom are now far ahead of him. If we cast our mind back to the 2005 team, as an example, you'd probably say that Bell or Collingwood were the worst batsmen in that side, but both would be the best pure batsman we have right now. Hopefully they'll improve and we get a couple of guys who average 40 and above consistently as it's that which is stopping us challenging the three teams above us in the rankings.

 

[summerisle]

Matt Parkinson injured his ankle, withdrawn from the England squad to face Ireland.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

They're improving for sure, but we're still a long way from a decent batting lineup, especially as Root sadly no longer merits mention alongside Smith, Williamson and Kohli, all of whom are now far ahead of him. If we cast our mind back to the 2005 team, as an example, you'd probably say that Bell or Collingwood were the worst batsmen in that side, but both would be the best pure batsman we have right now. Hopefully they'll improve and we get a couple of guys who average 40 and above consistently as it's that which is stopping us challenging the three teams above us in the rankings.

Why not look back to the 1956 team? That's all gone, it's not really that relevant it's about building a team now imo and I think the new stategy of trying to build properly and make big first innings totals is a fundamental change of mindset. It's far too early in four of the top six's tests careers to give so much attention to averages imo. I certainly wouldn't be looking back 15, 50 or 100 years, it's now we're starting to build just as Eoin Morgan had to build a one day side from virtually scratch. It's trusting in the likes of Burns, Sibley, Crawley and Pope to repay that faith.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

From what I've read I would guess Jofra will start as will Broad, England would prefer Leach as the spinner but will be wary of denting Bess' confidence after recently naming him their number one spinner. With the series at stake I think Leach will play.

There will be no room for being swayed by sentiment and Jimmy playing at Old Trafford. They are instead likely to go with their new policy signalled by Joe Root at the start of the series of no longer pairing their two great bowlers together. Jimmy and Mark Wood are ready but will possibly be held back until the Pakistan series.

Again that massive tail and Ed's distaste for four number 11's to me points to an attack of Archer, Broad, Woakes, Stokes and Leach with Woakes an infinitely better batsman than the Burnley Lara and has himself a quite outstanding record in English conditions.

I reckon Burns, Sibley, Crawley, Root, Stokes, Pope, Buttler, Woakes, Archer, Broad, Leach

 

[Cool_Blue]

From what I've read I would guess Jofra will start as will Broad, England would prefer Leach as the spinner but will be wary of denting Bess' confidence after recently naming him their number one spinner. With the series at stake I think Leach will play.

There will be no room for being swayed by sentiment and Jimmy playing at Old Trafford. They are instead likely to go with their new policy signalled by Joe Root at the start of the series of no longer pairing their two great bowlers together. Jimmy and Mark Wood are ready but will possibly be held back until the Pakistan series.

Again that massive tail and Ed's distaste for four number 11's to me points to an attack of Archer, Broad, Woakes, Stokes and Leach with Woakes an infinitely better batsman than the Burnley Lara and has himself a quite outstanding record in English conditions.

I reckon Burns, Sibley, Crawley, Root, Stokes, Pope, Buttler, Woakes, Archer, Broad, Leach

With all those right handers in the WI team, for me Curran has to play, plus he rarely fails to contribute with the bat (last test excepted). Yet to see what the fuss is about Archer’s batting, he’s a no.10 at best. Toss up between him and Wood for out and out pace option. Buttler’s test form is a worry.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

With all those right handers in the WI team, for me Curran has to play, plus he rarely fails to contribute with the bat (last test excepted). Yet to see what the fuss is about Archer’s batting, he’s a no.10 at best. Toss up between him and Wood for out and out pace option. Buttler’s test form is a worry.

Tbf I've gone on about Buttler in a recent post, I think his keeping in this test was quite outstanding and showed good sense playing the situation with his perfectly timed 40, opening the innings is not one bit relevant and all down to England's intent on very quick runs in no time. He's now had a break and no longer the isolated jaded figure he cut in South Africa after such a period of non stop cricket. He's very safe for now.

Archer is a number 11 at test level but so is Broad, Anderson and Leach, someone has to bat 9 but playing all four means six down and you're virtually all out with one end exposed. Curran unfortunately always seems to be the fall guy and has done nothing wrong at all. Sam Curran, as handy a player as he is, just isn't quite a good enough bowler - even though he undoubtedly has a very happy knack of picking up wickets. It's tough but I think they'll pick their best balanced team with Archer's pace being preferred to Anderson's world class swing and seam.

The key for me is it's at the same ground in rain city, and the wicket being prepared is only two strips away from the one in the last test. This is relevant as the wicket had been exposed during the four days that play was possible and should have hardened up. It should be firmer and far more conducive to pace than the one in the last test. Woakes has an outstanding record in this country and a very similar bowler to Jimmy, but one who is a genuine all-rounder.

 

[Chris O'Connor]

Already the prospects of the next test losing a day completely washed out by rain look excellent with Saturday looking a complete write-off. There's even more rain expected on early Sunday and Monday which could make it difficult to force any positive result. Rain city looks as though it'll be really treating us to some typical Manchester weather.

Bring in four day tests and Manchester could easily make that in effect a two day one.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Why not look back to the 1956 team? That's all gone, it's not really that relevant it's about building a team now imo and I think the new stategy of trying to build properly and make big first innings totals is a fundamental change of mindset. It's far too early in four of the top six's tests careers to give so much attention to averages imo. I certainly wouldn't be looking back 15, 50 or 100 years, it's now we're starting to build just as Eoin Morgan had to build a one day side from virtually scratch. It's trusting in the likes of Burns, Sibley, Crawley and Pope to repay that faith.

2005, and the progress of that team over the following years, was the nearest I could remember us being up around the best team in the world. If I recall, every front line batsman in that team averaged 40 and above. Now, only Root does, and he is well off his best form. Hopefully these new players will come in and do okay, but we had a generation where we jettisoned guys like Ballance and Bopara as not good enough, yet both have better averages than mainstays of the current side. This goes down as far as someone like Buttler, who has a highest score of 106 after 43 tests and just 1 century. This is someone who is primarily in the side for his batting, yet his record is considerably worse than, say, Matt Prior before him. We haven't been a good batting side for some time now, but I'd feel a lot better about those new players bedding in if Root was playing as we know he can, but his average has fallen by 10 runs since taking the captaincy, with much of that being down to difficulty converting starts into match winning scores. We can't keep relying on Stokes bailing the side out.

 

[Lanolin]

Why not look back to the 1956 team? That's all gone, it's not really that relevant it's about building a team now imo and I think the new stategy of trying to build properly and make big first innings totals is a fundamental change of mindset. It's far too early in four of the top six's tests careers to give so much attention to averages imo. I certainly wouldn't be looking back 15, 50 or 100 years, it's now we're starting to build just as Eoin Morgan had to build a one day side from virtually scratch. It's trusting in the likes of Burns, Sibley, Crawley and Pope to repay that faith.

Three of them I would agree with, but not Burns. He'll be 30 by the end of the summer, and we can safely assume will have played over 20 tests. He's done a decent job so far but he's got to push on from that now, the next 4 tests should show us whether he can do that. If an average of 33 after 20+ tests is good enough to keep you at the top of the order for England then we are on a steep downward slope.