Cricket

[Chris O'Connor]

That was surprising as not leaked at all, maybe better keeping their plans secret anyway imo, if journos can find out so can the opposition.

Bat down to eight again but reliant on Bess continuing to make a contribution with the bat at 8 and Woakes showing he's a proper all rounder at 7. Bowling first was probably the right call if you're hoping to win a potentially shortened match, even without favourable bowling conditions.

England produced a perfect performance to just about win in four last time, but batting first makes it extremely difficult and only nigh on perfection may be enough to win in the time available.

A batsman short with their new stated aim of batting big runs first up puts a massive pressure on the remaining five, with hardly any being able to fail, so trying to do it the hard way with absolutely no room for error. A hell of a lot to ask knowing their fallibility.

 

[Lanolin]

England dropped a batsman and Sam Curran.

Curran would have played instead of Anderson for me for the balance of the side. He plays, England win, then he gets dropped. Lack of coherence to the selection policy for me.

May as well have left out Bess if they wanted the extra quick. Root hardly bowls him anyway.

I'm not a massive Curran fan to be honest but I'd have to say this selection has a whiff of dropping the most junior player so as not to annoy the more senior figures in the camp.

 

[ToffeeTim]

I'm not a massive Curran fan to be honest but I'd have to say this selection has a whiff of dropping the most junior player so as not to annoy the more senior figures in the camp.

I think he's a great little player. He doesn't take tons of wickets or score tons of runs but he makes contributions at crucial times in matches and gets big wickets to get good players out at big moments.

His win record is brilliant. England generally win when he plays.

I know it sounds a bit mad, but I don't think Anderson deserves to play on merit.

 

[Walken]

Aggressive attempt to win the series with that selection, even if it doesn't come off I like it

 

[Lanolin]

I think he's a great little player. He doesn't take tons of wickets or score tons of runs but he makes contributions at crucial times in matches and gets big wickets to get good players out at big moments.

His win record is brilliant. England generally win when he plays.

I know it sounds a bit mad, but I don't think Anderson deserves to play on merit.

He's what i'd call a 'nice' player. He's technically good, he can bat bowl and field, but he isn't stand out at any of them. He got a few 50s early on but he's only passed 40 once in his last 20 innings. The idea that we need him in the side for his batting a bit flawed. He's a golden arm, a partnership breaker, but he isn't trusted to put the hard yards in and he isn't a strike bowler. He's a bits and pieces cricketer, suited to English conditions.

 

[Blues Harp]

Oh dear.

 

[JimmyJeffers]

I like this big chubber they have in the slips. Looking forward to seeing him bat

 

[ToffeeTim]

There isn't enough runs in that line up.

 

[toffeejack]

I like this big chubber they have in the slips. Looking forward to seeing him bat

Love him, can really rip the ball apparently.

 

[toffeejack]

I'm not a massive Curran fan to be honest but I'd have to say this selection has a whiff of dropping the most junior player so as not to annoy the more senior figures in the camp.

100% my feeling too, we've got to have one eye on the future and with that maybe both Anderson and broad can play, but we'll see.

 

[Handball]

Here we go, the big lad is coming on for a trundle.

 

[JimmyJeffers]

Ooooft

 

[Eggs]

Here we go, the big lad is coming on for a trundle.

....I saw him on the sidelines at the previous matches and thought he must be a coach. Certainly spins the ball but I can’t see him chasing anything in the field.

6ft 6in, 22 stone, hope he does well.

 

[JimmyJeffers]

Can’t ever remember the West Indies having a decent spinner

 

[Handball]

Lance Gibbs wasn't bad apparently.
And Roger Harper gave it a rip back in the 80's and 90s.