Cricket

Jofra Archer's injury leaves us in a dilemma as has been said already, the candidates are

a) Jimmy*
b) Ollie Stone - the like for like swap
c) Chris Woakes
d) Moeen

The likelihood that that wicket starts spinning from day one to make the toss not so crucial* brings a third spinner into the equation although Moeen could also do a straight swap with Bess.

Dan Lawrence is reportedly another option to drop and under pressure having failed every time but once (with one innings of 70ish very much the exception). He's made about 20 odd in the rest combined. I would keep him as the batting is starting to look so threadbare and the tail monumental. Lawrence out for Moeen would probably mean Stokes at three and the tail starting not long after Pope at five.

Chris Woakes is the other alternative whose bowling in the subcontinent will be improved by his development of other types of delivery. His batting will be useful but he has the but of extra pace compared to the others except Stone.

Picking a like for like in Stone would be highly risky as only his third test and one if them was Ireland but Anderson is meant to be kept back for the day nighter in the third.

While England are seriously weakened for this one without Archer, Anderson and Buttler, India will be strengthened as Patel a spinner who averages 31 is for and will replace Nadeem and the leggy who caused us so many problems in the past could also make his series debut. Jadeja however looks out of the series.

* The thinking is if India lose the toss they have the spinners to win anyway if the wicket is sufficiently helpful from day one, they can't takes 50/50 on being effectively ruled out of winning the series.
 
We now have the 12 and as expected Jimmy is axed for this one with them sticking to the rotation policy of Jimmy or Broady.

Bess is dropped as Moeen returns and as we know star man Buttler is replaced with Foakes. The last place will be between Chris Woakes and the like for like but hugely inexperienced at test level, replacement Ollie Stone.

12 man squad for second test

Sibley
Burns
Lawrence
Root
Stokes
Pope
Foakes
Moeen
Broad
Leach
Woakes
Stone

With Stokes and Broad already in there they could go for Stone. I know he's hugely inexperienced at the level compared to Woakes and it would be some risk.

If they're worried about the batting and Foakes for Buttler and run shy Moeen for Bess makes you think they might have good cause to be, considering Moeen's recent poor batting form, then Woakes might come into their thoughts.

I would be tempted to try the like for like but it's a far greater risk with such an inexperienced quick (three tests including one against Ireland) up against such a formidable line up. Probably the better and far less risky choice is Woakes even without his far superior and much needed batting prowess.

So the 4 changes just looks a bit much and doesn't sit well with me at all.. While India strengthen we not so much change a winning team but decimate it.

I know he's no spring chicken but those Indian batsman will be made up to see Anderson isn't playing, imo. As they will be Jofra has to miss out.
 
In addition to the four changes England have one arm tied behind their back in sending Bairstow and Wood who would have replaced Jofra, home for rest and recuperation, not returning until the next one.

Commendable and necessary though the policy is considering England's ridiculous 17 tests in a year, T20 World Cup and the IPL, with life permanently in bubbles and other Covid precautions making such a policy inevitable, it means England are badly hampered and handicapped compared to all other test nations who just don't play anything like as often. Resting Broad or Anderson is very much along the same lines to keep them fresh.

This means rotation and 'Carabao cup' teams are a necessary consequence as we weaken our team using squad rotation while opponents strengthen theirs.
 
Chris O'Connor said:
We now have the 12 and as expected Jimmy is axed for this one with them sticking to the rotation policy of Jimmy or Broady.

Bess is dropped as Moeen returns and as we know star man Buttler is replaced with Foakes. The last place will be between Chris Woakes and the like for like but hugely inexperienced at test level, replacement Ollie Stone.

12 man squad for second test

Sibley
Burns
Lawrence
Root
Stokes
Pope
Foakes
Moeen
Broad
Leach
Woakes
Stone

With Stokes and Broad already in there they could go for Stone. I know he's hugely inexperienced at the level compared to Woakes and it would be some risk.

If they're worried about the batting and Foakes for Buttler and run shy Moeen for Bess makes you think they might have good cause to be, considering Moeen's recent poor batting form, then Woakes might come into their thoughts.

I would be tempted to try the like for like but it's a far greater risk with such an inexperienced quick (three tests including one against Ireland) up against such a formidable line up. Probably the better and far less risky choice is Woakes even without his far superior and much needed batting prowess.

So the 4 changes just looks a bit much and doesn't sit well with me at all.. While India strengthen we not so much change a winning team but decimate it.

I know he's no spring chicken but those Indian batsman will be made up to see Anderson isn't playing, imo. As they will be Jofra has to miss out.
Click to expand...

I would leave Stone out from that 12 tbh

The ball reversed a lot in the last test so I would favour Chris Woakes. An extra all rounder maybe not the worst idea either when you go 1 ahead. England only need a win and a draw from these 3 matches now.

I'd imagine the rotation of Anderson is because match 3 is the day/night match, and then you will always want Jimmy in a potential deciding test. He was never going to play 4 so it was a case of which one he missed. It was going to be match 2 or 3.
 
ToffeeTim said:
I would leave Stone out from that 12 tbh

The ball reversed a lot in the last test so I would favour Chris Woakes. An extra all rounder maybe not the worst idea either when you go 1 ahead. England only need a win and a draw from these 3 matches now.

I'd imagine the rotation of Anderson is because match 3 is the day/night match, and then you will always want Jimmy in a potential deciding test. He was never going to play 4 so it was a case of which one he missed. It was going to be match 2 or 3.
Click to expand...

I would be very surprised if they don't go Woakes tbh, far less risky option and has been trying to add to his armoury by trying new variations out to make himself better suited to slow low wickets. His batting skills are urgently needed but even without them he looks the more likely choice.

Yeah agree on the reasoning with Jimmy and Broady, looking towards those day nighters to play both.
 
India won the toss and the test. There wasn't even any point in asking what they'd do. Game over

The hero of the first test Joe Root is India's hero in the second. It's a 50/50 but he's pretty much consigned England to defeat here. Mark Wood and Bairstow will be back for the next one but with the series level it will be vital Joe calls correctly next time.

India are 100-3 at lunch but they are already in s superbly strong position considering they're bowling last on a minefield.

Ridiculous when the toss is so crucial it decides the test every single time but they've made it so for this series. They should just have the best of four tosses and not bother playing

Can't be arsed watching this now

England picked Ollie Stone leaving out Chris Woakes.
 
Chris O'Connor said:
India won the toss and the test. There wasn't even any point in asking what they'd do. Game over

The hero of the first test Joe Root is India's hero in the second. It's a 50/50 but he's pretty much consigned England to defeat here. Mark Wood and Bairstow will be back for the next one but with the series level it will be vital Joe calls correctly next time.

India are 100-3 at lunch but they are already in s superbly strong position considering they're bowling last on a minefield.

Ridiculous when the toss is so crucial it decides the test every single time but they've made it so for this series. They should just have the best of four tosses and not bother playing

Can't be arsed watching this now

England picked Ollie Stone leaving out Chris Woakes.
Click to expand...
They're scoring quickly as well, so really moving the game along. Other than an unlikely collapse they could be well out of sight by close of play tomorrow at this rate. Of course I hope not.

Surprised woakes didn't get the nod, if only for his batting.
 
Chris O'Connor said:
India won the toss and the test. There wasn't even any point in asking what they'd do. Game over

The hero of the first test Joe Root is India's hero in the second. It's a 50/50 but he's pretty much consigned England to defeat here. Mark Wood and Bairstow will be back for the next one but with the series level it will be vital Joe calls correctly next time.

India are 100-3 at lunch but they are already in s superbly strong position considering they're bowling last on a minefield.

Ridiculous when the toss is so crucial it decides the test every single time but they've made it so for this series. They should just have the best of four tosses and not bother playing

Can't be arsed watching this now

England picked Ollie Stone leaving out Chris Woakes.
Click to expand...

I think you learn a lot more about a team in situations like this.

England have a long batting line up and that will be needed. Barring a collapse here, we are playing for the draw.

I'm pleased they've gone for Stone over Woakes. Didnt see his bowling earlier but hes very much an outside option for the Australia.

I think Moeen and Leach have actually bowled well today. But there has been some fantastic batting. Watch what Sharma does, our openers, and everyone will be able to see a marked difference. Brilliant player.
 
catcherintherye said:
I think you learn a lot more about a team in situations like this.

England have a long batting line up and that will be needed. Barring a collapse here, we are playing for the draw.

I'm pleased they've gone for Stone over Woakes. Didnt see his bowling earlier but hes very much an outside option for the Australia.

I think Moeen and Leach have actually bowled well today. But there has been some fantastic batting. Watch what Sharma does, our openers, and everyone will be able to see a marked difference. Brilliant player.
Click to expand...

So far I've had confirmed the toss decides the test, the wicket just won't be the same when England bat it is deteriorating. As Kohli said day one is the only day when batting conditions are reasonable by day two they won't be, so they won't be when we bat first time round and impossible when batting last on it.

You learn absolutely nothing when the game is so predictable that the toss dictates who wins.
 
arminisgod said:
horrific 1st day pitch this. Its playing like a day 4 or 5 pitch
Click to expand...
Kohli said as much, it would deteriorate early but day one the only day when possible to bat, the ball gets softer and it's easier to adjust.

If ever there was a win the toss win the match game, this is it. They have to play it but it's so predictable.
 

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