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General Cricket => World Cricket => England => Topic started by: six and out on May 06, 2016, 11:49:32 AM
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With the 1st Test of the summer fast approaching 5 of the Sky pundits (Hussain, Knight, Atherton, Key and Allott) have picked their England team to walk out at Headingley. See the link -
http://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12123/10269076/england-v-sri-lanka-james-vince-picked-by-four-of-five-sky-cricket-pundits-for-first-test (http://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12123/10269076/england-v-sri-lanka-james-vince-picked-by-four-of-five-sky-cricket-pundits-for-first-test)
Interesting points to note -
All 5 pick Hales to keep his place
All 5 pick Finn to come back
All 5 drop Compton
4 out of the 5 pick Vince to replace Compton - Atherton recalls Bell
3 out of the 5 give the gloves back to Butler (with Bairstow playing as well) - the other 2 out of the 5 pick Ballance
If you include batting order into it all 5 teams are different.
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I'm with Rob Key, would love to see England line up like that. That being said, I think Compton might well keep his place at 3 for now.
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I'd put good money on them all being wrong!
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yes saw this the other night...a little bit surprised to be honest. The debate over whether Balance has made any technical changes(yes I know it's runs that count but everyone seems to be talking about it) goes on.It's runs in the book in my opinion that count.....
Athers said only minor changes have been made by him, getting weight into the ball,rather than hanging back. If you say that's something decent players should do anyway-there's no real change?
anyway, Vince the 'experts' think should be in, so do I...for the time being-instead of Balance.
What surprised me was Athers picking Bell.....i'm a Bell fan and I don't think his career is over but.....is Balance or Vince more deserving, they are younger and will improve...Bell has 22 test tons, you don't get those in the corner shop... interesting
And Compdog is in no-ones team? what's the dude done wrong this time? he's an old fashioned player, technically and mentally, is that out of place with current Test Cricket ? is that is?
:)
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I'd put good money on them all being wrong!
alright Edgey..... :)
you can only pick the top 6. give us your names!
there's nothing like a good England batting order debate, you can keep your reviews of 1000 mm edge bats overdried like a set of false boobs, I love different peoples opinions !
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It's unlikely that the paymasters of English cricket have been given an inside track...
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My Starting XI, these are players who I see taking the field, not necessarily the ones I want to see playing though.
1- Cook
2- Hales
3- Compton
4- Root
5- Vince
6- Stokes
7- Bairstow
8- Ali
9- Broad
10- Anderson
11- Finn
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Can they stop listing Broad as an allrounder?
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My Starting XI, these are players who I see taking the field, not necessarily the ones I want to see playing though.
1- Cook
2- Hales
3- Compton
4- Root
5- Vince
6- Stokes
7- Bairstow
8- Ali
9- Broad
10- Anderson
11- Finn
Totally agree. Think this side is more likely than any of the expert sides
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alright Edgey..... :)
you can only pick the top 6. give us your names!
there's nothing like a good England batting order debate, you can keep your reviews of 1000 mm edge bats overdried like a set of false boobs, I love different peoples opinions !
I'd keep it the same as in SA, with Bell in for Taylor. Think the selectors will go for the side liscon12 posted though.
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I'd keep it the same as in SA, with Bell in for Taylor. Think the selectors will go for the side liscon12 posted though.
yep I think also liscon12 has the side we will field.
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There could be a spanner in the works me thinks.
Cook*
Compton/Hales
Root/Compton
Vince /Root
Hales/Bairstow
Stokes
Bairstow+//Buttler+
Moeen
Broad
Finn
Anderson
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There could be a spanner in the works me thinks.
Cook*
Compton/Hales
Root/Compton
Vince /Root
Hales/Bairstow
Stokes
Bairstow+/Buttler+
Moeen
Broad
Finn
Anderson
So you've essentially covered your a*se and picked all the possible combinations? ;)
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Cook
Hales
Roy
Root
Stokes
Buttler
Bairstow
Moeen
Broad
Anderson
Finn
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So you've essentially covered your a*se and picked all the possible combinations? ;)
I'll highlight the side I think is most likely then
I wasn't intentionally covering myself, but if you cover all options you're more likely to be right ;)
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Surprised a few of them put Ballance in, yes he's scored a lot of career runs, but he's still getting out like this! (second clip) https://twitter.com/CountyChamp/status/727195855661355008?ref_src=twsrc^tfw
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Cook
Hales
Compton
Root
Vince
Stokes
Bairstow
Ali
Broad
Finn
Anderson
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As the old saying goes, better to give someone too many games than too little, I mean this regarding Compton and Hales. Both had an okay tour to SA but if they want to cement their place in the test squad they've this summer to prove it too the selectors, if not then we start the merry go round all over again come the winter. Compton hasn't done anything wrong necessarily to be dropped however the dismissals towards the back end of the SA Test tour do make you think, hopefully he can score at a reasonable rate and play somewhat at his best and not get bogged down like he did a couple of years during our summer. I do understand that at times we need a player like Compton to grind down the bowlers and absorb the pressure of the new ball and this might mean scoring at a low rate. England are searching for that Trott successor and at the moment Compton might be our best bet.
Ballance's form in the CC has been average at best and with Vince getting that hundred against Yorkshire the other week puts him at the top of the pecking order. Bairstow has earned the right to keep the gloves for a good while now due to the runs he's scored in the Championship this year and last and hopefully the form he's in now will continue for a while.
Ali will always trump Rashid, his batting does add weight to his argument of being in the squad and the fact he does take regular wickets means he will always start, for me he needs to learn to bowl more dot balls and build pressure, far too often he comes on and the scoring rate increases whether it is down to batsmen going after him or simply bowling poor balls.
One name to mention in the bowling department is Liam Plunkett, he is tall and fast and if one of the other guys gets injured then I think he should come in, obviously a fit Wood would be first ahead of Plunkett. His batting ability would really create a long tail in the England squad however Finn has the ability to really get good swing and seam at pace and for this reason he will always start in my XI as you need bowlers to take 20 wickets to win games, they shouldn't need to bat as that is the top 6-7 job.
England selectors have become very strict when it comes to making changes, only changing one or two at a time. What the Sky pundits are suggesting would never happen as making huge sweeping changes to a team will not only destabilise the balance and feel of the squad but it will also put fear into players by showing them that their place isn't safe and they could end up focusing on themselves and becoming more inwards rather than thinking of the teams goals. Now players will always say they want to see England win and want to perform but if they have it in the back of their mind that they could be gone the very next game then it could turn very toxic. I doubt this would ever happen to this bunch of lads as they seen very settled and appear to enjoy each others company but why take the risk in making huge changes, the good thing is though that the players who are in the mix are already involved in the England setup and have been on previous tours etc so they know what its like when you're not playing.
I really do hope we have a great summer and that we show skills and talent proving people we are becoming the best in the world. Lets hope the weather keeps it end of the bargain up. :)
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1. Cook
2. Hales
3. Root
4. Bell
5. Bairstow
6. Stokes
7. Butler
8. Ali
9. Finn
10. Broad
11. Anderson
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My Starting XI, these are players who I see taking the field, not necessarily the ones I want to see playing though.
1- Cook
2- Hales
3- Compton
4- Root
5- Vince
6- Stokes
7- Bairstow
8- Ali
9- Broad
10- Anderson
11- Finn
For me like a few of you have said i think liscon12 posted the side that will be picked.
However the side i would like to see is below - i simply don't think you can play Compton and Cook in the same side in this day and age of Test Cricket. I also think Butler needs to be given the gloves back, as a keeper i know it is difficult to keep both disciplines going well and i think if Bairstow is to bat at 5 (or 6) he needs to be just a batter, then say to Butler be a great keeper and your batting will follow. At the moment we don't have someone who is doing both well etc...
1 - Cook (c)
2 - Hales
3 - Vince
4 - Root
5/6 - Bairstow
5/6 - Stokes
7 - Butler (wk)
8 - Ali
9 - Broad
10 - Finn
11 - Anderson
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Buttler will get another shot, but he hasn't been playing CC cricket, he's off with the travelling circus.
Concern with Hales is that he hasn't been playing while Robson, Bell-Drummond and other openers have been getting involved in the early season run-fest.
Compton''s a funny one. He'll get another go at 3, but there's clearly something about him that doesn't fit - and that's across two different coaching and management set ups...
Has Bell done enough to get back, assuming Strauss and Bayliss didn't have the bottle to tell him he will never be back (see Ramprakash in 2006)? Dunno. Don't think he'll get a go against Sri Lanka, but assuming Ballance or Vince get a go and Compton/Ballance doesn't perform I wouldn't be surprised at all if Bell got a shot at Pakistan. Assuming what he's been told stands.
1. Cook
2. Hales
3. Compton
4. Root
5. Ballance
6. Stokes
7. Bairstow*
8. Ali
9. Broad
10. Anderson
11. Finn
I'd have Bell at 5. But I completely get why many wouldn't.
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I think it's extremely unlikely we see Buttler before the short form part of the series. Him being allowed to go to the IPL was probably as a result of him losing the gloves and it looking like he wouldn't get them back for the time being.
If he was still the man in control of the gloves then I would bet my life he wouldn't have been allowed to go to the IPL. They are starting to classify players as long form and short form now I suspect, and I think Buttler is probably going to be a short form specialist for the foreseeable future with Jonny B being the man for 5 day stuff.
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I think there are few things you need to remember:-
1. The pundits are picking there wet dreams and not looking at what will actually happen
2. @liscon12 was spot on with his team, 1 change
3. England love consistency, Hales and Compton will get more chances - Sri Lanka aren't SA and they deserve to muck that up first before getting droppoed.
4. Bairstow has done a fine job at 7 and keeping, why change it for Buttler (who's playing IPL)
5. England go to India, the next guy in has to be decent against spin - playing Sri Lanka and Pakistan is almost an audition in that respect.
I think Bell might get the nod, with point 5 in mind. Still some mileage in him if they use him properly and bat him at 5 instead of shoving him up the order.
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I see Micky Arthur's got himself a summer temp job - Pakistan coach...
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it's quite interesting how many of you have got Bell in, or certainly not objecting if he was in, that I can read anyway.
Saunders is right, number 5 does seem to be his spot....Root doesn't want to move from 4.....KP didn't either.. I guess some players mentally just have a position and they bat well there.
I've watched the whole of Bell's England career and you just think 'this guy is a number 5' and a very good one at that....
Bell is also a very good player of spin.......
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Graham Thorpe had an entire career (pretty much) at 5, at a time when we were moving players all over the place. I would assume they recognised his importance in that position and, like Thorpe, Bell's always batted well with the lower order and tail when required and that was without players of the ability of Stokes and Bairstow below him.
I'm not sure Bell's as good a player of spin as people think, not that I would say he's bad, far from it - simply a tendency to get bogged down, but that could have been reflective of his poor form and mindset.
I just don't think you can discount 22 test hundreds and an excellent average batting at 5 when you have series in India and the Ashes coming up. Yes Ballance averages 47, but I'd bet Bell averages similar at 5
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number 5 does seem to be his spot
I can't believe people are only just realising this.. It's been obvious since 2005
Root is not a top 3 bat, his technique isn't good enough.. Nicky Nicky offy stumpy.. KP was never good enough for top 3 either.
People need to get out of the 'better players play higher' theory and put players in their best position.. Just because someone is good at 4 doesn't mean they'll be good at 3. Different skills, pressures and techniques needed.
Unless you go down the white ball theory where technique isn't important and hittyness (hales, Roy etc)
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I certainly don't think Bell is a wonderful player of spin, you only have to witness some of his struggles in the UAE to know this. He is however probably a better player of spin than Ballance and certainly more experienced than Vince overseas. Not saying Vince should get a gig but we have enough iffy players of spin without making it worse. I reckon only Cook and Root, possibly Ali would be nailed on to score runs in India.
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@uknsaunders
1 Don't agree at all. Remember Sky knew about Moores losing his job before he did. That the three batters into two spots are Ballance, Vince and Bell tells you something.
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I reckon there is realistically two places in a squad of 12 up for grabs - those of three bat and reserve seamer. In this twelve, the two spots are the ones in CAPS:
Cook
Hales
COMPTON OR BELL
Root
Vince
Stokes
Bairstow
Ali
Broad
Finn
Anderson
12 - BALL or OVERTON
What would I go for? Tough - the only nailed on selection I would definitely change is Ali, who I would drop in favour of the much more talented Rashid. On the basis that Compton just doesn't quite fit and Bell can come back in anytime, I'd use three tests against weaker opposition to test someone else though - that could mean Vince at three with Roy at five or it could mean Hales moving to first dig to allow Lyth second shot or Bell Drummond a go as opener.
Longer term, Bairstow will go to five and Buttler or Foakes will keep.
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1 Don't agree at all. Remember Sky knew about Moores losing his job before he did. That the three batters into two spots are Ballance, Vince and Bell tells you something.
Ballance....interesting. As of today, he is far from a shoe in for most Yorkshire fans strongest XIs.
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http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/36230937 (http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/36230937)
Michael Vaughn's view on the matter, I think Vince will get the shot at 5 against Sri Lanka, and I think Tom Westley may be the next number 3.
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Cook
Hales
Roy
Root
Stokes
Buttler
Bairstow
Moeen
Broad
Anderson
Finn
Crikey, you quickly changed your mind about Jason Roy!
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Cook
Hales
Vince
Root
Bell
Stokes
Bairstow
Moeen
Broad
Anderson
Finn / Wood / Plunkett
Is Wood injured?
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[url]http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/36230937[/url] ([url]http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/36230937[/url])
Michael Vaughn's view on the matter, I think Vince will get the shot at 5 against Sri Lanka, and I think Tom Westley may be the next number 3.
Oh look Vince is represented by Michael Vaughan's management company.
Seriously not worth listening to what he says about selection, he is too conflicted.
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Not played any first class or List A stuff yet this year according to Cricinfo... He had surgery a while ago on his ankle but can't recall when from memory.
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Ballance....interesting. As of today, he is far from a shoe in for most Yorkshire fans strongest XIs.
I think Yorkshire themselves are quite happy to push Ballance. Merely so they don't have to pay his wages.
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Bah!! Throw caution to the wind - here's my XI for the next year -
Cook
Hales
Westley
Root
Vince
Bairstow
Stokes
Rashid
Broad
Finn
Anderson
Curran (Twelfers)
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Ok - looking at the in-form talent available, I would change my selection a little!
My current selection:
Cook
Robson
Westley
Root
Vince
Stokes
Bairstow
Moeen
Plunkett
Broad
Anderson
This is the team I'd love to see as a lot of the players look on decent form.
But I suspect that Hales will be picked at 2! I think that Vince, Bell and Balance will contest the number 3 and 5 spot, as the selectors don't seem to be able to stray too far from playing (what they see as) safe!!
Therefore I suspect the selectors will stick to the following.........
Cook
Hales
Vince
Root
Balance/Bell
Stokes
Bairstow
Ali
Broad
Anderson
Finn
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The more I read articles and listen to pundits/commentators it really does sound like Compton has lost his place and I'm no longer confident in him being in the first XI, I've only changed my mind on this over the last week as more hype and talk has been built up because of the forthcoming test next week.
It sounds like Ballance could be back on the fold more so than I first thought but I'm still undecided about him.
It's a funny one this ;)
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Here's my pick:
Jason Roy
Jason Roy
Jason Roy
Jason Roy
Jason Roy
Bairstow
Stokes
Ali
Broad
Anderson
Finn
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I think you've got Roy batting out of position at 3 there if you ask me, but I suppose it's all about opinions!
Thursday 7am the announcement is made!
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7am??? why on earth?
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7am??? why on earth?
Sky requested it?
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I'm increasingly convinced Bairstow should bat at five -regardless of whether he keeps wicket.
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Here's my pick:
Jason Roy
Jason Roy
Jason Roy
Jason Roy
Jason Roy
Bairstow
Stokes
Ali
Broad
Anderson
Finn
Would be interesting, have an odi but open with Bairstow and Roy, but tell Roy he has 5 lives. Wonder how many he'd get?
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I'm increasingly convinced Bairstow should bat at five -regardless of whether he keeps wicket.
On his form over the past year he fullly deserves to move up the order to 5, with or without the gloves.
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If, hypothetically, England were going to go with both Vince and Westley, it would make eminent sense for one of them to go in at seven and allow YJB to move back up to five.
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YJB's test record is average to poor, let him stay at 7 where he actually looks about right in test matches.
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YJB's test record is average to poor, let him stay at 7 where he actually looks about right in test matches.
YJB's test record is a product of the way he has been treated by England though.
Yes, he was naff against a full pace Roach in his first series. Since then, there have been precious few occasions when he has been given a proper run at it rather than being thrown in after weeks as a spare part, or been asked to switch roles at a moments notice. Look at his innings in eh last year - strong against an excellent Aussie attack, save when Mitch nearly killed him. Good in the Emirates save one knock when he had pad rash. Comfortably our best player against South Africa.
Or just ask yourself - if Vince and Westley are to start, which is more impressive. Vince managing one nugget ton when Yorkshire had seven slips, Westley making 120s against frankly awful D2 attacks, or mullering 200's at a run a ball in the top division?
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On that final point - I was lucky enough to watch his knock Monday. He came in at 40-3 with Curran and Rampaul swinging it sharply. One is a genuine test bowler, the other heavily hyped on here. YJB might as well have been batting against a club under 15s...
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YJB's test record is a product of the way he has been treated by England though.
To an extent, I'd equally say the way he's been treated by England is a product of his test record! Averaging in the 30s and contributing regular 50s/the odd ton is good stuff for a keeping no.7, not acceptable for a test 5 though. Plus the keeper should bat at 7, hardly any point in picking a batsman there (see: South Africa for the last 10 years or so). Definitely he's improved and I hope he does well, but get a young batsman with the potential to be higher up the order one day in at 5. Bairstow should be working hard on his keeping too rather than having the added pressure of batting higher.
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If, hypothetically, England were going to go with both Vince and Westley, it would make eminent sense for one of them to go in at seven and allow YJB to move back up to five.
Though I'm not overly enthused by either, they could play both Ali and Rashid? Or even an extra seamer at Headingley?
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Though I'm not overly enthused by either, they could play both Ali and Rashid?
unlikely - Headingley doesn't really take spin.
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To an extent, I'd equally say the way he's been treated by England is a product of his test record! Averaging in the 30s and contributing regular 50s/the odd ton is good stuff for a keeping no.7, not acceptable for a test 5 though. Plus the keeper should bat at 7, hardly any point in picking a batsman there (see: South Africa for the last 10 years or so). Definitely he's improved and I hope he does well, but get a young batsman with the potential to be higher up the order one day in at 5. Bairstow should be working hard on his keeping too rather than having the added pressure of batting higher.
Really? I think that's an unduly harsh view.
Ignoring those first three Roach induced nightmares, he made 95 and 54 in his fourth test against a genuinely great South African attack. He was then left out until the last test in India, playing one competitive game in three and a half months (plus his dismissal was not actually out). He then missed another two months before being parachuted back in against NZ.
Back to the UK, he did okay against NZ and Australia, both with good attacks. Indeed, he was unlucky to be dropped.
He then waited five months before suddenly being thrown in for two tests to keep.
Recalled 18 months later, he was good against Australia in a bowler dominated series. Very good in Abu Dhabi...then given the gloves again. Even with them on, he was comfortably our best player in South Africa.
Is his record great? No - but that is defensible given that he has been so badly messed around and that he has not been able to feast on poor Sri Lankan, Indian (abroad) West Indian, Zimbabwean or Bangladeshi attacks. Given seven games this Summer at five, I reckon we'd be looking at 1000+ runs.
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Yeah it's harsh, but gut feeling from watching him play for England, never looked comfortable consistently until getting the gloves. For me, if he's keeping, has to be at 7. If we want to give him a go at 5, someone else has to keep.
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Not convinced by Westley yet but would like to see YJB at 5. I know the bowlers who've faced him this year rate him very highly. Would also like to see Buttler at 7. Top order could have the odd collapse but there's some great depth and this side would be perfect for 4 day Tests. Cook, Hales, Vince, Root, Bairstow, Stokes, Buttler, Ali, Broad, Finn, Anderson. Given that Buttler won't be back then would like to see YJB keep the gloves and Compton given the first 2 Tests
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Tell me I'm not the only one on here that thinks England will get Butler back to keep at the earliest practical opportunity so YJB and Jos can play in the same side?.
There are some players the selectors really fancy, and I think Bayliss and Farbrace want this attacking middle order with Butler in it. you could see the reluctance from England to drop Jos when his form went really bad...it was a bit like 'this is temporary till he hits some form'.
Bairstow is a terrific player and given a decent run could be a bit special. He is seriously talented, I think England want him long term to bat at 5 or 6 just in front of Butler.
I'm sure there are those who think Butler is just a T20 player but I don't think England do.
Just my thoughts :)
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Please never pick Balance again. He made me want to watch paint dry and then eat the paint.
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Squad announced.
12 man squad. Ball will be back up bowler. Vince replaces Taylor. Rest same as SA
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http://www.ecb.co.uk/news/articles/ball-and-vince-named-test-squad (http://www.ecb.co.uk/news/articles/ball-and-vince-named-test-squad)
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Standard fare, give everyone two series to impress, which I don't really have any issue with. Reckon Compton is in the last chance saloon and hales needs runs with Robson churning out tons...
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My Starting XI, these are players who I see taking the field, not necessarily the ones I want to see playing though.
1- Cook
2- Hales
3- Compton
4- Root
5- Vince
6- Stokes
7- Bairstow
8- Ali
9- Broad
10- Anderson
11- Finn
Looks like the 11 I picked was right, no swooping changes with only one spot open which Vince will be taking.
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I'm really struggling to see how Vince has been selected. I can't see how his form is better than Westley's or some other names. I personally would have taken a look at Vince during the ODI's particularly with James Taylor now out of the fold. It's a shame England's ODI Captain is currently carrying out the drinks in the IPL. Surely Morgan's place is in doubt in the ODI's?
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His form is probably better than Comptons :)
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I see my recommendations have been ignored for the top 5.
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Vince has been knocking at the door for quite some time, much like Taylor it was often the case of just not being possible to get him in ahead of others. Hope he seizes the chance.
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I'm really struggling to see how Vince has been selected. I can't see how his form is better than Westley's or some other names. I personally would have taken a look at Vince during the ODI's particularly with James Taylor now out of the fold. It's a shame England's ODI Captain is currently carrying out the drinks in the IPL. Surely Morgan's place is in doubt in the ODI's?
They used him over the winter against Pakistan (man of the series) and the management were very impressed with him apparently. Been knocking on the door for a few years, it's that consistency they want.
Westley would most likely be looked at for the opening role considering him and Cook had such a good start this year but that's not up for grabs just yet. Vince suits the middle order, I know he bats at 3 for Hants but so did Ian Bell for Warwickshire but then flourished in the middle order for England (Root opened for Yorkshire and England early on too). If Vince succeeds he may well move up to 3 if/when Compton goes. Good choice, and especially considering no one is really hammering the door down, and those who are would open the batting (Robson/Westley/Bell-Drummond).
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Glad that Compton stays and Vince comes in at 5, hugely increases the chance of Vince succeeding. Openers excepted, have felt for the past few years that England's batting selection troubles have been often down to players having to come in at 3 too early in their careers. Hopefully they can both score runs and potentially Vince will make the move to 3 in a year or two with plenty of test experience and runs under his belt. Also hoping that the fact everyone rates him despite an average county record means he's bloody good!
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Westley would most likely be looked at for the opening role considering him and Cook had such a good start this year but that's not up for grabs just yet. Vince suits the middle order, I know he bats at 3 for Hants but so did Ian Bell for Warwickshire but then flourished in the middle order for England (Root opened for Yorkshire and England early on too). If Vince succeeds he may well move up to 3 if/when Compton goes. Good choice, and especially considering no one is really hammering the door down, and those who are would open the batting (Robson/Westley/Bell-Drummond).
Westley bats at three for Essex. I've seen a bit of him, and like him, but I'm not sure he was actually as close to selection as people were making out.
It seems a lot of us were over-thinking it. Vince for Taylor. Simple.
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Pleased for Vince but would've liked to see Bairstow move up to 5, in electric form again in CC to back up the sackful of runs he scored last year.
Also, our frontline spinner has figures of 42 overs 1 wicket for 160+ runs, in div 2, so far this year. Granted there aren't many spinners knocking on the door but that has to be of some concern.
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Pleased for Vince but would've liked to see Bairstow move up to 5, in electric form again in CC to back up the sackful of runs he scored last year.
Also, our frontline spinner has figures of 42 overs 1 wicket for 160+ runs, in div 2, so far this year. Granted there aren't many spinners knocking on the door but that has to be of some concern.
I think the concern has been well documented.
Pleased to see Simon Kerrigan that had got a few wickets last week.
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Glad that Compton stays and Vince comes in at 5, hugely increases the chance of Vince succeeding. Openers excepted, have felt for the past few years that England's batting selection troubles have been often down to players having to come in at 3 too early in their careers. Hopefully they can both score runs and potentially Vince will make the move to 3 in a year or two with plenty of test experience and runs under his belt. Also hoping that the fact everyone rates him despite an average county record means he's bloody good!
This is a valid point - look at how the great Aussie sides blooded new talent at 5/6 - even Ricky Ponting. Yes, making runs at 5/6 after others have had a go is easier (cf - Ian Bell's career) but if its your first time, why not try to make it a success?