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[Buzz]

Bit harsh on Root, who has always played it well enough.  The other three....

not harsh on root, sorry, he gets hit on the head more than any top order player I have seen is a compulsive hooker... and gets into poor positions.

he is still a fine talented player who will do very well, but he needs to sort it out.

not as badly a moeen however...

[FattusCattus]

Moeen is indeed a 'standing duck' at times.

I hope the coaching staff recognise this and work with him, Robson, Jordan and Stokes on their deficiencies before the West Indies.

[petehosk]

Playing the short ball is easy if you can play.

Playing the short ball is easy if you can play.....the short ball??
Not everyone can play all shots! Batsmen usually have 2 or 3 strong shots!
The issue is that the hook shot send to be a weak shot for most if the English team!
Therefore the obvious 'duck' or 'sway' should have been used!

[Manormanic]

not harsh on root, sorry, he gets hit on the head more than any top order player I have seen is a compulsive hooker... and gets into poor positions.

Not sure that the head thing is that relevant since a lot of players now seem not to care about this (and anyway, Michael Clarke is clearly the most lidded man in international cricket).  As for his positions, he does seem to get out of shape to the bouncer bowled from wide around th wicket but so do most players - its something that has only recently come back in to the international game after a long period being ignored as a tactic.

[smilley792]

Watching cricket writers on tv this morning, it seems they all think robson will be replaced after this series, and it will be hales or Vince that get the gigg. Which could be interesting.

I personally like the idea of an attacking England.

As much as I like traditional test cricket, watching Warner take it to steyn and morkel in the last test series between the too, was a good watch! But never thought England would pick such players.




As for current side, win in 3 days? Does that mean cook will still be captain for atleast another year? And therefore the 2015 ashes?
Personally believe it has been down to how bad India have played to how well England/cook has improved.

[FattusCattus]

Vince isn't an opener is he? Who will open?

[Gingerbusiness]

Vince isn't an opener is he? Who will open?

Vince isn't an opener
Hales doesn't have the temperament

Can only assume Root will open - but if that happened, why not bring in Eion Morgan?

England's philosophy should be to stick with players and develop. Worked for the Aussies after the 'legends' team retired. Robson, if he is considered the future, should continue to be in there. You'd not want to throw another 'to the wolves' just for the sake of it.

[WalkingWicket37]

Vince is a middle order player, Hales should be given a chance in all formats IMO.
Root has cemented his place in the middle order, having not batted well as an opener (minus Lord's vs Australia) or at number 3.

Feel for Morgan in a way, apparenty he was told he was next in line once KP was sacked, then the coach changes and he's not got near the side.

[trypewriter]

What I am wary about, ref selection/selectors is going back to the bad old days. By that I mean giving some players a wealth of opportunities whilst discarding others in a cavalier fashion after very few games. It always looked to me as if the selectors were willing some players to succeed whilst willing others to fail.

[skip1973]

No one thought Warner would become a test player, if Hales is in form he should get a crack.

[El Nino]

Would definitely be sticking with Robson

[Manormanic]

I disagree slightly as regards Root - I thought he looked okay at the top of the order before being moved to accommodate Carberry, but he definitely looks a better bet at five and, if he is ordained as the next skipper as many believe, then he is going to find that job a lot easier for not having to bat in the top three as well.

Will Robson go?  Not sure - it's a tricky call because we only have five tests after this series before the next Ashes.  He doesn't quite convince, but has done okay at times and should improve for experience.  Vince will not open in tests and Hales, for all he has done well, would be more likely to be blooded down the order.  Lyth is probably next cab off the rank, but one wonders whether his cards are already marked...

[smilley792]

Vince is a middle order player, Hales should be given a chance in all formats IMO.
Root has cemented his place in the middle order, having not batted well as an opener (minus Lord's vs Australia) or at number 3.

Feel for Morgan in a way, apparenty he was told he was next in line once KP was sacked, then the coach changes and he's not got near the side.

Vince may well be a middle order player 4 day. But he opens short stuff.

Root is an opener, ballance a middle order player now at 3. England really dint care for positions. So u wouldn't be surprised if vince did open.

But personally I'd take hales.

[compstallcc]

Adam Lyth for me, consistently scores runs and gets big scores too. A natural opener who has always been flirting with a call up when on form. Also a fantastic fielder.

[Manormanic]

Vince may well be a middle order player 4 day. But he opens short stuff.

Root is an opener, ballance a middle order player now at 3. England really dint care for positions. So u wouldn't be surprised if vince did open.

But personally I'd take hales.

Root moving down the order makes perfect sense, as outlined above.  Ballance I'm less concerned about than I was at the time because I've since learned that he had asked to bat up the order at Yorkshire numerous times and been rebuffed.  But there is little precendent for a four/five bat being translated into an opener - and were it has happened its been a nugget guy like Katich who had always batted three for their state rather than a shotmaker like Vince.