Print

[Manormanic]

No, I think its evidence that he would never really be considered for the job ful time.

He won't be dropped - nor should he be as of this moment. 

[jamielsn15]

Totally agree - I also don't think that whoever's picking the side for the Ashes would want to throw in another inexperienced unproven player.  Cook, Bell, Broad and Anderson provide the right amount of experience needed to bring in the new players. 

I'd be amazed if the first Ashes XI were any different to this one

[Aussie In England]

I think the noose is tightening around Ian Bell's neck. That kid Jonathan Bairstow is playing well for Yorkshire. Alex Hales is in excellent form. Surrey's Steven Davies is in magnificent form.

Should Bell fail in Nottingham and Lords, England should look to get a fresh face in.

[Alvaro]

They won't. Form is temporary etc. Mike Hussey went on a horror trot for two years between the 2009 and 2010/11 Ashes. Then what happened in Brisbane? It all clicked back into place.
Given the reasoning above, and on other threads, England hardly need any more inexperience in an already callow side. The last time Aus were in England, IRB also got a couple of runs.

[Seniorplayer]

On current form Balance stuck on the back foot on the crease good bowlers will do you all the time at any level.

[TangoWhiskey]

The problem with Ballance is that he always looks out of form, whether he is on 0 or 100. It's just so ugly to watch. He'll have the same issues as Trott I think where 50's won't count for him and people will be constantly calling for his head.

[L21]

Although I agree with the majority in that Bell or Ballance are the most likely candidates for the chop, can England really afford to start changing the team just before an Ashes series?

After the Pietersen saga and the change of management, the ECB are probably trying to regain some for some stability and get hold of the organisation before they drop to the bottom of the Test rankings.

Personally I believe the selectors need to once again look at their bowling and "bowling" attack. By this I mean they need to decide on their 3 man pace attack (Anderson, Broad and Wood) their all rounder (Stokes) and a proper spinner. Otherwise, we will be sticking with this "bowling" attack where at no point does it look like we will pick up a wicket.

Sorry to say, but we are no longer in a position where we can chuck in a part time spinner (Ali/Root). I believe cricket has moved on from batsmen who can bowl a bit at international level. Unfortunately, if you want a decent bowler, a spinner in particular, you have to accept that they will not be getting many runs.

I say all this with caution however, as there is absolutely no one in a position to be called up to the team, Rashid probably being the closest to selection, but would you really want to blood in a new player against a settled Australia team.

[RSpall]

I'm also very confused to Ali and his position/role in the side. Considering he bats at 3 for Worcestershire when he plays I can't see him really achieving much batting at 8 and being a part time spinner. Maybe they should maximise his potential and move stokes and buttler down a position? He keeps saying he will bat where he is put, but he has to be frustrated batting there!

[Seniorplayer]

Ever since 1st Botham and before and after Flintoff England have selected players who bowl and bat a bit and Ali is in that category and it does not work without a Graham Swann it's time to have a rethink.

[RSpall]

Looking at the the county cricket circuit, there isn't really an awful lot to offer in terms of a spinner that can do the same damage as Swann. Rashid is the next best thing and they are determined not to give him a game!

[Manormanic]

I think the noose is tightening around Ian Bell's neck. That kid Jonathan Bairstow is playing well for Yorkshire. Alex Hales is in excellent form. Surrey's Steven Davies is in magnificent form.

Lets be honest, there is very little chance that any of the people you've named would be the replacement if Bell were dropped, which he won't be.  Bairstow is one heckuva player but his cards have been well and truly marked after a year or more of being messed around.  Hales is not seen as being test material and Davies....nope.

If he went, it'd be for Taylor or Vince, and neither is actively better.  Not saying Bell is my favourite player - he has always seemed a bit lightweight - but he has done an awful lot for England and will get the credit as a result.  Its marginally moer likely that Balance will run out of credit, and even that is not very likely.

[RSpall]

What will England gain for playing out of form players? It is very unusual for those failures at the moment to not be performing on English soil. It's understandable that it can happen abroad, not adapting to pitches etc.

[joeljonno]

What will England gain for playing out of form players? It is very unusual for those failures at the moment to not be performing on English soil. It's understandable that it can happen abroad, not adapting to pitches etc.

You have to give the new players a chance to improve and the established players a chance to get their mojo back.

Ballance has been seen to have a weakness, it is how he works on it and counteracts that.

Pietersen had a run of 10 innings without a 50 so all players have their ruts. It's how they get out of them that is key. 


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[RSpall]

Cook had nearly 3 years without a century. I bet you zero countries would have stood by a player out of form for three years. Just personally opinion but there are better players out there to give a crack. Ok we won the first test but just got battered today!

[jamesisapayne]

You have to give the new players a chance to improve and the established players a chance to get their mojo back.

Ballance has been seen to have a weakness, it is how he works on it and counteracts that.

Pietersen had a run of 10 innings without a 50 so all players have their ruts. It's how they get out of them that is key. 


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

At last, a post with a healthy dose of common sense