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[Buzz]

Hales 174th run today takes him past 1000 runs for the season!

Top trolling from Hales!

[ppccopener]

Has bell ever opened in tests?

Not sure but presume your thinking if Lyth was dropping, Bell moves up(again) and someone else slots in to the middle(it's getting packed in that middle order!!)

Hales is giving it a right hammering for Notts today.England might look at Bell opening with Cook and slotting Hales in at 3 or 4 maybe........

Hales hasn't scored massive runs this year in the Championship but as has been pointed out on the forum, Warner was a one day player now a very good test player.
Personally speaking, and this won't be popular on here I don't think(!), if Lyth gets dropped I would move Bell up and bring back Balance.

As I said I don't expect that to be a popular view

[ppccopener]

Top trolling from Hales!

alright Buzz alright we are hearing ya!!!

[SwingAndMiss]

Not sure but presume your thinking if Lyth was dropping, Bell moves up(again) and someone else slots in to the middle(it's getting packed in that middle order!!)

Hales is giving it a right hammering for Notts today.England might look at Bell opening with Cook and slotting Hales in at 3 or 4 maybe........

Hales hasn't scored massive runs this year in the Championship but as has been pointed out on the forum, Warner was a one day player now a very good test player.
Personally speaking, and this won't be popular on here I don't think(!), if Lyth gets dropped I would move Bell up and bring back Balance.

As I said I don't expect that to be a popular view

I was thinking bell up to open, hales in at 3, or bell opening, root and bairstow 3 and 4, Ali 5, and Rashid or a.n. other spinner in.

[beaver5]

You must be joking. balance should never be allowed near the England team again.  Talentless plodder! 

[ppccopener]

Well, can't think of another opener ive wanted to do better than Lyth...but......I don't think he is going to make it so youre right, we could well have another option for the UAE tour.
If Bell moves up yes we could play 2 spinners, which we probably need against Pakistan on those wickets.

Hales has done his cause no harm, much to the joy of Buzz!

he is currently 186 no.... he can certainly bat and does go big when he is in.

We are playing a more aggressive and adventurous type of cricket, maybe Hales slots into the current style.....

[ppccopener]

You must be joking. balance should never be allowed near the England team again.  Talentless plodder! 

I did say it wouldn't be popular!!

[edge]

Hales hasn't scored massive runs this year in the Championship but as has been pointed out on the forum, Warner was a one day player now a very good test player.

He's only the 4th highest runscorer and currently on track for his second double ton... Not bad, particularly when your home ground is Trent Bridge.

I'd try and give Lyth the time to find his feet a little more, suspect Hales is in with a very good chance of making the winter test tour squads though.

[smilley792]

Ballance currently 54*

[windyroad]

It wasn't long ago that people were calling for Bell's head.  Now they talk about moving him up to the top of the order to accommodate Hales.  I love the fickle observer.

[ppccopener]

He's only the 4th highest runscorer and currently on track for his second double ton... Not bad, particularly when your home ground is Trent Bridge.

I'd try and give Lyth the time to find his feet a little more, suspect Hales is in with a very good chance of making the winter test tour squads though.

fair point, Hales has more runs than I thought... I think will make the squad too,he is a shoe in for the one dayers

[ppccopener]

It wasn't long ago that people were calling for Bell's head.  Now they talk about moving him up to the top of the order to accommodate Hales.  I love the fickle observer.

some were yes, not from me thou, Bell has 7500 test runs you don't get those in the sweetie shop as someone once said.

How much more time would you give Lyth?  lots of us on here really hoping he did something.. do England keep going with him for the UAE tour?

[windyroad]

Not aimed at you specifically but the more general state of affairs; the problem of choosing the least worst option.  Player selection is always going to be a contentious point and where players consistently under perform we, as fans, demand change.

For much of the summer I was like you of the opinion of retaining Bell in the hope that he would once again recover some kind of form.  To a certain extent he has-showing glimpses of his undoubted class-but not convincingly or consistently so.

As for Lyth I am loath to give him anymore time but without pressure from below I am left scratching my head.  Calls to bring Ali up the order to open or bat three seem, to me, premature while I feel that calls to move Bell up the order to open would not be conducive to stability or scores. 

[ppccopener]

Not aimed at you specifically but the more general state of affairs; the problem of choosing the least worst option.  Player selection is always going to be a contentious point and where players consistently under perform we, as fans, demand change.

For much of the summer I was like you of the opinion of retaining Bell in the hope that he would once again recover some kind of form.  To a certain extent he has-showing glimpses of his undoubted class-but not convincingly or consistently so.

As for Lyth I am loath to give him anymore time but without pressure from below I am left scratching my head.  Calls to bring Ali up the order to open or bat three seem, to me, premature while I feel that calls to move Bell up the order to open would not be conducive to stability or scores. 

fair points....in fact if you read BBC text they are talking about Ali moving up, he bats 3 for Worcestershire...

It's a tricky one, I don't think myself Lyth is test class, as much as us fans want him to be...and i'm definatley in that camp.
Bell I reckon has a couple of years left, but I can understand those who think he goes missing when it's tough

[edge]

Wouldn't even contemplate Ali batting higher tbh, not good enough to bat that high in tests. Doesn't even have that great a record there in 1st class, remember he was picked as a spinner not a batsman.