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[windyroad]

Not nightwatchman practice for SA?

[kdale6]

They didn't, scorecard says hey did but they shook hands and went off as Taylor was out.

aah ok got it, thanks for clearing that up

[ScottParko]

Finn out for the first test and Vaughan saying we should probably leave Anderson out, does that have any effect on people's XI? I did consider leaving Jimmy out of mine but with Finn out he has to play.

Cook
Hales
Bell
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Ali
Rashid
Wood
Broad
Anderson

Harsh on Taylor but that's my 11 for the first test

[uknsaunders]

Finn out for the first test and Vaughan saying we should probably leave Anderson out, does that have any effect on people's XI? I did consider leaving Jimmy out of mine but with Finn out he has to play.

Cook
Hales
Bell
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Ali
Rashid
Wood
Broad
Anderson

Harsh on Taylor but that's my 11 for the first test

Can't see them playing 4 seamers in those conditions. Might as well play Taylor. Hales won't play, more likely Buttler will after scraping up 30 odd in the last game.

[edge]

Unfortunately it's now pretty clear that Moeen is going to open the batting. Prediction vs (what I'd pick):

Cook (Cook)
Ali (Hales)
Bell (Bell)
Root (Root)
Bairstow (Undecided between Bairstow and Taylor)
Stokes (Stokes)
Buttler (Buttler)
Rashid (Ali)
Broad (Rashid)
Wood (Broad)
Anderson (Anderson)

Still am incredibly confused why the need for 6 bowlers, we did just fine with 4 last time v Pakistan and it was the batting that let us down. Can see Taylor getting in for Buttler or Bairstow.

[FattusCattus]

I tend to agree with Hoover - I can't see the point of 4 seamers really, especially if one of them isn't Finn.

I would drop Wood or Stokes (probs Wood) and pop Taylor in.

My side would then read -

Cook
Hales
Bell
Root
Taylor
Bairstow
Stokes
Ali
Rashid
Broad
Anderson


I think we are going to need all the batting we can get - however, it would seem that the Pak leggie is struggling with a back injury, which might help things.

[ppccopener]

i actually think England are going to do far better in this series than expected...we obviously got hammered last time round.....but we do seen to be going in very bowler heavy-it's gonna be hot yes but no hotter than Australia away

James Taylor is a talent we may need his style in the middle order rather than a biffer

Hope they do find a spot for him.

I'm still a bit baffled with the Hales situation but that's been done to death on the boards here. He will obviously play in the limited over stuff.

Bowling wise if we are really going to have 6 it can't be 3 seamers(excluding stokes)-you would replace on of them with Patel in that side.

[WalkingWicket37]

Expected team vs what is like to see:

Cook* (Cook*)
Ali (Hales)
Bell (Bell)
Root (Root)
Bairstow (Taylor)
Stokes (Stokes)
Buttler+ (Bairstow+)
Rashid (Ali)
Broad (Rashid)
Wood (Broad)
Anderson (Anderson)

With Fin injured I don't see the need for 4 seamers as none of the remaining ones have the "X Factor" so to speak.
With Buttlers current form I'd like to see Bairstow given the gloves and Taylor in the middle order. As for the opener, let Ali do the job he's done well and give Hales a chance. It isn't going to happen, but it's what I'd like to see!

[FattusCattus]

With Fin injured I don't see the need for 4 seamers as none of the remaining ones have the "X Factor" so to speak.

Is there an echo in here?

[rich041187]

If Taylor doesn't play a fair part in this series its a joke and sends out the wrong message to him. He is always being told to go away and score runs which he does, then gets in to squads, scores runs (lions and odis). Then we select players out of form ahead of him!! Can just see him hardly playing, us failing, then him getting shoved in against SA where he will ultimately fail due to lack of game time. Its exactly the situation when he made his debut, coincidentally vs SA.

[WalkingWicket37]

Is there an echo in here?

Great minds think alike Fools never differ Bruce, fools never differ! 

Maybe people keep saying it because it's true, but such radical thinking may be frowned upon...

[ppccopener]

Is there an echo in here?

Let's find out, if this comes back around yes there is, ok here goes.....


BARMY ARMY!!!!!

[Buzz]

What the 9 pages of this thread tell us is that whoever plays in the first test will be a complete guess from everyone involved.

This is the kind of shocking management that we have come to expect of English sport.

The England team after winning the ashes should be the byword for "we know our bet team" and "we have a settled and experienced team". So instead of giving Hales a run 18 months ago we aren't going to pick him now when the is a vacancy, we pick Moeen - who is clearly a natural number 5 and no higher, to open but just for this tour and then say to Hales - have a go against Steyn and Morkel after we have realised that Moeen is susceptible to the short ball.

This is moronic from England.

Then we have Jos Buttler. I totally think he is going to be a superstar - but clearly he has something wrong with his batting - whether it is technical or mental I don't know (I don't have sky sports so don't get to watch it enough) but shouldn't be on this tour - he should be playing state/grade cricket in Aus or SA working out how to play and score runs again.

What the management are doing here is potentially ruining Hales, Ali and Buttler in one go.

Now let us talk about the bowling options...

Not picking Anderson is ridiculous click bait from Vaughan. Finn being injured is a direct result of being over bowled in the heat the other day - well done Ali - you still can't captain a cricket side.

Then we have Rashid and Wood and Stokes...

ARRRRGGGG - this rant could be continued, but I will stop to make myself some tea and have a deep breath or two.

[smilley792]

from aus test.

Ali will open

Rashid will replace him.

Wood will bowl as Finn injured. Everyone else as last time.

Hales and Taylor won't get a go.



Ali and buttler won't make any runs, bell and stokes not enough.

The four seamers won't do anything, but rashid will be dropped for second test as too expensive.

Changes will be made for test 3 what everyone wants(buttler dropped, hales and Taylor in and a seamer dropped rashid back in) but it be too late......

[rich041187]

But all that said...we have the ashes