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[smilley792]

I'm glad your not in charge.

[brokenbat]

I'm glad your not in charge.

haha, me too. I do think one of the spinners needs to go though. Pak score all their runs vs Eng spinners.

[RightArmLedge]

I'm glad your not in charge.

Have to agree haha

[Stuey]

Interesting Bayliss says Taylor is one of England's best players of spin. It might have been a good idea to put him in the side earlier than the 3rd test Trevor !

[ProCricketer1982]

If I were in charge of England,

1. Keep Butler (too risky giving JB the gloves - may affect his batting), BUT tell him to play like a t20. Innovate and play some unorthodox shots vs the spinners (Sarfraz Ahmed did this to completely neutralize Herath vs SL)
2. Everyone else needs to graft his innings - learn from Cook, Root and Rashid
3. Have Ian Bell open with Cook (its a quick fix, but Ali is just no good up there)
4. Consider dropping Rashid for Samit, or a pacer - he's currently not good enough to trouble Pak (Abu Dhabi was aberration - Pakistan basically self destructed...won't happen again).

Why keep Ali over rashid?? Rashid has bowled better than Ali in this series so you could argue drop Ali.. At least rashid showed fight

[brokenbat]

Why keep Ali over rashid?? Rashid has bowled better than Ali in this series so you could argue drop Ali.. At least rashid showed fight

sure, I agree with that. point is...pakistan has just decimated the england spinners, and will continue to do so. the seamers are proving to be a headache for most of the pak batsmen.

swann and panesar were legitimately great bowlers - but right now, you gotta focus on your strength (pace).

[ProCricketer1982]

sure, I agree with that. point is...pakistan has just decimated the england spinners, and will continue to do so. the seamers are proving to be a headache for most of the pak batsmen.

swann and panesar were legitimately great bowlers - but right now, you gotta focus on your strength (pace).

Right, but why keep Ali the poorer spinner over rashid? Especially when rashid has also shown more apptitude to play test innings already than biff biff mo

[smilley792]

Rashids ability to pick shah for so long was quite amazing.
Some of the leaves he did that span away from the stumps that would have been hitting kept me on edge of my seat!!

He's clearly not a batsmen, first innings proved that, but as a number 8, he will be an asset with the bat.

Surely his spin can only improve??

[brokenbat]

Right, but why keep Ali the poorer spinner over rashid? Especially when rashid has also shown more apptitude to play test innings already than biff biff mo

haha..i said i agree with you. drop ali.

[rickjames]

Sounds like Buttler is going to be dropped and Taylor in, at 5 I guess? http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan-v-england-2015-16/content/story/934212.html

[edge]

Rashids ability to pick shah for so long was quite amazing.
Some of the leaves he did that span away from the stumps that would have been hitting kept me on edge of my seat!!

He's clearly not a batsmen, first innings proved that, but as a number 8, he will be an asset with the bat.

Surely his spin can only improve??

The leaves were amazing, never seen anything like it! First class average of just under 36 with 10 tons mind, very similar stats to Ali and mostly playing in div 1. Moeen has done alright so far but on current showing, I'd have Rashid. Potential for improvement, more of a threat of actually getting batsmen out too. Delivered bigtime in his one attempt at bowling a side out on the last day of a game so far, and we've got Root and Stokes providing plenty of bowling if Rashid isn't quite there in first innings control at present. Hopefully he plays plenty of tests and improves!

[Centurion]

Everyone is going to hate me for this, but drop Bell for Taylor...
And/or drop Buttler for Hales

[jezza39]

Sounds like Buttler is going to be dropped and Taylor in, at 5 I guess?

Bell should be 5 and Taylor 3 imo.

[kdale6]

i'd drop Ali and Buttler

Think of all the good offies over the years and one thing they've all had in common is being able to blend movement/drift with impeccable control - Ali simply doesn't have the control and after nearly 18 months of test cricket doesn't seem to be improving on it either. If the ability to impart a bit of control as well as chip in with valuable wickets falls to one of the seamers I think Rashid has got more to work with moving forward and could be more of a weapon for England in the future

Buttler, well enough has been said and it's obvious he just needs a break to refresh, gather his thoughts, maybe go express himself have a change of scenery in the Big Bash or something. He'll come back, far too many people speak so highly of him and it's evident the talent is there. Doesn't strike me as being afraid of some graft to sort it out either.

[tom line]

I would drop bell and buttler,  move Ali down to somewhere into the middle order and then bring hales in to open and Taylor in at 3 bairstow dropping down to 7 therefore
Cook
Hales
Taylor
Root
Ali
Stokes
Bairstow
Rashid
Broad
Wood
Anderson
Still keeps the two spin options but brings in a more dynamic batsmen to open and at number 3 as well as adding more balance to the side in my opinion as buttler is completely out of form and just needs to go and score some runs in a t20 comp or such


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