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[smilley792]

Theyve already said Ali will open. Which rules out bell 2 Taylor 3 and ali 7.


I doubt very much Taylor will be at 7 or stokes will move.

So it'll be
Cook
Ali
Bell
Root
Taylor
Stokes
Bairstow
Rashid
A n other
Broad
Anderson


If a n other is Samir Patel that'll throw spanner in works for line up. If he goes 8 and Rashid 9 be a long batting line up(if everyone scores runs, if Ali bell and stokes fail it be as short as ever)
 

[Manormanic]

Taylor St 5 or 6 is good, it's where he should bat and will hopefully hit runs so goodenjos can't retake the spot

Hmmm, but as we saw with Prior, that's not how this works - the management have a "preferred" keeper (now Buttler) who will start a series in most circumstances.  So by dropping him for one game they've taken Bairstow from encumbent middle order player to stand in keeper.  Which is the way he has been treated throughout his test career to date, which is not fair on him - nor is it fair on anyone else as he will keep getting half chances rather than being given time to prove yay or nay that he is worthy of a place in the side (in either role).

[ProCricketer1982]

Hmmm, but as we saw with Prior, that's not how this works - the management have a "preferred" keeper (now Buttler) who will start a series in most circumstances.  So by dropping him for one game they've taken Bairstow from encumbent middle order player to stand in keeper.  Which is the way he has been treated throughout his test career to date, which is not fair on him - nor is it fair on anyone else as he will keep getting half chances rather than being given time to prove yay or nay that he is worthy of a place in the side (in either role).

Completely agree, I hope bairstow gets sa and the next series at least to prove himself. Jos shouldn't come back to tests until he avg's 50+ over a season in Lvcc div 1 (not that scoring Lvcc runs means much)

[WalkingWicket37]

Completely agree, I hope bairstow gets sa and the next series at least to prove himself. Jos shouldn't come back to tests until he avg's 50+ over a season in Lvcc div 1 (not that scoring Lvcc runs means much)

You say that scoring runs in the Championship doesn't mean much, but if he doesn't score that many runs in the Championship that could tell the selectors a lot...

[Aussie In England]

Ali is a conundrum - he isn't the best spinner in the country by a long chalk but...all the ones that are better are either in their late 30s (Batty), horribly one dimensional misfits(Panesar, Kerrigan), or leg spinners.  Yes, Rashid is a better bowler in second innings conditions but England have made it clear that they are not prepared to use their pace attack the way Yorkshire do to protect him early doors and see him as the second spinner so...

What would you do?  Ali is a decent counterattacking number 6-8 in international cricket (okay, if I were being pedantic I'd say so will Rashid be in time), doesn't let anyone down in the field and has improved markedly as a bowler.  For the time being, especially in English conditions where seam is more prevalent, he does a job and does it reasonably well.  Whether he should be in the team in Australia next time round (no - he'd get murdered) or even in South Africa (no - four seamers plus Rashid is plenty) is a different matter.  Mid term, I suspect the hope is that Ansari lives up to early promise and gives them the option of a more solid version of this six man attack, taking Ali's spot.

Bigger problem here is that England are about to extend the Jonny Bairstow problem.  Whats the betting poor Jonny gets shunted down to seven despite doing well at five just because that's where the keeper bats, goddamn it.   Since coming back into the team he's done well (better than anyone outside Cook and Root, that is to say) but this move will result in us still not knowing what his role should be or if he is quite good enough.

Can't wait to see Rashid bowl his dross at AB de Villiers...

[ProCricketer1982]

Can't wait to see Rashid bowl his dross at AB de Villiers...

Lyon will also be amusing

[rickjames]

I imagine it'll be back to one spinner by the time SA comes around...

[ppccopener]

I imagine it'll be back to one spinner by the time SA comes around...

If that is the case it will be interesting seeing whether rashid stays in at the expense of Ali.if your playing as a spinner we need the one likely to take most wickets.Ali appears pretty un threatening so far.
He's not an opener whatever happens tomorrow and no way he could open against true pace in SA.
Which leaves England with a bit of a problem.
You would think for both to play either one of bell or Taylor misses out and you still don't have a proper opener in.
What happens if rashid gets a hatful in Sharjah? Gets left out of the next test?

[Aussie In England]

Lyon will also be amusing

England would give their left nut for a spinner like Lyon...

[Seniorplayer]

England would give their left nut for a spinner like Lyon...

More rubbish from everyone's favourite Aussie.

[WalkingWicket37]

England would give their left nut for a spinner like Lyon...

They have one, he's called Moeen Ali! 

[ProCricketer1982]

England would give their left nut for a spinner like Lyon...

We Already have a dog toffee spinner in Ali, advantage is he can biff a bit at 8'unlike hapless Lyon. Keep it coming

[Rob580]

England would give their left nut for a spinner like Lyon...

He's just a poor mans Nathan Hauritz......

[ScottParko]

The way Beefy has spoke recently I reckon they will play Fat boy to replace Wood for the extra spin.

Although I'm a massive Durham/Stokes up the order fan, Taylor should be as far up the order as possible! Personally I would have Taylor at 3 Bell at 5 Bairstow 6 and my man Stokes dropping down to 7. I suspect though it will sort of be direct replacements with Taylor at 5 to replace Jonny who moves to 7 as the keeper.

[Aussie In England]

We Already have a dog toffee spinner in Ali, advantage is he can biff a bit at 8'unlike hapless Lyon. Keep it coming

Lyon hapless? You've got him confused with Someone else...Lyon's gonna end up with 400 Test poles.