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[smilley792]

Its interesting how little some of the supposed experts on here seem to know about the players they are talking up!

Lets start with Root.  Its a misnomer to say that he was a specialist opener at Yorkshire.  He batted there for a while, yes, but that was more to do with it being the first vacancy that came up in the side than any particular desire on his part (the debutant was hardly going to go past McGrath, Gale, Jacques, Bairstow etc).  Once he became a solid first choice...apart from two games at the start of the 2013 season, he has not opened for Yorkshire in any form of cricket since - we had a specialist (Lees) and a manufactured guy in peak form (Lyth).
Its a similar problem to Balance - who has been cast as a top three bat when he is naturally suited to 5/6

Should he go up the order now?  I'd say no - we're blessed with guys who should bat 5/6/7 (Bairstow, Stokes, Taylor, Balance, Buttler, Vince) and weak in the top four - if he is making runs at four, leave him there. 

Should Hales, Compton or Taylor be dropped?  Whilst I don't believe that Hales is the answer to the opening problem, Compton looks better at three and neither should be easily discarded - much as Lyth is the better player, he proved that you can drop players way too soon.  Taylor is vulnerable - not because he doesn't deserve a few more games, but because you get the feeling that Bairstow is coming up short as a keeper.  If Buttler starts the year well, he may come back, and YJB is much the better bet at five.

The 4 times I played against root(3 vs collegiate and one vs Yorkshire academy) root opened.

He was an opener the majority off his youth so unsure why he wasn't an opener at Yorkshire by choice merely forced there as only chance???

[Batbuddy99]

I have a feeling he was opening because he had a great technique but when he was young he couldn't get it off the square, so he could get the most runs opening, just tapping singles

However this is based on something I heard years ago and have no evidence so please don't tear this theory apart


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[rickjames]

Just play the same team, in home conditions we'll be fine. All this chop and change talk is bit bleurgh

[northernboy1987]

Just play the same team, in home conditions we'll be fine. All this chop and change talk is bit bleurgh

Gotta agree with Superfreak Slick Rick on this one, I like the idea of Ballance getting back in the side but I'd stick with the same side as much as possible through the home summer.

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[sanredrose]

I agree with rickjames and northernboy1987. England just beat SA at their home. This is a big win. They should retain the same and tweak the bowling option to suit the home conditions.

Rabada had two fantastic days and that might have routed the entire team but that doesn't warrant a change in the batting line up. Compton and Hales need to improve, but one away series isn't sufficient for judgement. Persist with them for a year and see how it improves.

SriLanka test team is terrible mess as seen in the NZ tour. It might be a good chance for all the batsman to get some runs at home ...

Advantage of test cricket, you are not building a World Cup team rather a team which can capture the elusive number 1 position. This would happen only if players are given more time to perform at international level.


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[smilley792]

Sri Lanka will see the same xi ish(woakes for Finn) baring any more injuries.


Hales, Compton and Taylor will be watched and need to have a good series.

I personally would rather see Rashid in for Ali, but unless a world class spinner appears, I unfortunately see England sticking with Ali till he retires.
Rashid will get the gig when two spinners needed.

After the Sri Lanka serious is when changes may happen.

[ProCricketer1982]

I agree with rickjames and northernboy1987. England just beat SA at their home. This is a big win. They should retain the same and tweak the bowling option to suit the home conditions.

Rabada had two fantastic days and that might have routed the entire team but that doesn't warrant a change in the batting line up. Compton and Hales need to improve, but one away series isn't sufficient for judgement. Persist with them for a year and see how it improves.

SriLanka test team is terrible mess as seen in the NZ tour. It might be a good chance for all the batsman to get some runs at home ...

Advantage of test cricket, you are not building a World Cup team rather a team which can capture the elusive number 1 position. This would happen only if players are given more time to perform at international level.


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So you persist with hales, he slaps very very very poor bowling around for some runs and everyone crows about how great he is.. Then along comes decent Oppos again and he's found wanting... What's the point of taking anything from runs when against poor attacks or flat wickets?? You judge people on e hard runs, not the easy average inflating ones .. Voges being a prime recent example

[northernboy1987]

So you persist with hales, he slaps very very very poor bowling around for some runs and everyone crows about how great he is.. Then along comes decent Oppos again and he's found wanting... What's the point of taking anything from runs when against poor attacks or flat wickets?? You judge people on e hard runs, not the easy average inflating ones .. Voges being a prime recent example

Is there not the possibilty that easy runs could boost confidence leading to an improvement in their all round game? I honestly don't know whether Hales is cut out for test cricket and I understand why you're dubious (understatement of the year!) about him but he does strike me as the kind of player who suffers from a lack of confidence in his own ability and would improve (whether he would improve enough remains to be seen) with a decent run in the side.

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[FattusCattus]

I'm coming round to this way of thinking - keep the same side for the first couple of tests at least, especially if Finn is fit. He;s gonna get 250 + test wickets that boy!

However, I suspect that pressure will be bought to bear if Vince / Ansari / Roy / Lythe ? Ballance score a pile of runs.

Could also be interesting if Ansari and Rashid pick up wickets too!

[northernboy1987]

I'm coming round to this way of thinking - keep the same side for the first couple of tests at least, especially if Finn is fit. He;s gonna get 250 + test wickets that boy!

However, I suspect that pressure will be bought to bear if Vince / Ansari / Roy / Lythe ? Ballance score a pile of runs.

Could also be interesting if Ansari and Rashid pick up wickets too!

I like the look of Vince and I agree 100% regarding Finn, looks a class act since he came back! For my money I'd play Rashid over Ali but I understand why we don't risk it.

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[uknsaunders]

We have a world class spinner and if I was bayliss I would be spending the majority of the summer getting him a game and making sure he's back to his best. You win with finger spin in India and the only way we aren't going to get thrashed is if India can't afford to doctor the pitches. They won't do that if Panesar plays. Take ali and ansari but I see rashid as more an ashes option on harder decks.

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[rickjames]

We're talking about India already? That series isn't for another year!

Regarding spinners we're still living in a dreamland where we had both Swann and Panesar who were once in a generation players

[sanredrose]

So you persist with hales, he slaps very very very poor bowling around for some runs and everyone crows about how great he is.. Then along comes decent Oppos again and he's found wanting... What's the point of taking anything from runs when against poor attacks or flat wickets?? You judge people on e hard runs, not the easy average inflating ones .. Voges being a prime recent example

I don't deny the fact that Hales made mistakes. But showing him the door just after one series that too against SA is not fair. If openers are to be judged like this, then no one will last for more than a single test series !! Series against SL can help him build confidence ... It's not about runs, it about giving them more chances ...

[Number4]

Seeing as I haven't been able to get on the forum for 24 hours I have to say what an extremely poor effort from England. Rabada humiliated the batting 2 innings in a row.. Poor show from England... I'm sure you will all say "oh well we won the series". Sorry doesn't cut it with me boys... That was just plain terrible

[uknsaunders]

Seeing as I haven't been able to get on the forum for 24 hours I have to say what an extremely poor effort from England. Rabada humiliated the batting 2 innings in a row.. Poor show from England... I'm sure you will all say "oh well we won the series". Sorry doesn't cut it with me boys... That was just plain terrible

Totally agree, first the Aussies now SA. Not sure why we are making the results look closer than they should. Nice weakness to have though, losing dead rubbers ;-)