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[ppccopener]

Does anyone else think we are actually a batsman light in the squad? By this i mean are reserve batsman was always going to be an opener so therefore if we had top/middle order trouble then the order would have to switch etc..

Hmmmm not really but I see your point. I thought we would play Hameed and Duckett would bat 4 even thou he does open..Butler is on the tour not just the one dayers..

Duckett did really well today we were on top when he was batting.

I know there will be many who do not agree with this but if Butler plays and keeps the balance of the side sorts itself out.

No one is goi to argue( I bet someone does!!)  bairstow is not one of the best batsmen in the Country- he plays as a batsman.

It was suggested on tv today, butler and bairstow share wicketkeeping duties...a bit unusual that but you never know.

We have allrounders who def can bat so batting it looks covered. ansari is a good bat if he plays.

[Seniorplayer]

I think you can have to many all rounders  unless of course they are Bothams or Flintoffs bits and pieces players rather than batting or bowling specialists  it  can make  a team weaker

[csnew]

why would you pick ali and batty? India potentially have no left handers in their line up

[six and out]

I wonder considering the ineffectiveness of our spinners and failings of our batters could you go in with something like this...

Cook
Hameed
Root
Duckett
Mo
YBJ
Stokes
Butler
Woakes
Broad
Batty

It's right and left hand throughout with batters down to 8. Then just have 2 spinners (you could pick ansari or rashid instead of Batty if you really wanted) as 3 have been useless anyway.

[Manormanic]

Thinking about it, and ruling out the sensible option of ringing Jack Leach at home and begging forgiveness, I''d go:

Cook
Duckett
Root
Ali
Bairstow (w)
Stokes
Buttler
Woakes
Rashid
Broad
Batty

Whilst I agree with csnew that India's lack of lefties mitigates against having two off spinners, even with his improved second innings performance I didn't see anything from Ansari to suggest he is anywhere near the required level. 

[six and out]

Thinking about it, and ruling out the sensible option of ringing Jack Leach at home and begging forgiveness, I''d go:

Cook
Duckett
Root
Ali
Bairstow (w)
Stokes
Buttler
Woakes
Rashid
Broad
Batty

Whilst I agree with csnew that India's lack of lefties mitigates against having two off spinners, even with his improved second innings performance I didn't see anything from Ansari to suggest he is anywhere near the required level.

If they drop Ballance this is the side I can see them picking. Or perhaps ansari ahead of rashid.

[jamielsn15]

They were never going to pick Leach, due to the kerrigan effect and especially when Chris Rogers himself said he wasn't ready.

Cook is apparently very averse to sharing keeping duties and to be honest, why change bairstow's role or position when he's on course to being England's highest run scorer in a calendar year? His keepings improved and he's scoring runs. Leave him be and play buttler as a batsman if we must. I'd go with Hameed at the top and duckett at 4. I think they may go back to batty for experience and control. The former because we forget that for years we've had players with loads of test experience, case in point winning in India in 2012. Players who could call on shed loads of nouse...

The latter as we cannot afford to leak runs. Expect defensive fields for the spinners and one of rashid and ansari to miss out

Cook
Hameed
Root
Duckett
Ali
Stokes
Bairstow
Woakes
Ansari
Broad
Batty

Problem with picking buttler at this stage is he's missed out when he was on fire after the odis. He's been sat watching for two weeks...

[Buzz]

Can I remind people that in India you need a hitter in the top 3, Duckett should stay opening!

[jamielsn15]

Not saying he shouldn't,  but why bother taking hameed to India if he's not going to open, knowing that you need a hitter?

[six and out]

I reckon they will stick with duckett opening after that knock today definitely. But that then gives them 2 choices really i think -
1. Stick with Ballance and hope he comes good or..
2. Drop ballance and Pick Butler as a batter

All the other options don't leave the side with enough batting considering whats been happening.

[smilley792]

I agree with the above.


The tour of Bangladesh has shown two things, they want duckett to open in India, and today he cemented that spot.
And two that ballance isn't up to it current. And with buttler the only middle rider batsmen in the squad, he is surely going to get the gig.


My eleven for the 9th of Nov

Cook-w
Duckett
Root
Ali
Bairstow-w
Stokes
Buttler
Woakes
Rashid
Broad
Batty.


Bairstow at 5 as they won't want him to stump and be top four, and Ali at four to give him the chance to prove he can be a top order batsmen.

4 is to high for buttler! Maybe stokes will step up, but who knows.

[procricket]

Can I remind people that in India you need a hitter in the top 3, Duckett should stay opening!

Agree with your theory but I can't see him lasting too long enough to be effective.

We seem to be in the mould at the minute of all or nothing throughout the team.

[ppccopener]

I agree with the above.


The tour of Bangladesh has shown two things, they want duckett to open in India, and today he cemented that spot.
And two that ballance isn't up to it current. And with buttler the only middle rider batsmen in the squad, he is surely going to get the gig.


My eleven for the 9th of Nov

Cook-w
Duckett
Root
Ali
Bairstow-w
Stokes
Buttler
Woakes
Rashid
Broad
Batty.


Bairstow at 5 as they won't want him to stump and be top four, and Ali at four to give him the chance to prove he can be a top order batsmen.

4 is to high for buttler! Maybe stokes will step up, but who knows.

You could well be right. butler does not get in many test squads recently so it seems to me they want to play him. Otherwise there's no point dragging him round. And I'm sure Bayliss wants him in.

Slightly frustrating hameed does not look like playing but Duckett showed today he has guts to play like that. Got to keep him in.

Rashid or ansari? Not much in it is there? Ansari looks ok, he can def bat. In this match he was quite accurate.

Prepared to say I was wrong and he could be the third spinner. I don't think Rashid is trusted when it gets tight.

Cook did keep him on longer towards the end of their second innings in this game thou

[Alvaro]

This all reeks of deckchairs on the Titanic.

[ppccopener]

This all reeks of deckchairs on the Titanic.

Well as an England fan I would of taken 1-1 away in Bangladesh. Yes we should of won today but they could and probably should of won the first.

England are a good side . We are trying to blood some youngsters and away in Asia is now the hardest tour.

The ashes is no longer the ultimate test its India,/Pakistan/Sri Lanka away....

We just don't have the quality spinners other teams have. There's got to be some reshuffling because we absolutely must have the best chance possible come the first test.

And let's be honest we are not looking like even drawing in India, we have to compete thou somehow.