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[ElPerro]

I hope that Ansari gets to play this week!
I don't think they will consider dropping Ali, so would honestly prefer them to play Ansari over Batty. The main reason being that Batty is not a long term prospect and therefore you need to test the younger players you are looking to bed in to the team in all conditions.
I am hoping that the selectors brought Batty along to offer advice and give Ansari and the other spinners someone to emulate and take advice from!

if you're looking for a series to test a younger spinner then you'd like to think they'd go for the Bangladesh series over the India one, although nowadays Bangladesh are no push overs at home.

I can definitely see the logic in playing Batty though, yes it might be a short term fix but you're not doing long tours of Bangladesh and India every winter so for me it makes sense. If you're playing three spinners there's even more reason to get him in. I'd be surprised if England don't play Ali, more so because he's one of the better players of spin who should then bowl if it's really turning because let's be honest he can't hold up an end.

If you play Batty you're more sure of a safe pair of hands to control an end in comparison to Ansari or Rashid and then it's a toss up as to who do you think will get you more wickets out of those two.

[smilley792]

Duckett with more runs. 60 from 100 balls at tea.
Hameed doing okay at the other end on 26.



Duckett scoring quickly and well, i know there just warm ups, but he's opening and scoring at a rate I was expecting hales to when he came into test cricket.

I will say this, duckett and hameed have already finished hales test career. His decisions not to travel is seeing him drop like a stone down the opening pecking order.

[Johnny]

By all accounts Hales was dropped from the test team before he made that decision anyway.
Post-Cook, could Duckett and Hameed become the next stand out English opening partnership?

[northernboy1987]

Joe Root is that good his scoring is defying physics!!! Unless he hit three 4's then ran a 12 I suppose.

[alexhilly1492]

Duckett, retired injured? Please tell me that's heat related and nothing more serious!

[northernboy1987]

Duckett, retired injured? Please tell me that's heat related and nothing more serious!

I wouldn't read too much into it, as you can see from the rest of the scoresheet, the BBC don't put too much effort into keeping track of the warm up games.

[WalkingWicket37]

Duckett, retired injured? Please tell me that's heat related and nothing more serious!

Might be retired "injured" so it goes down as a not out, rather than retired out which would reduce his average 

[smilley792]

Ducket merely retired.


Root and bairstow gone. Jos the boss in. Time to stake a claim!



Watching the highlights on sky news earlier, Bangladesh looking to rough up hammed, lots of short stuff. Took a few to gloves and shoulder but just getting on with it. I like the fight in him!

[smilley792]

Might be retired "injured" so it goes down as a not out, rather than retired out which would reduce his average 

Won't effect average, as England are playing all there squad it's not classed as a real game.

[ppccopener]

im struggling to get joe root in the final 11

think I need another coffee   

seriously hammed has got it...I hope we do pick him and duckett has got huge potential...I think test cricket thou he is a bit lower down maybe to start with. when Cook retires there will be a slot available

[petehosk]

Keeping the previous ODI's and performances today in mind, I am thinking....

Cook
Hammeed
Root
Duckett
Bairstow
Stokes
Ali
Woakes
Rashid
Batty
Ball

I am thinking that Ball looks to be on great form whereas Broad needs to get going still. And play the guy on form!
Obviously Bairstow and Ali may swap but I prefer Ali lower down the order!
Part of me wants to "rest" Ali and put Ansari in, as Ansari looks to be a far better bowling option and his batting is on a par?
If you are going to test these guys in spinning conditions, then test them against Banglandesh to see how they do......as India should be a tougher test!!

I would now hope that Ansari will get the spot with Batty out. And I dare say that Broad will be favoured over Ball, although Ball looks in very good nick!!!
And I am praying that Ballance is NOT given the spot over Hameed or Duckett!!!!!

[smilley792]

I would now hope that Ansari will get the spot with Batty out. And I dare say that Broad will be favoured over Ball, although Ball looks in very good nick!!!
And I am praying that Ballance is NOT given the spot over Hameed or Duckett!!!!!

Gary ballance currently suring up that middle order.........

[petehosk]

Gary ballance currently suring up that middle order.........

So who would you drop so that you can play Balance?
Minimum of 3 seamers required (Stokes, Woakes and Broad/Ball)
Minimum of 3 spinners required (Ali, Rashid and Ansari/Batty)
A keeper (Bairstow.
Then Cook and Root are absolutes. So the only place you could play him is instead of Duckett or Hameed, but both are looking really strong.
The only option would be to open with Duckett and play Balance at 4, which defeats the object of trying Hameed as the new proper opening partner to Cook?
And can't drop Duckett who looks to be in amazing form.

I guess there wil be some tough choices to make if Balance hits a decent score today!!

[smilley792]

Duckett 60 retired, hameed 57 retired and ballance 36notnout the only 3 batsman that looked like they turned up today as England all out.


Not sure if ballance is the man, but I think he will play, instead of who I'm not sure.


Maybe the selectors are hoping cook asks to stay at home with the new baby. Problem solved.......

[northernboy1987]

Maybe the selectors are hoping cook asks to stay at home with the new baby. Problem solved.......

I thought I heard on the radio earlier that Cook has flown back to Bangladesh today. Not 100% on that though.