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[Alvaro]

Not in ODIs

[Alvaro]

Averages don't count for much  when your out of form pick the inform guys and your more likely to win.

You pick players with experience and hope they come good. If you look at teams that win big competitions, they are won with players with an average of 80 caps or so. The basics of selection should be identify players and stick with thme and they repay your trust. History is littered with people who couldn't buy a run suddenly clicking and winning games.

[rickjames]

For what it's worth I think Roy has earned the right to open, he's been in that gig for nearly two years now and for the most part it works. Form is temporary, class permanent etc.

Not sure about playing Stokes solely as a batsman as has been mentioned, mind.

[Kulli]

Averages don't count for much  when your out of form pick the inform guys and your more likely to win.

You have to maintain a degree of consistency of selection though, if everyone feels they're playing for their place every innings you won't see the team scoring 300 very often I'd bet.

[Seniorplayer]

You pick players with experience and hope they come good. If you look at teams that win big competitions, they are won with players with an average of 80 caps or so. The basics of selection should be identify players and stick with thme and they repay your trust. History is littered with people who couldn't buy a run suddenly clicking and winning games.

There also comes a time  in most players careers regardless of how many caps  when they keep failing to Say your out of form go back to your county  score  runs and we will have you back.

[Alvaro]

Fine, but not when you've been planning for a world tournament for two years. It's not three games against the West Indies. No other England batter plays like Roy at the top of the order. Would you really drop a player with a SR of 102 after 40 games?

[Manormanic]

Fine, but not when you've been planning for a world tournament for two years. It's not three games against the West Indies. No other England batter plays like Roy at the top of the order. Would you really drop a player with a SR of 102 after 40 games?

Playing devils advocate, you are right - noone else scores singles figures every bloody game!

[Alvaro]

Indeed, five iffy ODIs in a row isn't great, but I'm confident it will come.

And for the record, I think Bairstow is a purer, better batsman, but not the type of player to replace Roy at this stage.

[richthekeeper]

did anyone else go yesterday? it was a dubious sort of honour to watch such a capitulation, but I can't believe the absolute nonsense that has been spouted about the collapse. From Broad saying "we haven't done a lot wrong" to various pundits talking about how well the Saffers bowled, am I alone in thinking it was just a case of poor shot after terrible shot?

I'm all for England playing an aggressive form of cricket but when you arrive at the crease at 20-5 you might consider being a bit more circumspect. No, just me?

[rickjames]

did anyone else go yesterday? it was a dubious sort of honour to watch such a capitulation, but I can't believe the absolute nonsense that has been spouted about the collapse. From Broad saying "we haven't done a lot wrong" to various pundits talking about how well the Saffers bowled, am I alone in thinking it was just a case of poor shot after terrible shot?

I'm all for England playing an aggressive form of cricket but when you arrive at the crease at 20-5 you might consider being a bit more circumspect. No, just me?

However much you paid, you were robbed of a drivel induced day

[Seniorplayer]

did anyone else go yesterday? it was a dubious sort of honour to watch such a capitulation, but I can't believe the absolute nonsense that has been spouted about the collapse. From Broad saying "we haven't done a lot wrong" to various pundits talking about how well the Saffers bowled, am I alone in thinking it was just a case of poor shot after terrible shot?

I'm all for England playing an aggressive form of cricket but when you arrive at the crease at 20-5 you might consider being a bit more circumspect. No, just me?

Agree it's alright saying  we want players who go hard but to keep bringing the slips into play trying to drive the pitched up ball  on or just outside off stump  is poor cricket.

[Seniorplayer]

Fine, but not when you've been planning for a world tournament for two years. It's not three games against the West Indies. No other England batter plays like Roy at the top of the order. Would you really drop a player with a SR of 102 after 40 games?

Well yes if he's out of form because they don't win you matches and you have an inform player on the sidelines
Anyway here's hoping Roy comes good as he's certain to play.

[Alvaro]

That's why it's a team game, not everyone is in form at the same time.

England are brilliant at changing thinks at the last minute in limited overs cricket... And it's always gone BRILLIANTLY

[LEACHY48]

You say ridiculous cricket but this is way England play now. Morgan has said all along that they will go hard at it and if the get rolled for 100 then so be it.

They would rather see that than boring cricket. This is one of the main reasons England have scored so many runs in ODI's

There's going hard and 'power hitting',  having attacking intent and playing your shots and then there's just being out and out silly. As a pro they should know that they cannot go in when we are 4 down and play a languishing drive in their first over having no real idea what the all is doing or the pitch for that matter.

[Seniorplayer]

That's why it's a team game, not everyone is in form at the same time.

England are brilliant at changing thinks at the last minute in limited overs cricket... And it's always gone BRILLIANTLY

Yesterday wasn't