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[edge]

Love it when the media bang on about someone being brought in to play on their 'home ground' when Stoneman's probably played about 10 fc games there.

Is Woakes not fit? Still remain unconvinced by Wood as a test option and in any case he's clearly not at his best, if not Woakes then who do we bring in though.

[Jaffa]

I'm on holiday. I was looking forward to watching the final day's play in between nipping off to the pool. I feel robbed. 

[alexhilly1492]

I think Jennings and Wood are really struggling to keep their place. Ballance has probably done enough to keep his place till the end of the series, he's had three starts, just not kicked on. I would much rather see him at 4 or 5, moving Root up to 3 and perhaps Bairstow 4.

Stoneman in for Jennings and a bowler with a bit more to offer in for Wood.

Then there's the question of Dawson, and whether he is struggling or just needs time to settle in to international cricket. For me, I think we keep him in until Woakes is fit and then review how he's done.

Except ballance is still being found out in the same way as he always has been, recalled after showing no improvement to technique or desire to improve technique which is his downfall! Anyone can edge there way to 20-30 he looks like a wicket every ball!

[Byo]

This is why , as an aussie id like to see guys like chris rogers as a batting coach . Gritty , mentally tough batsmen ,who made the most of limted talent , are the best batting coaches .

He's taken Somerset's batting backwards!!!!

[six and out]

I think Jennings and Wood are really struggling to keep their place. Ballance has probably done enough to keep his place till the end of the series, he's had three starts, just not kicked on. I would much rather see him at 4 or 5, moving Root up to 3 and perhaps Bairstow 4.

Stoneman in for Jennings and a bowler with a bit more to offer in for Wood.

Then there's the question of Dawson, and whether he is struggling or just needs time to settle in to international cricket. For me, I think we keep him in until Woakes is fit and then review how he's done.

Bairstow shouldn't be in the top 5 - he maybe one of our best batters but quite simply he doesn't do well for whatever reason up there -

Test Average in each position - Overall it is - 40.5

4 - 15.0
5 - 30.1
6 - 45.9
7 - 46.5
8 - 38.0

[edge]

Bairstow shouldn't be in the top 5 - he maybe one of our best batters but quite simply he doesn't do well for whatever reason up there -

Test Average in each position - Overall it is - 40.5

4 - 15.0
5 - 30.1
6 - 45.9
7 - 46.5
8 - 38.0

This. 7 for Bairstow please, unless he hands the gloves over to someone else.

Really it's about time we picked a future prospect to bat at 5, the kind of player who's fairly young and has a long term future higher up the order at 3/4. Give someone the chance to get settled in to test matches before they make the step up to batting at 3. Not sure who the best candidates would be right now, Bell-Drummond/Northeast/Westley perhaps.

[ppccopener]

Boycott has bairstow at 7 keepers position and Ali at 8
He says neither will like it but crack on and that's that.
Selectors have to do the best thing for the team.
I have batting next test
Cook
Stoneman
Root-step up he is our best and breaks up left/right hand
Jennings
Balance if fit
Stokes
Bairstow
Ali
Broad
Ball
Anderson.

[ppccopener]

This. 7 for Bairstow please, unless he hands the gloves over to someone else.

Really it's about time we picked a future prospect to bat at 5, the kind of player who's fairly young and has a long term future higher up the order at 3/4. Give someone the chance to get settled in to test matches before they make the step up to batting at 3. Not sure who the best candidates would be right now, Bell-Drummond/Northeast/Westley perhaps.

If bairstow was a specialist batsman Ben foakes would be in the frame maybe

[billyb]

Why is our test side suddenly full of debutants and not-quite-readies when after India we thought we had a team sorted?

[Pilgrim]

I agree with giving batsman a chance but I really don't think Jennings and Ballance are good enough. We want to win this series so I think changes have to be made. We only really won the first test because the South Africans were so poor. I'd change Jennings, Balance and Dawson (would love Woakes in for Wood too but fitness prevents this).
Stoneman has to come in I think to open with Cook and ideally Root move to 3. I would then bring in Hales to bat in the middle order as he can do it at international level and deserves another chance just not at the top of the order (and will do better than Balance whatever). I'd either then stick with Jennings or give Westley a go who looks a good player every time I have seen him:
Cook
Stoneman
Root
Hales
Westley/Jennings
Bairstow
Stokes
Ali
Broad
Wood
Anderson

[Sam]

Where's the random support for Hales come from from a few on this forum? Struggled in his first stint in test cricket and now struggled in the few games he's played in division 2 of the county championship this season.

[Mr_Orange]

Ballance set to miss the 3rd Test with a broken finger

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2017/07/18/gary-ballance-miss-third-south-africa-test-broken-finger/

[six and out]

Ballance set to miss the 3rd Test with a broken finger

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2017/07/18/gary-ballance-miss-third-south-africa-test-broken-finger/

so looks like Stoneman will definitely open with Cook and Jennings to 3.

So just a decision on what to do lower down with the make up of the team - i really hope that Bairstow and Mo drop down and we play an extra batter - whoever it is!

But something tells me that Stoneman will be the only new batter at the Oval 

And if they are going to play 2 spinners surely they must look at Crane soon - if they aren't convinced by Rashid

But again something tells me Dawson will be playing 


 

[ppccopener]

Ballance fit to play at th Oval.

I've given up trying to select a team!  Stoneman will come in but for who? If we leave out Dawson the two spinners plan is busted before it starts.

Presuming ballance and Jennings don't get dropped Stoneman is going to have to come in for a bowler.....

I don't think like @six and out England want to make too many changes-we generally don't

[smilley792]

Ballance fit to play at th Oval.

I've given up trying to select a team!  Stoneman will come in but for who? If we leave out Dawson the two spinners plan is busted before it starts.

Presuming ballance and Jennings don't get dropped Stoneman is going to have to come in for a bowler.....

I don't think like @six and out England want to make too many changes-we generally don't

Ballance not fit. It's broken and he's definitely out of the oval test.