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[Sam]

Ballance has to go before Jennings. He's had he exact same flaw in his technique exposed for the 3rd time in his 3rd stint in the side. He's either got to make changes or he won't be an international cricketer given he can't play a good quality pace attack.

Pretty sure Eskinazakis still got a while to go to be English qualified.

[LEACHY48]

Ugh what a terrible shot from cook - root got a great ball but the rest have looked bad

[Calzehbhoy]

Yeah just checked and despite having an English mum and British Passport he's not eligible to play yet.

Would go with Westley in that instance. Do think Eski will be a test regular though. Looks class.

[csnew]

Early finish on the cards here...philander this morning was class!

[justnotcricket86]

Ugh what a terrible shot from cook - root got a great ball but the rest have looked bad

Not sure that even constitutes a shot....bloody odd way to get out.

Good grab from De Kock

[smilley792]

Biggest baffling choice is Dawson for me.


We have to bowl.
Anderson
Broad
Wood
Stokes
Ali
Dawson

Plus root/jennings software desperate.

So 8 bowler's.

Yet we can't bat for (No Swearing Please)?

We have 2 proper all-rounders in Ali and stokes, time to use them to add a proper batsman to. The 11 rather than as we seem to keep doing. Adding a bowler for no apparent reason.

Cook
Hameed/robson
Jennings/stoneman
Root
Ballance/buttler
Bairstow
Stokes
Ali
Broad
Wood
Anderson

[Harry L]

I'm not keen on 2 left handers opening the batting at all. Philander has it on a string against them.

Wouldn't mind seeing Joe Clarke get a chance in the middle order either, fantastic young player.

[FattusCattus]

You've also got to look at giving the opposition too many runs on a tricky pitch and Wood & Dawson have shown less penetration than a eunuch.

[Sam]

You've also got to look at giving the opposition too many runs on a tricky pitch and Wood & Dawson have shown less penetration than a eunuch.

Wood's an injury doubt for the next test anyway apparently.

[northernboy1987]

Baffling how poor Wood's been this series so far, he's got serious wheels but hasn't really looked threatening at all.

[six and out]

Biggest baffling choice is Dawson for me.


We have to bowl.
Anderson
Broad
Wood
Stokes
Ali
Dawson

Plus root/jennings software desperate.

So 8 bowler's.

Yet we can't bat for (No Swearing Please)?

We have 2 proper all-rounders in Ali and stokes, time to use them to add a proper batsman to. The 11 rather than as we seem to keep doing. Adding a bowler for no apparent reason.

Cook
Hameed/robson
Jennings/stoneman
Root
Ballance/buttler
Bairstow
Stokes
Ali
Broad
Wood
Anderson

This is absolutely spot on.

You can debate the personnel in the team till the cows come home but until they realise that the make up of it is completely wrong it is pointless.

Why we are playing with 6 main bowlers is beyond me - in SA's 2nd innings of 104 overs Dawson bowled 11 overs! that's it, doesn't matter how many he went for etc... i am purely talking about it would only have been an extra 2 overs each for the others.

If Root/Bayliss are that worried about playing 2 spinners then have a mix of 3 and 2 of your 5 bowlers and then with the extra batsman in the side it allows you to play a more attacking spinner like Crane/Rashid

England's weakness over the past 2 years has been it's batting - it liability to a collapse - so playing 1 less batsman surely just puts extra pressure on this.

[LEACHY48]

Also doesn't help that we are practiscsllynstarting the innings 2 down with balance and Jennings currently

[Bats_Entertainment]

Also doesn't help that we are practiscsllynstarting the innings 2 down with balance and Jennings currently

That's the same Keaton Jennings that everyone was complaining England wouldn't pick. Another one.

[LEACHY48]

I've never thought he was our best option as an opener, and quite simply there hasn't been one call up in the opening spot that has looked like an international cricketer with the exception of maybe hameed but he's not in form. Cricket is a cut throats game and very quickly will you be found out if you have a weakness, Jennings looked good on paper but seemingly (on current evidence) isn't good enough - time will tell but how much time he gets to show this is a difficult one.

[Harry L]

I like that team posted. I just think moeen at 8 is a bit low, he seems to get most of his runs at 7. His average is poor at 5 and 8 I believe. When woakes is back, he can go at 8 and then we almost have 3 genuine all rounders in the side.