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[rickjames]

Death, Taxes and a Joe Root 50

[northernboy1987]

Death, Taxes and a Joe Root 50

Unbelievable consistency at the moment.

[smilley792]

Will stokes move up to five? And then bairstow six?

Or bairstow just back to 5?

And the blood the young guns at 7 till they find there way?

[iand123]

Roots stats could already be the thing of legend. 30 50's and 13 100's so far in his career

[petehosk]

If Bairstow bats at 5 and Stokes at 6, then you have the luxury of blooding any new one in anywhere from 7 to 9, as Ali and Woakes can bat anywhere there.
In theory we have the opportunity of seeing who looks the weakest technically out of Stoneman, Westley and Malan over the next few Tests and put Hameed in that place. I know Hameed has had some success in India but would still prefer to see him at 5 to start with.

[Seniorplayer]

Roots stats could already be the thing of legend. 30 50's and 13 100's so far in his career

Really needs to convert these fiftys  into big  hundreds though

[rickjames]

Err, that hit the ground, right?

[Seniorplayer]

Not keen on follow the ball captaincy mind you stokes won't mind watching that ball fly through third slip.

[Big Mac]

Err, that hit the ground, right?

Nah, was definitely out even with the foreshortening effect of the TV cameras.

[petehosk]

I don't have Sky sports - so could someone explain what the 1st day wicket is like? Is the wicket doing loads?

[edge]

If Bairstow bats at 5 and Stokes at 6, then you have the luxury of blooding any new one in anywhere from 7 to 9, as Ali and Woakes can bat anywhere there.
In theory we have the opportunity of seeing who looks the weakest technically out of Stoneman, Westley and Malan over the next few Tests and put Hameed in that place. I know Hameed has had some success in India but would still prefer to see him at 5 to start with.

New batsman at 5 makes sense, sticking a new player in at 7/8 won't exactly fill them with confidence! I blame Ian Bell for all this, the traditional way is blood a player at 5 then when the hole opens at 3 you should have someone experienced to step up to 3, new man goes in at 5 again. He/Trott ruined the cycle!

Just seen Root's wicket, what a rubbish shot. If KP had played that in the same situation the whole world would be going nuts.

[jamielsn15]

I just don't see why if someone is a resounding success in a position, eg bairstow at 7, root at 4 and, yes, bell at 5, you move them. Take a player who struts out to bat in a position they have a lot of success at and sow seeds of doubt as to whether they can perform higher up the order. Tendulkar didn't  move, nor did steve waugh, they didn't do too badly.

Moving even one position is a huge change, yet we're sprinkling players around like confetti. Never as simple as being good in one position natyrally following that they are good elsewhere. Way too many variables and elite sport is huge psychologically.

Batting 3 is a very difficult position, takes a certain type of player. Nothing ive seen suggest Ballance or jennings or westley are long term answers. Root doesn't want to bat there. Fact is we've been spoilt having a top four of strauss, cook, root and KP... the cupboard seems bare...

[northernboy1987]

I just don't see why if someone is a resounding success in a position, eg bairstow at 7, root at 4 and, yes, bell at 5, you move them. Take a player who struts out to bat in a position they have a lot of success at and sow seeds of doubt as to whether they can perform higher up the order. Tendulkar didn't  move, nor did steve waugh, they didn't do too badly.

I'm with you here. Bairstow certainly seems good enough to bat at no.5 but he's scored loads at no.7 so why move him up to 5? He already has to keep wicket as well. Same with Stokes, don't move him from 6, leave him there. Both Stokes and YJB average 5 runs more batting at 6 & 7 respectively than their career avg, Stokes averages approx 35 in all games but 40 batting at 6, YJB averages 40ish overall but 45 when batting at 7. Leave them where they are!

[ppccopener]

Top three certainly has been a problem since those players you mention retired. Ian bell...well one of our best players, yes did also underachieve at the same time
We have a lot of batsmen who are suited to the middle order that's the issue
If you discount balance and Jennings and take them out of consideration the only player I've seen in the last two years who looks like he could be the real deal is....hameed
In my opinion anyway 

[Biggie Smalls]

I don't have Sky sports - so could someone explain what the 1st day wicket is like? Is the wicket doing loads?

looks a decent enough pitch , certainly not green . occasionally nibbling off the seem slightly.  hasn't been much swing around all day (but no great exponents of it either).
just decent bowling really.