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[jamielsn15]

If Bell had Collingwood's sense of fight, this wopuldn't be the worst bet.  But I think he might find himself mentally disintegrated pretty quickly...

The management didn't have a clue how to manage and motivate him, in my opinion. Averages 50+ at five, 60 at six yet insisted on taking the vice captaincy off him, which was perfect for him and kept on pressuring him to bat at 3. Stick to player's strengths, they'd have got an extra two years out of him and he'd have been ready for an Ashes swansong.

He was never the KP, Ponting type to dominate teams and be larger than life. But he was a senior pro that, had he been man managed effectively, could be part of a line up that would have allowed Root to bat 3 or 4. Fit numbers two and four around those guys and our Ashes line up would have looked far stronger.

I think after losing the vice captaincy his head went and its clear now he lacks the motivation and desire. I absolutely agree that he couldn't have done any worse than Compton, Westley, Malan, etc over the last two years or so. But he's done now...

[Harry L]

Presumtion you meant "no new names" (as this is what bayliss said).

Which to me means buttler is the spare keeper.

Hope not, would be a bit of farce taking someone that has played about 5 first class games in the last couple of years, 3 of which have been this year and he's averaging 17. Foakes is the standout candidate and I believe he has trained with the test side already this year? But then again will he play any cricket if selected in the main squad?

Probably not

[Woodyspin]

Swann also bigged Hales up on radio saying something along the lines of 'hes not the smartesr bloke but he realised he was trying to be a test cricketer when he doesnt have the technique for it, and now hes scoring runs for fun'

[smilley792]

Hope not, would be a bit of farce taking someone that has played about 5 first class games in the last couple of years, 3 of which have been this year and he's averaging 17. Foakes is the standout candidate and I believe he has trained with the test side already this year? But then again will he play any cricket if selected in the main squad?

Probably not

He played 3 tests in India last winter and averaged around 40.

That's much better than jennings, Westley malan etc have been doing recently.

Last summer bayliss wanted him as a batsmen, selectors said no, so he took him to India as spare keeper and played him as a batsmen.
Reckon that will be bayliss plan this year, spare keeper and more likely batsman if the newbs do as bad as they have done this summer.

[ppccopener]

I can't actually believe anyone on this forum has butler as the second keeper, he simply does not play enough long form cricket, and he is about to sign for another 2020 tournament.

2 years ago yes we could of had bairstow as a batter o lay and butler keeping-but it didn't go that way. Bairstow is improving and Jos is a one day King.
Bayliss does not pick the team on his own, I'd be staggered if butler is chosen not playing the right form of the game. Ben Foakes looks favourite to me

[Turn Of Pace]

A friend of mine was chatting with Colin Graves at Lords the other day. During the conversation Graves indicated that Ballance will be in the squad for the ashes as they think his back foot game will be suited to quick Aussie decks.

[smilley792]

I can't actually believe anyone on this forum has butler as the second keeper, he simply does not play enough long form cricket, and he is about to sign for another 2020 tournament.

2 years ago yes we could of had bairstow as a batter o lay and butler keeping-but it didn't go that way. Bairstow is improving and Jos is a one day King.
Bayliss does not pick the team on his own, I'd be staggered if butler is chosen not playing the right form of the game. Ben Foakes looks favourite to me

Its not about what people think, it's about what bayliss has said.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/41213905

No new faces.
Players that have played in the last 12 to 18months.

Foakes hasn't played a test yet, never mind in that period, so how can he be favourite?

He may well be the right call, but..........

[jamielsn15]

A friend of mine was chatting with Colin Graves at Lords the other day. During the conversation Graves indicated that Ballance will be in the squad for the ashes as they think his back foot game will be suited to quick Aussie decks.

...and he'll have aussie quicks queuing up to bowl full and straight at the speed of light to him. Please, anyone but Ballance...

[jamielsn15]

I actually think they'll  start with cook, stoneman, jennings, root, malan, stokes, bairstow, ali.

Hardly strauss, cook  trott, kp, bell, collingwood, prior is it?!

[Bats_Entertainment]

Presumtion you meant "no new names" (as this is what bayliss said).

Which to me means buttler is the spare keeper.

Yes, I did.  Sorry!

[Turn Of Pace]

...and he'll have aussie quicks queuing up to bowl full and straight at the speed of light to him. Please, anyone but Ballance...

My mate told me that he spent about 20 minutes trying to tell Graves that Ballance is as much of a nailed on LBW candidate as Westley and that neither of them should go on the plane. Apparently Graves couldn't be dissuaded from Ballance though.

[Bats_Entertainment]

Saw Graham Thorpe deep in conversation with Andrew Gale today. Would have loved to have been listening in.

[Biggie Smalls]

I quite liked Shane Warne's squad, if anyone saw it? I doubt Mason Crane's really ready, though.

First post of this thread . 

[Biggie Smalls]

If Adelaide ends up being a green pitch to preserve the pink ball, I would like to see Lyon sit out that test . If Maxwell plays at 6 he can bowl a few overs of offies and James Pattinson can come into the side , so oz can have a crack using all of the 'big four'. It would be exciting to see Starc , Hazlewood,  Cummins,  Pattinson all in the same attack .

[Bats_Entertainment]

First post of this thread . 

Sorry, I arrived late!

Buzz's second post is probably moe realistic, even with his selection of Foakes.

17:

Cook, Stoneman, Ballance (or Westley), Root, Malan, Hales.

Bairstow, Buttler.

Stokes, Ali, Woakes.

Anderson, Broad, Roland-Jones, Wood, Dawson, Ball.