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[ppccopener]

England surely want Ali to prove he can bowl fine before the test

Bit of a confused picture when we don't have many spinners but he is a our frontline spinner so has to do that part first

But we also need runs lower down from him, I think he has said he is a batting allrounder.

[six and out]

The CA XI looks like the strongest we have faced on tour. A number of players with Shield and One Day Cup experience including Travis Dean.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.cricket.com.au/news/cricket-australia-xi-to-play-england-tour-match-perth-named-doran-dean-harper/2017-12-02%3fmode=amp

[Kulli]

England surely want Ali to prove he can bowl fine before the test

Bit of a confused picture when we don't have many spinners but he is our frontline spinner so has to do that part first

But we also need runs lower down from him, I think he has said he is a batting allrounder.

He'll play the 3rd test regardless, I think they just fell the injury and missing warmups has left him a bit undercooked.

[northernboy1987]

I wish Wood like the rest of the forum was fit....I can't see it thou

I'm going to be incredibly controversial and say that (as much as he seems a very funny and likeable lad and a good character to have around) I don't think that Mark Wood is that good, he occasionally bowls wheels but against South Africa he looked about as likely to take a wicket as I would have in a test match, his pace was way down and he just lacked any kind of penetration, unless he's fully fit and going to come in an bowl short spells flat out then there's no point as he'll just be bowling 85mph up and down with average control like Jake Ball did.




If he does come into the squad though I of course hope he proves me wrong

[19reading87]

Would love Ben Duckett to get a load of runs this weekend. Throw his name into the hat for the Perth test

[Big Mac]

As Northernboy said, if Wood is in the team then he needs to be utilised as the 4th seamer who bowls three, maybe four, short spells as fast as he can otherwise there's no point as he'll either fall apart or have to cut down his pace.

It's going to be tough to do that unless Moeen can get fit and Root feels confident in letting him bowl longer spells from one end so we should keep an eye on his performance in the upcoming warm-up game.

[cricketbadger]

Let's face it, they will never drop Ali

[Big Mac]

Let's face it, they will never drop Ali

Nor should they.

[mo_town]

You don't give someone a test cap just because they bowl leg-spin.

Why select someone in the squad if they are not good enough? To carry drinks? Surely they saw something in Crane to pick him in the squad. England need someone who can either keep things tight at one end or take wickets. Ali is doing neither of the two. He has been good with the bat, but for me his main role is of a spinner. If he cant do that right, England need to try other options.

[Big Mac]

Why select someone in the squad if they are not good enough? To carry drinks? Surely they saw something in Crane to pick him in the squad.

Actually yeah, players are taken on tour to carry drinks fairly often. It gives management a chance to have a look at them with their own eyes and form an opinion on how well they fit into the dressing room, do they have the correct work ethic and it gives the young player experience of what it's like to be around test players and maybe pick up a few tips and tricks.

England need someone who can either keep things tight at one end or take wickets. Ali is doing neither of the two. He has been good with the bat, but for me his main role is of a spinner. If he cant do that right, England need to try other options.

iirc only Anderson has taken more test wickets for England in 2017 than Moeen. You don't drop him for a kid with a first-class bowling average of 44.

[Biggie Smalls]

All this talk about spinners has me missing @Felix Tito 

[northernboy1987]

All this talk about spinners has me missing @Felix Tito 

I'd forgot all about him

#bringbackGerry

[mo_town]

A finger spinner can only be effective in Aus conditions if he can impart of a lot of top spin on the ball to take advantage of the bounce or if they can keep it really tight and force the batsmen to make a mistake. With all due respect to Moeen's performance in 2017, he isnt someone who will pick up a lot of wickets for you in Aus....and England need all the help they can get in the bowling department. Would be interesting if Leach comes away with the best bowling performance among the three spinners in the warm up game.

[six and out]

A finger spinner can only be effective in Aus conditions if he can impart of a lot of top spin on the ball to take advantage of the bounce or if they can keep it really tight and force the batsmen to make a mistake. With all due respect to Moeen's performance in 2017, he isnt someone who will pick up a lot of wickets for you in Aus....and England need all the help they can get in the bowling department. Would be interesting if Leach comes away with the best bowling performance among the three spinners in the warm up game.

Yep this warm-up game will be interesting...

Bayliss says that the team will be unchanged etc.... but what happens if someone really puts a performance in a sticks their hand up..... eg. Livingstone or Ballance gets 150 or Wood or Leach get 6 for etc....

By not picking anyone you give them a rest but you also open yourself up to selection issues... all be it good ones i suppose.

[Seniorplayer]

Let's face it, they will never drop Ali

Maybe not but you cant keep picking any player if he's not doing his job. Well not if you really want to win.