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[mad_abt_cricket]

Why can't England find a number 3 who bats like Punjara

Cook can be the perfect number 3 for England. It will give him a breather from opening and revive his form. With this current line up, I would go for the following order:
1.Jennings
2. Butler
3. Cook
4. Root
5.Stokes
6. Bairstow
7. Ali
8. Curran

[jamielsn15]

Great article, again, by George Dobell on Cricinfo. Talking about instability on and off the field for England. Coaches looking at other jobs, Root demanding to bat at four.

We seem to hold the number 3 slot as the gamechanger, citing Ricky Ponting as the example. In England it's different, the ball's still wobbling, swinging and requires technique to bat at 3. I don't get the demand for Bairstow, Buttler, to move up, or Roy to come in, just because they do so in white ball cricket. Totally different game...

I like the idea of three openers, but I also like the idea of Moeen Ali batting at 3 as he does for his county. Dobell suggests if he'd had the run up to the test, rather than hours, to prepare,  he'd have fared better.

Play Root at 4. Put Bairstow at seven. Gilchrist scored double figure centuries,  averaged nearly fifty from there. Bairstow has the ability to do similar. For the next test and moving forward, I'd try

1. Cook (although I'd give him the winter off)
2. Burns
3. Ali
4. Root
5. Stokes (I'd use him more as a batsman than all rounder. Still able to change the game with the ball if needed, but I'd tell him to focus on big runs from a regular five slot)
6. Buttler (i don't like a specialist bat at 7, seems like a wasted position. Being at 6 allows for four bowlers, plus you have Stokes and Ali to fall back on if needed)
7. Bairstow (he plays better when keeping and is confident here. Tell him its his slot, tell him to score big runs and tell him he's the keeper)
8. Curran
9. Rashid
10. Broad
11. Anderson

Woakes i wouldn't bat higher than eight as and when he's brought back in. Broad and Anderson don't have long left and i see him as a replacement long term. Curran is here to stay but workload needs managing. Mo gets his role as second spinner, but is told to focus on being a top order batsman for England, which is what he's always wanted.

Although I'd give Cook the winter off I haven't  a clue who I'd bring in!!

[Seniorplayer]

Cook at 3 is one of the better team selections  posted on here

[Seniorplayer]

Great article, again, by George Dobell on Cricinfo. Talking about instability on and off the field for England. Coaches looking at other jobs, Root demanding to bat at four.

We seem to hold the number 3 slot as the gamechanger, citing Ricky Ponting as the example. In England it's different, the ball's still wobbling, swinging and requires technique to bat at 3. I don't get the demand for Bairstow, Buttler, to move up, or Roy to come in, just because they do so in white ball cricket. Totally different game...

I like the idea of three openers, but I also like the idea of Moeen Ali batting at 3 as he does for his county. Dobell suggests if he'd had the run up to the test, rather than hours, to prepare,  he'd have fared better.

Play Root at 4. Put Bairstow at seven. Gilchrist scored double figure centuries,  averaged nearly fifty from there. Bairstow has the ability to do similar. For the next test and moving forward, I'd try

1. Cook (although I'd give him the winter off)
2. Burns
3. Ali
4. Root
5. Stokes (I'd use him more as a batsman than all rounder. Still able to change the game with the ball if needed, but I'd tell him to focus on big runs from a regular five slot)
6. Buttler (i don't like a specialist bat at 7, seems like a wasted position. Being at 6 allows for four bowlers, plus you have Stokes and Ali to fall back on if needed)
7. Bairstow (he plays better when keeping and is confident here. Tell him its his slot, tell him to score big runs and tell him he's the keeper)
8. Curran
9. Rashid
10. Broad
11. Anderson

Woakes i wouldn't bat higher than eight as and when he's brought back in. Broad and Anderson don't have long left and i see him as a replacement long term. Curran is here to stay but workload needs managing. Mo gets his role as second spinner, but is told to focus on being a top order batsman for England, which is what he's always wanted.

Although I'd give Cook the winter off I haven't  a clue who I'd bring in!!

Good post wouldn't have Ali at 3 though the likes of Starc will bounce him out.

[ppccopener]

Certainly at least one newspaper seem to be thinking all is not well in the England camp and some frank views have been aired.

root won't be batting anywhere but 4 from now on regardless of what anyone says and Bairstow unsettled and unhappy no o e has assured him the gloves are coming back after this match.

As far as Root goes I think he should bat 3 but he is captain and lots on his plate. We prob should bat 4 , clearly he is not happy anywhere else.

Keeping wise I reckon England have now changed this for long term, and it might be what they wanted as soon as butler was recalled this summer

[SD]

I don't see that Ali is either good enough against the moving ball around off stump nor against the short ball to bat at 3 at international level.  The only one that stand out at the moment is Bell who would be an ideal short term option to allow the focus to be on finding am opening partnership that works.  From 4 down we have plenty of options but we just can't get the top 3 right at the moment

[Bats_Entertainment]

Is it not possible to just talk about a Test match without playing at being chairman of the selectors?

[smilley792]

Run out costs Sam Curran his second fifty of the Match. Only way India looked like getting him.
He seems to be there kryptonite.


.

[six and out]

246 to win , going to be interesting chase, by no means easy but gettable.

[Seniorplayer]

Here's a stat England have lost there last 24 reviews

[mad_abt_cricket]

Broad is going to be the key, much harder to tackle when the pitch is slightly up and down and worn. His hit the deck style of bowling will threaten the stumps more often than not. Stokes is somewhat similar though not sure if he will bowl a lot.

[Seniorplayer]

Broad is going to be the key, much harder to tackle when the pitch is slightly up and down and worn. His hit the deck style of bowling will threaten the stumps more often than not. Stokes is somewhat similar though not sure if he will bowl a lot.

Got it right a fired up Broad gets the first one ball kept low

[csnew]

2 down, that might be the game

[Seniorplayer]

Good catch by Stokes  Jimmy  turned Darwin round with that one

[six and out]

How is that an inside edge! Kohli a lucky boy!

As a side note Bairstow does not look a happy bunny out on the boundary.