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[SOULMAN1012]

You got it on one mate

[Seniorplayer]

So what happens if Foakes plays, shows he's a far superior gloveman to YJB and gets runs?

Does YJB come in as a batsman, if so for who?
Or does Foakes get shafted once YJB is fit again regardless?

Current England  thinking batter first keeper second

[Kulli]

Even if he does well I'd say it'd be more shafting YJB to drop him than it would be to leave Stokes out after 1 test.

[WalkingWicket37]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/46016569

England captain Joe Root says Jos Buttler is likely to keep wicket in the first Test against Sri Lanka next week if Jonny Bairstow is ruled out.

Bairstow is recovering from an ankle injury picked up while playing football, but Root says England have options with Buttler and Ben Foakes.

The first of three Tests starts in Galle on Tuesday, 6 November.

"Although Jonny will be a big loss, we've got great players that can come in and rebalance the team," said Root.

"It's day-by-day with Jonny at the minute. He's actually made good strides and recovered a little bit quicker than we anticipated, but it's still a long way to go.

"It's obviously a big three-match series, so we need to weigh all that up and make a decision closer to the first game."

Surrey wicketkeeper Foakes was called up to England's Test squad as cover for the injured Bairstow.

But asked whether Lancashire's Buttler would be the man to start in Galle, Root told BBC Sport: "That will probably be the likely scenario.

"But the reason we called Ben up is because he's a high-quality keeper and we give ourselves another way of balancing the side out and give ourselves a chance of winning.

"These are all different options we've given ourselves going into this series and it's a really nice position to be in."

Root says warm-up games against a Sri Lanka Cricket Board President's XI will give him a chance to assess the conditions and his team for the first Test.

"I've got a strong idea of what the core of it looks like, but we have got some great options," he added.

"We are going to make sure we've got a very balanced side that gives ourselves the best chance of winning in these conditions."

[ppccopener]

roots press conferences are all on autoque

I would like to see Faokes keeping this match. he is the best by a street and could be stood up a lot

[shadowlight]

roots press conferences are all on autoque

I would like to see Faokes keeping this match. he is the best by a street and could be stood up a lot

I am not sure if Foakes spent recent time playing in SL but I saw a video interview with him playing and training with the local Sri Lanka club.  I just do not remember if it was recent or couple of years ago.

[ppccopener]

I am not sure if Foakes spent recent time playing in SL but I saw a video interview with him playing and training with the local Sri Lanka club.  I just do not remember if it was recent or couple of years ago.

im not sure either, I expect the test matches to be far harder than the one dayers....having said that I don't think this Lankan team are a patch on previous teams we have played away from home.

my point is, with a side packed with allrounders, and 3 spinners likely, would the team benefit from having a spcialist keeper?

neither butler nor bairstow are specialists....

[Rob580]

The question really boils down to how good you think Bairstow &/or Buttler are.

I'm of the opinion that they're both just about passable enough to get away with it. If we had Murali and Shane Warne, then yeah, you'd need a specialist, but the only mystery we have is Rashid and both Buttler & Bairstow should be able to read him by now, having kept to him each for years now.

The real issue for me is Moeen at 3, but that's an issue for another day!

[Manormanic]

So what happens if Foakes plays, shows he's a far superior gloveman to YJB and gets runs?

Does YJB come in as a batsman, if so for who?
Or does Foakes get shafted once YJB is fit again regardless?

Okay, to start with, y ideal side for the coming test, assuming Jonny is out, would be:

Jennings
Burns
Denly
Root
Stokes
Ali
Buttler
Foakes or Leach
Curran
Rashid
Anderson

If they go for Foakes, they should give him the series - one of the top three dops out.  Comes the West Indies, I doubt they would need a specialist keeper so unless Foakes scores masses of runs - which would be tough from eight...

[petehosk]

As much as I would love to see Foakes keeping, the talk seems to be for Buttler keeping!

Jennings
Burns
Denly
Root
Pope
Stokes
Buttler
S Curran
Mo
Rashid
Jimmy

But I suspect they will play..
Jennings
Burns
Mo
Root
Denly
Stokes
Buttler
S Curran
Rashid
Broad
Jimmy

So Mo bats at 3, Denly at 5 and Broad or another seamer in for Pope! That would weaken the batting a lot.
Plus Jimmy, Broad, Curran and Stokes. Then Mo, Rashid, Denly and Root as spinners! OTT?
Surely we don't need anymore than 3 seamers and Mo, Rashid, Denly and Root as spinners?

[LateBloomer]

It will be a travesty if Leach doesn't play on these bunsens!

4 seamers is at least 1 too many. Id personally go

Burns
Jennings
Denly
Root
Stokes
Butler
Moeen
Foakes
Rashid
Leach
Anderson

Stokes to take the new ball (briefly). Foakes to take the gloves - Butler is a specialist bat at 6. 3 spinners offering something different. If I had to pick another seamer it would be Stone on these wickets ahead of Broad and Curran

[Seniorplayer]

Reckon Stone will play.

[edge]

First warmup now underway, the now usual 14 a side farce. England are playing everyone except Stone and Leach, top 7 is Burns Jennings Denly Root Stokes Moeen Buttler. Sadly I think that gives a good look at what the plan is, can sense the anger in cider country already!

[Gelds]

Disappointing to see Leach hasn't been given an opportunity. We won't need more than 3 seamers and given all the allrounders we have Leach really should be in.

[ppccopener]

It won't be just those in wessssscountreeeee not happy if Leach is not picked. I find selection in recent years really gets my goat.

We have specialists and we don't seem to want to trust them. Can't fathom how broad and Anderson are both on this tour at all.

Rashid, Ali and leach are our best 3 spinners, Foakes the best keeper.

Frustrating