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[SD]

Let's hope Lawrence isn't another one of those that everyone thinks is great until he's actually in the team.

The two young batsmen who have come into the side most recently with big reputations have been Pope and Crawley and both have done as much as can be expected of them. 

[alba caerulea]

Watched the wickets earlier, a few nice dismissals for the spinners. Would love to see one of the leggys get a Test here as a wildcard 3rd option. Rashid went last time as the 3rd spinner but still took 12 wickets over the 3 Tests.

The most wickets amongst seamers was Stokes with 5 from 3. Anderson took 1 from 2 matches!

[ppccopener]

Think you can add Burns to the list of young batsmen who have done well, he's a bit older and perhaps not great but he's done alright.

We won't be replacing Strauss, Cook and Trott overnight, it's going to take time-same with any team.

Bairstow looks bolt on number 3 come the first test but Lawrence did himself some good with runs today.

[ppccopener]

Press reports no place for Foakes, Butler to keep as before and a debut for Lawrence at 5 with Bairstow 3.

I don't actually know who wil bat 6 with no Ali and no Pope, even thou Pope is actually out there.

Maybe Butler will bat 6.

[Jimbo]

Press reports no place for Foakes, Butler to keep as before and a debut for Lawrence at 5 with Bairstow 3.

I don't actually know who wil bat 6 with no Ali and no Pope, even thou Pope is actually out there.

Maybe Butler will bat 6.

Imagine it'll be Crawley, Sibley, Bairstow, Root, Lawrence, Buttler, Curran for the top 7. Probably Bess 8, then Leach and two pace bowlers from those on the tour making up the 11.

[ppccopener]

Yes that does look like the side. I was pretty sure Foakes would play, he is going to have to wait until Butler is rotated and wants a rest, or retires.

England seem destined not to play the best keeper even in conditions most favourable to playing him.

[SD]

Yes that does look like the side. I was pretty sure Foakes would play, he is going to have to wait until Butler is rotated and wants a rest, or retires.

England seem destined not to play the best keeper even in conditions most favourable to playing him.

I would say that Jack Russell is the last English keeper to be selected by virtue of keeping ability alone and he often lost his place to improve the batting.  James Foster is the best I have seen since Russell and despite a pretty respectable FC average, only played 7 tests

[FattusCattus]

I always liked Chris Read - always felt he was sold a bit short.

[ppccopener]

I would say that Jack Russell is the last English keeper to be selected by virtue of keeping ability alone and he often lost his place to improve the batting.  James Foster is the best I have seen since Russell and despite a pretty respectable FC average, only played 7 tests

Yes you're right, after Russell we moved to batsmen keepers, Stewart was probably the best of the lot.

I think England are missing out, the batting of keepers has improved, Foakes is a good bat as well as more likely to take the chances.

It would be a change of direction thou you're right, apart from the last SL tour, it's been Bairstow or Butler.

Having Foakes I just don't see the batting being weakened myself

[SD]

I always liked Chris Read - always felt he was sold a bit short.

I can understand once the decision was made to go with Prior as a top order batsman with the hope that he could improve his keeping as he went along that Foster and Read were overlooked, but I think that they were pretty unfairly treated by the selections of Geriant Jones and Tim Ambrose

[SD]

Yes you're right, after Russell we moved to batsmen keepers, Stewart was probably the best of the lot.

I think England are missing out, the batting of keepers has improved, Foakes is a good bat as well as more likely to take the chances.

It would be a change of direction thou you're right, apart from the last SL tour, it's been Bairstow or Butler.

Having Foakes I just don't see the batting being weakened myself

Bob Taylor is often mentioned as bring the best keeper ever to play for England but, with a first class average of 16, it isn't unreasonable to argue that he could struggle in the modern era to have a full county career let alone one at international level. 

Whether this move away from the keeper as a genuine specialist to one expected to fill an all rounder role as a keeper and batsman is correct - it isn't impossible to use a Money ball style metric to work out whether the extra runs scored outweighs the runs conceded by missed chances- it would certainly go against modern orthodoxy.

[Kulli]

Bob Taylor is often mentioned as bring the best keeper ever to play for England but, with a first class average of 16, it isn't unreasonable to argue that he could struggle in the modern era to have a full county career let alone one at international level. 

Just look at the lad Bates!

[Manormanic]

Even in county cricket, there is a phobia of keepers who bat below 7 - Kulli rightly mentions Michael Bates, and I would also mention Andy Hodd, Colin Metson, Graham Kersey and I'm sure a few others. You even have counties converting batsmen into keepers, as Yorkshire have with Jonny Tattersall. It becomes compulsive-- even when England played six batsmen and had Bresnan, Swann and a pre-face-lift Broad amongst the bowlers, they went batsman rather than gloveman.

[ppccopener]

An extended quarantine period for Moeen puts him out of the series-to be confirmed.

I think @Jimbo has the side right. Looks like Bess and Leach will have a lot of bowling to do over two matches.

England will not want any illness to Leach otherwise we have to turn to an untried spinner at test level.

Lawrence looking likely to make a debut at 5.

[wasted_talent]

Lawrence and Root will offer some additional spin options too I guess?