I have questions:
1) Is Silverwood an International quality coach
2) Is there really any better option to Burns opening at the moment?
3) Is Root a better spin option than Leach?
4) Should we play Stokes as a batter only at 5?
5) I Pope really the real deal, or looking at the averages, do you pick Lawrence to come good and the second part-time spinner?
Next test I would go -
Hameed
Burns
Malan
Root
Stokes
Lawrence
Butler
Woakes
Robinson
Broad
Anderson
1. Absolutely not. I’d rather see Peter Moores have a third attempt than continue with Silverwood, and his jobs for the boys, take the credit when we win/hide away when we lose act.
2. Yes. Crawley. Plus Crawley can actually catch.
3. Yes. It is obvious that Root doesn’t trust Leach. It’s very rare that the opposition go after Root when he bowls. If we were to play an out-and-our spinner again during this series I would call up Parky.
4. No. Controversial opinion alert… I think Stokes has to bowl to be worthy of a place in the team. Yes he’s had some fabulous innings over the years, but there hasn’t been so many of them that he is indispensable as a batsman only.
5. At first I thought Pope looked the real deal, but I’m now starting to think he may be style over substance. That said, if we see Lawrence back in an England shirt then we really have hit rock bottom.
2nd test team:
Hameed
Crawley
Malan
Root
Pope
Stokes
Buttler
Robinson
Wood/Bess
Broad
Anderson