2nd test

[poc]

im sure sibley havent even washed his sweater from the last test:hehe

[the other bob wilson]

Re: 2nd test

Very conservative selection by England - if it turns out to be as hot and dry over the weekend as forecast, they may end up regretting not picking a front line spinner.

[Nobody's Rep]

Re: 2nd test

Very conservative selection by England - if it turns out to be as hot and dry over the weekend as forecast, they may end up regretting not picking a front line spinner.

Problem is England don't have a front line spinner that's really any good

[poc]

Re: 2nd test

yes def needed to give leach a go at least, it looks dry today come the 4th innings if the weather does heat up root will be busy

[Hilts]

Re: 2nd test

Very conservative selection by England - if it turns out to be as hot and dry over the weekend as forecast, they may end up regretting not picking a front line spinner.

Not so sure. Looking forward to see 2 genuine fast bowlers.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: 2nd test

Not so sure. Looking forward to see 2 genuine fast bowlers.

I was listening to TMS before lunch and they were wondering if an edge off a defensive shot would carry to slip on such a slow pitch, so, if they’re right about that, you wonder about playing two quicks. Leach isn’t a top class test spinner, but he’s not done badly so far, so I’d have him in for this test.

However, England appear to be treating series against the first and second ranked test sides as trials for a series against the fourth ranked side - they’re obsessed by the Ashes and so we’re seeing bowlers not suited to early season English wickets playing because they have the sort of pace that might prove handy in the winter.

[chrisp_1927]

Re: 2nd test

What are peoles thoughts on this England side? Been very surprised to see the odds available in play. This just doesn't look like a very good England side to me at all. New Zealand are deservedly one of the best in the world yet England are strong favourites. Not sure if I'm missing something or if the bookies have it wrong

[Hilts]

Re: 2nd test

What are peoles thoughts on this England side? Been very surprised to see the odds available in play. This just doesn't look like a very good England side to me at all. New Zealand are deservedly one of the best in the world yet England are strong favourites. Not sure if I'm missing something or if the bookies have it wrong

Im not convinced with either opener though Burns is doing well again.

Root Stokes are 2 of the best batsmen in the world and I think Pope has a big future.

Stokes in the side gives balance as well.

No top class spinner.

Archer and Wood both quality fast bowlers and hopefully Stone can join them and we have 3 genuine quicks.

Fast medium department as well as Broad and Anderson theres a number who could give a good account of themselves.

Really the weakness is spin and top of order runs.

Foakes is the best keeper but Buttler is such a dangerous player with the bat its hard to leave him out.

[chrisp_1927]

Re: 2nd test

Im not convinced with either opener though Burns is doing well again.

Root Stokes are 2 of the best batsmen in the world and I think Pope has a big future.

Stokes in the side gives balance as well.

No top class spinner.

Archer and Wood both quality fast bowlers and hopefully Stone can join them and we have 3 genuine quicks.

Fast medium department as well as Broad and Anderson theres a number who could give a good account of themselves.

Really the weakness is spin and top of order runs.

Foakes is the best keeper but Buttler is such a dangerous player with the bat its hard to leave him out.

Agree there , I think the lack of a front line spinner is a big miss. Burns did well today, but to many times England are 2 or 3 down cheaply. I don't think they have a genuinely world class batsman mind. I cringe when I hear commentators talk about the 4 great batsman of Kane, kohli, Smith and root. I think there's an absolute chasm between root and the other 3

[Seabird]

Re: 2nd test

Obviously Root regards himself as a test match spinner. In fairness he has taken wickets in tests but he doesn't have the control to contain well set batsmen.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: 2nd test

Can I just say in the midst of the football talk, that England’s so called specialist batsmen are being embarrassed this afternoon on a pitch which is supposed to be a belter - they could even lose this game by an innings.

[dml1954]

Re: 2nd test

Yet another abject and embarrassing batting and fielding display from England today. How Root is still holding on to the captaincy is a mystery. He looks lost and has no influence over the performance of his players whatsoever.

[Elwood Blues]

Re: 2nd test

Can I just say in the midst of the football talk, that England’s so called specialist batsmen are being embarrassed this afternoon on a pitch which is supposed to be a belter - they could even lose this game by an innings.

Robinson is probably glad they suspended him :hehe::hehe:

[chrisp_1927]

Re: 2nd test

Dawid Malan averages 27 over 15 tests. Now that's not great in any way shape or form, but I'd imagine there are a fair few test batsman who have had similar or worse starts. He is an obviously quality player and has shown that at international level in the shorter forms of the game. When you're dropping a bloke of that class after 15 games it should be because you have real quality waiting to come into the side. That certainly isn't the case with this current crop of England youngsters.

Dare I say it, they could probably do worse than giving Darren Stevens the summer around that side aswell.

[The Bloop]

Re: 2nd test

The absence of Ben Stokes just creates an imbalance in the side. There's no bowler other than Root in the top 6, so they're forced to play 4 front line pace bowlers. Woakes at 8 should have been considered especially as the IPL was cut short. At least it would have shortened the tail a bit.