*Official* Road to the 2010/11 Ashes

[King Pietersen]

Originally Posted by Prince EWS

I'm inclined to agree, but I'm pretty sure that's what would happen if Cook was dropped - one of either Bell or Trott would open and the other would bat three. Especially if Morgan actually manages to another score against Pakistan at some point.

Doesn't make any sense to me. Why try and manufacture an opener when we've got Michael Carberry making heaps of runs in County Cricket? Morgan's looked OK, but he's only made 1 score of any note in 5 Tests and 6 innings. Bell was in magnificent form before his injury, and should come straight back in. It's not like Morgan's been smashing Bangladesh and Pakistan around all summer. He's done a decent job, and has proven he's good enough for International cricket, but he's not done enough to mean the selectors should have to disrupt the positions of 2 batsmen just to fit him in.

Carberry in for Cook and Bell for Morgan makes so much more sense. Trott is not an opener, and Bell has an awful record at 3. Trott's been successful at 3, and Bell is clearly more comfortable down at 6, and has done more there in recent history than Morgan. Morgan has proven himself to be a good back-up batsman, but a top 7 of Strauss, Carberry, Trott, Pietersen, Collingwood, Bell and Prior looks much more solid than Strauss, Trott, Bell, Pietersen, Collingwood, Morgan and Prior AFAIC. That second line-up leads to doubts over 3 positions in the line-up, whereas with the first, only Carberry would be trying to prove himself.

[Prince EWS]

Originally Posted by King Pietersen

Doesn't make any sense to me. Why try and manufacture an opener when we've got Michael Carberry making heaps of runs in County Cricket? Morgan's looked OK, but he's only made 1 score of any note in 5 Tests and 6 innings. Bell was in magnificent form before his injury, and should come straight back in. It's not like Morgan's been smashing Bangladesh and Pakistan around all summer. He's done a decent job, and has proven he's good enough for International cricket, but he's not done enough to mean the selectors should have to disrupt the positions of 2 batsmen just to fit him in.

Carberry in for Cook and Bell for Morgan makes so much more sense. Trott is not an opener, and Bell has an awful record at 3. Trott's been successful at 3, and Bell is clearly more comfortable down at 6, and has done more there in recent history than Morgan. Morgan has proven himself to be a good back-up batsman, but a top 7 of Strauss, Carberry, Trott, Pietersen, Collingwood, Bell and Prior looks much more solid than Strauss, Trott, Bell, Pietersen, Collingwood, Morgan and Prior AFAIC. That second line-up leads to doubts over 3 positions in the line-up, whereas with the first, only Carberry would be trying to prove himself.

You're preaching to the choir; I completely agree.
I just think the selectors will take the easy way out and replace Cook with Bell instead of having to make a hard decision on Morgan. What youre saying will have a much greater chance of happening if Morgan doesn't make another score but I just get the feeling he will and the selectors will want to accommodate him.

[GIMH]

Bell got tried opening once before and did nothing, I don't think they'll stick him there again

[Prince EWS]

Originally Posted by GeraintIsMyHero

Bell got tried opening once before and did nothing, I don't think they'll stick him there again

Reckon Trott opening with Bell at three has the best chance of happening tbh, providing Cook continues to fail and Morgan doesn't.

[King Pietersen]

Really hope that doesn't happen. Just hoping the selectors have realised just how poor a Test match number 3 Ian Bell is. We've finally found an organised number 3 with a good technique, it'd be ridiculous to throw him up to open. Though given our selectors it wouldn't surprise me.

[four_or_six]

Originally Posted by Uppercut

Why does Alastair Cook constantly seem to be failing horribly but his average never seems to drop?

Because he isn't failing horribly at all most of the time, people just forget about it. He averaged 40 in South Africa last winter, and 40 in the Ashes last summer.

[flibbertyjibber]

Originally Posted by four_or_six

Because he isn't failing horribly at all most of the time, people just forget about it. He averaged 40 in South Africa last winter, and 40 in the Ashes last summer.

Exactly,and he murdered Bangladesh away (averaged about 100) so over his last 15 tests he probably averages over 40 anyway despite this poor run this summer.

I just think he could have done with a couple of weeks off on a beach somewhere.Too late now,he has to play at Lords after sticking with him this long.

[King Pietersen]

Originally Posted by four_or_six

Because he isn't failing horribly at all most of the time, people just forget about it. He averaged 40 in South Africa last winter, and 40 in the Ashes last summer.

Last winter and last summer are irrelevant when it comes to scoring runs right now and in Australia. Cook's technique is completely shot. The timing of his movements is off, he's still being done outside off-stump consistently, looks completely devoid of confidence and does not look Test class. He could have averaged 150 against Australia last summer, but it means precisely sod all when he's playing like he is now. Stats are lovely, but sometimes you need to look at how a player is playing to determine whether he should be in the side or not, and it should be blatantly obvious to everyone that Cook is not playing anywhere near well enough at the minute.

I think he needs a break away from cricket for a couple of weeks. Forget about his technique, forget about cricket and relax. It worked for Michael Lumb at Hampshire, and it could work for Cook. If he keeps playing in this current state it's not going to do him any good. He'll keep getting out cheaply, lose even more confidence and be even less likely to have a good series in Australia. Carberry just has to come in.

[Uppercut]

Don't think his technique's any worse than it's always been, fwiw. Asif and Aamer have just picked the massive holes in it more consistently than anyone else has ever been able to.

Bit of a subcontinent specialist, almost. His technique is much better suited to Australia than it is to England, being one of the best in the world against the short ball. If his confidence is shot to pieces it won't matter by that stage, but he's had an unusually calm mentality throughout his test career. I think there's a reasonable chance that he could get runs this winter.

Whether he should be dropped or not depends on the quality of replacement. I quite rate Carberry, but if they're going to make Trott or Bell open I don't think it'll improve the side. Taking Trott away from 3 strikes me as a terrible idea. Let the guy settle. And Bell won't score any runs opening. If Cook's going to be dropped, it has to be a straight swap for Carberry imo.

But then the selectors are forced to choose between Morgan and Bell down the order. How Morgan goes in his next couple of innings could well swing it one way or the other.

[Pothas]

Originally Posted by four_or_six

Because he isn't failing horribly at all most of the time, people just forget about it. He averaged 40 in South Africa last winter, and 40 in the Ashes last summer.

Have not checked at all to be honest but there is no way Cook averaged 40 in the Ashes.

He was really under pressure going into the South African tour and did very well, I am all for sticking with Cook if possible but his form at the moment is beyond struggling he does not look like he is going to make a run, and in these circumstances I see no option but to leave him out for a while.

[Dasa]

Originally Posted by Pothas

Have not checked at all to be honest but there is no way Cook averaged 40 in the Ashes.

24.66

[four_or_six]

Originally Posted by Dasa

24.66

Totally forgot we'd played the West Indies that summer too.

[grecian]

Ed Joyce and Tremlett would be on the plane for me ATM.

Cook
Strauss
Bell
KP
Colly
Trott
Morgan
Joyce
S Davies
Prior
Tremlett
Broad
Anderson
Finn
Shazhad
Swann
Rashid

Obviously want to put Hildreth(who is scoring runs again today) in, put can't really find a place for him. Tremlett's problems have always been injury related, but he seems to be fit at present, and has to be a better option then Sidey or Bres on Oz pitches. Plunkett is having a stinker of a season too.

[King Pietersen]

Joyce ahead of a back-up opener like Carberry? Joyce hasn't played brilliantly this season either. 415 runs at 37 in the Championship with no centuries. Interesting selection.

[grecian]

Originally Posted by King Pietersen

Joyce ahead of a back-up opener like Carberry? Joyce hasn't played brilliantly this season either. 415 runs at 37 in the Championship with no centuries. Interesting selection.

Rate Joyce a better player, think if you look at the fixtures today he may have got a ton.

Anyway the problem with Carberry is the England selectors dropped him for a makeshift opener in Banga, clearly they don't have much faith.