England's top 6 this summer.

[wpdavid]

I know this is a few days early, as they have a couple of innings in SL to go yet, but this got me thinking earlier today. We all know that Strauss is struggling to make a score nowadays, and has been for some time. We also have little or no idea who our number 6 should be. beyond that, I gather that some in our ranks reckon that KP and Bell should both go. According to my sums, that leaves Cook & Trott as definites with four out of six places up for grabs.

So how should England's batting line up this summer?

 

[Prince EWS]

They've had an awful winter on the whole but given the credit in the bank all possess (bar Strauss to an extent, but I don't think sacking the captain at this point would be the best idea) and the lack of any powerful county seasons last season from emerging players, I reckon:

1. Strauss
2. Cook
3. Trott
4. Pietersen
5. Bell
6. Prior

Prior is unquestionably one of England's best five batsmen IMO, but he too has had a poor winter, and naming him at six just dances around the issue to an extent as it then means you need to find some poor sod to bat seven.

Given he's been in the squad all winter and not been selected, Bopara really should by all rights get an opportunity - nothing would really make less sense than flying him around the world for four months so he can watch all his competitors fail, not play, and then get passed over by someone else after returning home. I'm really not too optimistic about his chances and I'd rather it be someone else (Bairstow is probably my pick at this stage, failing Bresnan at 7) but his continued selection in squads and non-selection in failing batting lineups has to eventuate in him actually getting a game. The sooner that happens so he can fail again and be discarded, the sooner England can actually make progress on the issue.

 

[theegyptian]

I know this is a few days early, as they have a couple of innings in SL to go yet, but this got me thinking earlier today. We all know that Strauss is struggling to make a score nowadays, and has been for some time. We also have little or no idea who our number 6 should be. beyond that, I gather that some in our ranks reckon that KP and Bell should both go. According to my sums, that leaves Cook & Trott as definites with four out of six places up for grabs.

So how should England's batting line up this summer?

get rid of them all

Robson
Chopra
Root
Taylor
Bairstow
Stokes

but yes least wait until this test is over to make any rash decisions. 6 is obviously up for grabs and I pray that it's anyone but Morgan or Bopara but Strauss is the only other spot that might be up for grabs. As poor as the rest of the batsman have been I can't imagine the selectors making any massive decisions. Would be funny to see Pietersen dropped for good though.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I read somewhere that Strauss's ton at The Gabba is the only time he's passed 100 in 40+ test innings. As safe a pair of hands as he is as skipper, I don't think it's acceptable in a team struggling for runs.

I suppose the two serious specialist alternatives are Carberry and Hales, with Root as a (very) dark horse.

Sammy Patel needs a serious score in the second test if he's to get a go on home soil too. We have rather more in the way of options in the middle order ranginf from the tried and failed (Morgan & Bopara) to the up and coming (Bairstow, Taylor or Buttler).

My guess is with SA looming we'll stick with the status quo (Strauss and Bopara) short of an absolute disaster versus the Windies.

 

[benchmark00]

At the moment it's:

1. Chris Brown - Turn Up The Music
2. Sean Paul - She Doesn't Mind
3. Starships - Nicki Minaj
4. Part Of Me - Katy Perry
5, Somebody That I Used To Know (feat. Kimbra) - Gotye
6. iLL Manors - Plan B


Will be interesting to see if it changes. Expecting Foo fighters or Adele to feature throughout the Summer.

 

[benchmark00]

I suppose the two serious specialist alternatives are Carberry and Hales, with Root as a (very) dark horse.

There's actually a bloke putting his hand up called Root?



England really are ****ed

 

[theegyptian]

I read somewhere that Strauss's ton at The Gabba is the only time he's passed 100 in 40+ test innings. As safe a pair of hands as he is as skipper, I don't think it's acceptable in a team struggling for runs.

I suppose the two serious specialist alternatives are Carberry and Hales, with Root as a (very) dark horse.

Sammy Patel needs a serious score in the second test if he's to get a go on home soil too. We have rather more in the way of options in the middle order ranginf from the tried and failed (Morgan & Bopara) to the up and coming (Bairstow, Taylor or Buttler).

My guess is with SA looming we'll stick with the status quo (Strauss and Bopara) short of an absolute disaster versus the Windies.

Yes I think Carberry has got a fair shot if anything did happen to Strauss. It's too early for Root with only one season of county cricket under his belt. Hales I don't think is very close. Chopra is someway off but was very good last year and had a a good winter playing in Sri Lanka and might be an outside bet in a few years. I'd probably say either Carberry or Trott if Strauss was to go.

Samit won't get anywhere near a test squad again after this tour imo. Morgan has no chance this summer and I hope they don't stick with Bopara because if they thought he was good enough he would have played this winter. I think Stokes would have got a shot this winter possibly at 6 but for his injury last season. I really think England like him but the injury has basically set him back a year so at a guess I'd say one of Bopara, Taylor or Bairstow gets a shot at 6.

 

[Prince EWS]

Here's a list of available English batsmen who scored 1,000 runs or better @ 50 or better last season in first division:








Alex Hales.

 

[theegyptian]

Here's a list of available English batsmen who scored 1,000 runs or better @ 50 or better last season in first division:








Alex Hales.

Compton?

cant see hales playing test cricket any time soon.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Here's a list of available English batsmen who scored 1,000 runs or better @ 50 or better last season in first division:








Alex Hales.

Nick "Grandson of Denis" Compton managed it too, tbf.

Although he's probz more "English qualified" than English.

 

[Prince EWS]

Compton?

cant see hales playing test cricket any time soon.

Nick "Grandson of Denis" Compton managed it too, tbf.

Although he's probz more "English qualified" than English.

Yeah I said English for a reason; misleading as it was.

Compton did say back in 2010/11 that he was keen on playing for Zimbabwe, but I imagine he would've done so by now if that was still his preference.