England's openers at Headingley.

[Neil Pickup]

I can confirm that Richard is not dead.

I saw him on Sunday, but didn't talk to him.. will keep you posted

And for me.. Strauss and Vaughan.

 

[marc71178]

To me that would settle this question, since AFAIK his average must be less than what it was in tests when he was not captain. Therefore it would seem the added burden of Captaincy has had its effect on him as well (like many others before), and therefore he is better off coming in at 4 or 5 instead of opening.

Yes, but the thing is, his form had tailed off BEFORE he got the captaincy...

 

[marc71178]

so?its a lot easier to move down the order than it is to move up. hes too much of a strokemaker to open the batting.

So easier to move to a position that is IMO as specialised as opening, in spite of having little or no experience in that position?

 

[tooextracool]

So easier to move to a position that is IMO as specialised as opening, in spite of having little or no experience in that position?

not really...butcher didnt seem to have too many problems going down to 3...neither did kirsten for that matter. i just think he'll be better off batting at 3 and guarded a little from the new ball. besides he has played a few tests for england batting at 3. hes a strokemaker and strokemakers should bat at 3.

 

[a massive zebra]

Yes, but the thing is, his form had tailed off BEFORE he got the captaincy...

Garbage. His last 7 Test innings before he got the captaincy were 145, 0, 183, 8, 20, 156, 22. Thats 534 runs at 76.28 with 3 centuries in 6 innings. Directly before he got the captaincy he was in the best form of his life.

 

[marc71178]

So his scores were good, but the form was not...

 

[a massive zebra]

So his scores were good, but the form was not...

How exactly can someone struggle for form if they make 3 centuries in 6 innings against Australia and South Africa? Apparently you just cannot admit that you are wrong.

 

[luckyeddie]

So his scores were good, but the form was not...

I'm not buying that one either

 

[tooextracool]

So his scores were good, but the form was not...

its also interesting how he scored 150 odd in the first test against SA and after he got the captaincy he failed for the rest of the series.....you cant get yourself out of this one!

 

[Sudeep]

If Strauss and Vaughan open, Trescothick at 6? Seriously?

 

[chicane]

Well Gilchrist and Ganguly also bat at 6. Maybe it's the slot for aggressive players.

 

[Sudeep]

I am one for specialist openers.

If a batsman has always (or maybe for the most part) opened both in FC and Test cricket, he shouldn't be moved down.

 

[chicane]

I am one for specialist openers.

If a batsman has always (or maybe for the most part) opened both in FC and Test cricket, he shouldn't be moved down.

Off topic - but do you agree with Akash Chopra being dropped for Yuvi?

 

[a massive zebra]

I am one for specialist openers.

If a batsman has always (or maybe for the most part) opened both in FC and Test cricket, he shouldn't be moved down.

Who would you drop then? I would say Trescothick because his technique is very poor by Test standards and he has been struggling recently as bowlers have worked out ways to expose this technical deficiency. It would be a pretty dumb piece of selection to drop someone who has made 200 runs in the last match, and the captain must play.

 

[Sudeep]

Nope I don't.

a) Chopra is a specialist.
b) Yuvraj is unreliable.

 

[Sudeep]

Who would you drop then? I would say Trescothick because his tecnique is very poor by Test standards and he has been struggling recently as bowlers have worked out ways to expose this technical deficiency. It would be a pretty dumb piece of selection to drop someone who has made 200 runs in the last match, and the captain must play.

But Trescothick has just started to show return to some sort of form. It would be unjust to push him down at this stage.

As I said earlier in the thread, either Strauss or Vaughan to be pushed down.

 

[chicane]

Nope I don't.

a) Chopra is a specialist.
b) Yuvraj is unreliable.

But we haven't even tried him out yet. We tried Sehwag and that was probably the best thing ganguly has done as captain.

 

[a massive zebra]

Nope I don't.

b) Yuvraj is unreliable.

Considering Chopra shruggles to make it to 30 it could be argued he is even more unreliable. Yuvraj had far more success than Chopra.

 

[chicane]

But Trescothick has just started to show return to some sort of form. It would be unjust to push him down at this stage.

As I said earlier in the thread, either Strauss or Vaughan to be pushed down.

Strauss has just shown some superb capability as an opener and between Vaughan and Trescothick, it's Trescothick who should be dropped down the order IMO.

 

[a massive zebra]

But Trescothick has just started to show return to some sort of form. It would be unjust to push him down at this stage.

As I said earlier in the thread, either Strauss or Vaughan to be pushed down.

But you said a specialist opener should not be dropped down the order. Vaughan, Strauss and Trescothick are all specialist openers. That implies one of them should be dropped from the side.

How can you drop the captain or someone who has made 200 runs?