5th Test (The Oval) - 31st July to 4th August

[kevinw]

Agree, I don't see the need to rush Bethell in Tests. I think we have some useful middle order batters breaking through who play a lot of CC and could come in when needed.

 

[GIMH]

The improvements Bethell made from his first Test innings through to the rest of the NZ series really do serve to support the argument that he needs more red ball games. He looked much like he did in that first innings in NZ yesterday. Rest him from the white ball series so he can play championship in September.

 

[Molehill]

The improvements Bethell made from his first Test innings through to the rest of the NZ series really do serve to support the argument that he needs more red ball games. He looked much like he did in that first innings in NZ yesterday. Rest him from the white ball series so he can play championship in September.

Trouble is, we all know that's not going to happen. He'll likely go to Ireland for that 3 match series (which the smart money says will have serious weather issues) instead of playing in the CC.

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

The improvements Bethell made from his first Test innings through to the rest of the NZ series really do serve to support the argument that he needs more red ball games. He looked much like he did in that first innings in NZ yesterday. Rest him from the white ball series so he can play championship in September.

Warwickshire’s remaining Champo games
Surrey 8-11 Sept
Essex 15-18 Sept
Notts 24-27 Sept
England white ball games coming up:
ODIs at home to S Africa (2nd, 4th, 7th Sept)
T20s at home to S Africa (10th, 12th, 14th Sept)
ODIs away to Ireland (17th, 19th, 21st Sept)

What will the ECB do about his schedule? I initially thought the Ireland games were T20, it’s probably a good thing that they’re ODIs because with a World Cup next year I’d imagine the ECB will prioritise T20s over ODIs for now, and Bethell is becoming an important member of our white ball teams

 

[kevinw]

If Bethell is lined up for the Ashes then he has to play CC surely?

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

The mistake was playing the IPL, he's 21, he doesn't need that yet. I don't see how he can be considered for The Ashes unless he plays some red ball cricket between now and then. And as you say, it's hard to see when he will.

Should only be considered for white ball cricket for the time being.

The problem is, if we don’t take Bethell to the Ashes, who do we take? In recent times England have had one spare bat in the squad to take over from whoever is absent, that’s been Bethell or Dan Lawrence (who failed as an opener, probably not good enough at his day job at number 4 anyway), or wicketkeeper batters Jordan Cox, Ollie Robinson and James Rew (the most recent of the three), all of whom are yet to make their Test debuts (Cox of course had a torrid time on the white ball tour to the West Indies). Bethell’s New Zealand tour was a pleasant surprise, but I think Lawrence’s pick for the Sri Lanka series was a missed opportunity

 

[Molehill]

The problem is, if we don’t take Bethell to the Ashes, who do we take? In recent times England have had one spare bat in the squad to take over from whoever is absent, that’s been Bethell or Dan Lawrence (who failed as an opener, probably not good enough at his day job at number 4 anyway), or wicketkeeper batters Jordan Cox, Ollie Robinson and James Rew (the most recent of the three), all of whom are yet to make their Test debuts (Cox of course had a torrid time on the white ball tour to the West Indies). Bethell’s New Zealand tour was a pleasant surprise, but I think Lawrence’s pick for the Sri Lanka series was a missed opportunity

The glaring weaknesses in England's batting order are an opener and number 3. Crawley has kept his spot because no one has really challenged him for it. I have no idea what we do if one of the openers gets injured in Aus (which seems like a certainty). It's kind of funny that the top 3 run scorers in CC Div 1 are Hameed, Sibley and Lyth, all who failed at Test level.

 

[kevinw]

I suppose Pope is the spare keeper and could drop down the order if needed. I'd be tempted to take Hameed but might question how he would handle bouncy pitches. He's not been a Lions pick though. Probably will be one of Haines, McKinney or Gay(?). I wouldn't want to rely on Bethell as the only spare batter in case Duckett, say, gets injured.

 

[Chin Music]

I suppose Pope is the spare keeper and could drop down the order if needed. I'd be tempted to take Hameed but might question how he would handle bouncy pitches. He's not been a Lions pick though. Probably will be one of Haines, McKinney or Gay(?). I wouldn't want to rely on Bethell as the only spare batter in case Duckett, say, gets injured.

Unless Hameed has reverted from his low hands technique, then no chance. One of the three you have named are probably a reasonable choice in the circumstance although it isn't easy choice.

 

[Molehill]

Conditions at The Oval look pretty similar to last night, some pretty thick cloud cover. So it's heavy roller v fresh bowlers.

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

The glaring weaknesses in England's batting order are an opener and number 3. Crawley has kept his spot because no one has really challenged him for it. I have no idea what we do if one of the openers gets injured in Aus (which seems like a certainty). It's kind of funny that the top 3 run scorers in CC Div 1 are Hameed, Sibley and Lyth, all who failed at Test level.

I suppose Pope is the spare keeper and could drop down the order if needed. I'd be tempted to take Hameed but might question how he would handle bouncy pitches. He's not been a Lions pick though. Probably will be one of Haines, McKinney or Gay(?). I wouldn't want to rely on Bethell as the only spare batter in case Duckett, say, gets injured.

Sibley was a bit more successful at Test level than the other two, but still, I’d be shocked to see him back. I would imagine Haines, McKinney and Gay will travel to Australia (the former two are bang out of form, albeit Haines did go big against India A), but if one of the openers gets injured, whoever gets the nod, whether it’s Bethell or one of the Lions, they’ll be thrown into deep water. For the record, England have just one 3 day game against the Lions before the series starts, then a 2 day pink ball game before the second Test, then the Lions have 2 FC games during the first two Tests

 

[Molehill]

Unless Hameed has reverted from his low hands technique, then no chance. One of the three you have named are probably a reasonable choice in the circumstance although it isn't easy choice.

Haines would be the most similar to Duckett, a stocky left hander who will attack most things outside off stump. But his form in the latter half of the season has dropped off and I can't believe he's on the radar.

I've no idea who is on the radar. Still, as crap as Crawley is, he's unlikely to be the worst opener in the Ashes, I suspect Aus will supply that person (yet we've no idea who it is).

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Haines would be the most similar to Duckett, a stocky left hander who will attack most things outside off stump. But his form in the latter half of the season has dropped off and I can't believe he's on the radar.

I've no idea who is on the radar. Still, as crap as Crawley is, he's unlikely to be the worst opener in the Ashes, I suspect Aus will supply that person (yet we've no idea who it is).

Lions top 3 batters in the last year:
India A (H): Tom Haines, Ben McKinney, Emilio Gay
Australia A (A): Alex Davies, McKinney, Freddie McCann
SA XI (A): McCann, James Rew, Hamza Shaikh
Sri Lanka: Rob Yates, McKinney, Oliver Price

A lot of names there, Rew is obviously in the picture but likely at 7 as a wicketkeeper batter

 

[honestbharani]

Lions top 3 batters in the last year:
India A (H): Tom Haines, Ben McKinney, Emilio Gay
Australia A (A): Alex Davies, McKinney, Freddie McCann
SA XI (A): McCann, James Rew, Hamza Shaikh
Sri Lanka: Rob Yates, McKinney, Oliver Price

A lot of names there, Rew is obviously in the picture but likely at 7 as a wicketkeeper batter

Seems like the McKinney guy deserves a shot?

 

[Hungry Llama]

lots of opportunities for spot betting today
-if india win, how many runs will they win by
-will woakes be forced to bat [he was in his whites yesterday]
i wouldnt want to watch that.

anyway very dark already at the oval with drizzel. nasty weather to bat in, least of all for the tailenders.

 

[Molehill]

The Oval is basically full, utterly ridiculous for such a small amount of cricket!!

 

[kevinw]

See, I'd have sent Overton out instead of Bethell last night.

 

[trundler]

Does Overton remind anyone else of Bairstow

 

[honestbharani]

that's that for India then. Hard fought but ultimately a 3-1 loss.

 

[ashley bach]

Massive anti climax incoming if Siraj can't break immediately.