4th Test at Old Trafford, Manchester

[Groundking]

What's up with picking foakes instead of Roy at least he's tough to get out and is mentally strong

We should pick him as keeper and shove Bairstow up to 3, Root 4.

 

[Burgey]

We should pick him as keeper and shove Bairstow up to 3, Root 4.

Much as he hates it, Root has actually been pretty decent at three in a bad batting series. Consecutive low scores made his output seem a lot worse than it actually has been

 

[zaremba]

What's up with picking foakes instead of Roy at least he's tough to get out and is mentally strong

Beats me. He's also a fine keeper. Before the game I called for Roy and Buttler for Pope and Foakes, but YET AGAIN the selectors paid no heed.

 

[Burgey]

Beats me. He's also a fine keeper. Before the game I called for Roy and Buttler for Pope and Foakes, but YET AGAIN the selectors paid no heed.

There’s big wraps on this Pope kid by a lot of decent judges around here. Where does he bat for his county?

 

[Groundking]

Much as he hates it, Root has actually been pretty decent at three in a bad batting series. Consecutive low scores made his output seem a lot worse than it actually has been

He's averaged less than 30 at 3 this series, absolutely ****ing rubbish.

 

[Groundking]

Beats me. He's also a fine keeper. Before the game I called for Roy and Buttler for Pope and Foakes, but YET AGAIN the selectors paid no heed.

The selectors are ****ing clueless that's why and they all need to **** off.

There’s big wraps on this Pope kid by a lot of decent judges around here. Where does he bat for his county?

He bats at 5 usually.

 

[Burgey]

He's averaged less than 30 at 3 this series, absolutely ****ing rubbish.

Feel free to drop him for the last test

 

[Pothas]

We should pick him as keeper and shove Bairstow up to 3, Root 4.

The idea of batting Bairstow batting any higher than 6 really should have been discarded by now.

 

[tcblue]

Yes pope and foakes good shouts butler and Roy not test players we need players with a bit of grit who remembers David steele what a player took on the windies

 

[Groundking]

The idea of batting Bairstow batting any higher than 6 really should have been discarded by now.

Has a ton (his most recent) and a 50 there in 6 innings and averages just shy of 40, it's better than what he's doing down at 6/7. Worth a try imo.

 

[zaremba]

There’s big wraps on this Pope kid by a lot of decent judges around here. Where does he bat for his county?

5. So he doesn't (yet) solve our top 4 issue, but he would be a great replacement for Buttler who's out of nick and short on confidence, and contributing the square root of **** all right now.

Edit: I don't write Buttler off altogether as a Test player, though. But he's not what you need against this top-class attack, and with such a poor upper order above him. Give him a platform and I'm pretty certain there are few more brutal destroyers in the world. But when a platform is unlikely, he's a luxury we really can't afford atm.

 

[Pothas]

Has a ton (his most recent) and a 50 there in 6 innings and averages just shy of 40, it's better than what he's doing down at 6/7. Worth a try imo.

Very different conditions in Sri Lanka though, not sure how much relevance is has for batting 3 in England. Generally his best cricket has come when he has been at 6 or 7.

 

[zaremba]

In other news, in case you're wondering about Moeen Ali's batting form, well he's just absolutely disembowelled a pretty good Sussex bowling attack.

One of the best innings I've ever seen.

 

[fredfertang]

In other news, in case you're wondering about Moeen Ali's batting form, well he's just absolutely disembowelled a pretty good Sussex bowling attack.

One of the best innings I've ever seen.

Indeed - made Steve Smith look like this year's Adam Voges

 

[Pothas]

I think it would be my favourite thing ever if he came back at the Oval for some reason and just played like that against Lyon.

 

[hazsa19]

Very different conditions in Sri Lanka though, not sure how much relevance is has for batting 3 in England. Generally his best cricket has come when he has been at 6 or 7.

Yeh Bairstow has clearly lost interest in becoming a top order test batsman. I think he’s still our best option to keep until Foakes starts making a case in the CC.

The selectors lost the plot before this match. Fair enough giving Roy a crack after the WC, I think we all pretty much thought it was worth a punt? But to persist with him when he’s so clearly not up to it at the detriment of Denly, who just played a nice innings...mind boggling.

Would bring a youngster in to open, it’s not like they could do any worse. Denly back to 4, Pope at 6.

Oh and how impressed are people with Burns? He’s exceeded all my expectations against a quality bowling unit.

 

[theegyptian]

Were England to draw this test I think there is every chance Mo would play at the oval but it would have nothing much to do with his batting.

Their best chance of winning the test would be to prepare a very dry wicket and gamble on winning the toss (and obviously batting first). Mo likely to come in as the second spinner and bat 8.

Then again Bayliss, Smith and Root aare stupid enough to go and bat Ali in the top 6 again.

 

[hazsa19]

Waiting for hasza to post how it doesn’t matter whether your bowling is disciplined and keeps the runs down, and the fact england is going at 2.6 an over is not at all important when they bled runs at nigh on fours.

This is precisely why it matters.

Roy a bit unlucky there. Decked a long way, but he’s so loose. Here’s Johnny Bairstow and his usual cheerful countenance.

**** me touched a nerve. Thought I’d have a dig at the Aussies for the last day at Headingley where, I still actually believe they lost their discipline, without you posting like a ****ing cheeser. I’ve consistently posted high praise for this high quality bowling attack, probably the best I’ve seen live since the early 2000’s Aussies.

 

[zaremba]

I agree that I wouldn't play Ali in the top 6. But if he plays as a specialist bowler we're in the happy place of also having a blessed batsman in sublime form.

 

[hazsa19]

I agree that I wouldn't play Ali in the top 6. But if he plays as a specialist bowler we're in the happy place of also having a blessed batsman in sublime form.

He was supposed to be in good form at the start of the WC. I wouldn’t pick him until he shows he’s got his bowling action back.