4th Test at Old Trafford, Manchester

[Tom Flint]

Burns
Denly
Pope
Root
Stokes
Buttler
Bairstow
Archer
Broad
Leach
Anderson

 

[Tom Flint]

Anderson and broad to take the new ball

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

I don’t know why I wrote times zones. I meant the opposite summer/winter seasons.

Oh **** I got worked up for nothing

 

[Groundking]

Burns
Denly
Pope
Root
Stokes
Buttler
Bairstow
Archer
Broad
Leach
Anderson

Pope at 3 would be dumb.

 

[BSM]

Yeah if Pope comes in he bats 4 or below. Controversial opinion being expressed here, but I don't think Root has looked too bad at 3. Two ducks but conversely two fifties; one a typical 50 and but the other one ultimately being significant to setting up the finish in the third test. I tend to think that Denly should have remained at 3 for the series. He is a county no.3 afterall and was more suited to the role than the others that have been tried out in the last few years. Can't really put him in at three half way through the series though, and Pope has never batted higher than 5 I think (or has he moved up to 4 recently?)

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Whoever bats at three needs for the openers to occasionally bat for at least 20 minutes.

 

[Test_Fan_Only]

Almost everyone here, including me, seems to think Pope should be selected, but will he actually be selected?

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah if Pope comes in he bats 4 or below. Controversial opinion being expressed here, but I don't think Root has looked too bad at 3. Two ducks but conversely two fifties; one a typical 50 and but the other one ultimately being significant to setting up the finish in the third test. I tend to think that Denly should have remained at 3 for the series. He is a county no.3 afterall and was more suited to the role than the others that have been tried out in the last few years. Can't really put him in at three half way through the series though, and Pope has never batted higher than 5 I think (or has he moved up to 4 recently?)

Yeah Root at three doesn't make any sense at all in the lineup they've been selecting but it makes sense medium term in a pool of players with a handful of decent middle order options and no openers. Much as how when Denly was in the middle order was a terrible time to move up him to #3, when an opener is being dropped for a county #4/5 and he's just made a crucial fourth innings 70 odd in a low scorer is a terrible time to move him away from it.

 

[cnerd123]

gonna start a petition to get Jack Leach instated as opener

 

[Burgey]

ok

 

[greg]

why has Sibley gone from being in the squad (ahead of Pope) to being completely overlooked?

 

[Tom Flint]

Yeah if Pope comes in he bats 4 or below. Controversial opinion being expressed here, but I don't think Root has looked too bad at 3. Two ducks but conversely two fifties; one a typical 50 and but the other one ultimately being significant to setting up the finish in the third test. I tend to think that Denly should have remained at 3 for the series. He is a county no.3 afterall and was more suited to the role than the others that have been tried out in the last few years. Can't really put him in at three half way through the series though, and Pope has never batted higher than 5 I think (or has he moved up to 4 recently?)

I think he opened last week and got a double ton

 

[Tom Flint]

No he actually was no 5 lol. Sorry it's early!

 

[wpdavid]

I think he opened last week and got a double ton

No, he batted at 5 when he made his double against Hampshire.

EDIT
Not too early for you to beat me to it!

 

[Farkspark]

Khawaja captain, Carey suddenly keeping and about time. Time for the Paine to stop!

Warner
Khawaja*
Smith
Head
Labuschagne
Carey
Pattinson
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazelwood
Marsh
12 for the test

 

[wpdavid]

Almost everyone here, including me, seems to think Pope should be selected, but will he actually be selected?

He should only be selected if they drop Buttler.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

This could be Old Trafford next week.

Rain doesn't stop play

 

[wrongun]

4 out of 5 days have rain but the days are clear post noon so should get a lot of cricket in

 

[burr]

So, we just need rain for the final two tests. That'll suit me fine thanks.

 

[burr]

This Test series is shaping up a bit like Australia's 2017 India tour.

Going to a place they've failed multiple times previously, they bravely adjust their tactics and selection and are rewarded initially with success on the back of Steve Smith masterclass batting. They look headed towards a series victory but miss golden opportunities for victory midway through the series and ultimately fall short.

England still look vulnerable and Australia have Smith coming back but such a gift opportunity missed might be mentally hard for them to overcome in the remaining two Tests.

I honestly think, considering how atrocious the top seven is bar smith, it'd be a massive upset if Australia won/drew in England.