*Official* England Tour of Sri Lanka 2018

[Gremlin]

I get the feeling from the journos around the team that they reckon this is the genuine launch of Root's team without Cook and only limited input from Broad and Anderson.

The openers deserve a go in the Windies, although I think Jennings may be found out against pace once again, other positions starting to become secure, the all rounders are slotting into place and there is a clear methodology about the style of cricket they wish to pursue.

The emergence of some players this year has been a joy to watch.

 

[Howe_zat]

This is the first ever series where every innings was between 200 and 350.

 

[Howe_zat]

I get the feeling from the journos around the team that they reckon this is the genuine launch of Root's team without Cook and only limited input from Broad and Anderson.

The openers deserve a go in the Windies, although I think Jennings may be found out against pace once again, other positions starting to become secure, the all rounders are slotting into place and there is a clear methodology about the style of cricket they wish to pursue.

The emergence of some players this year has been a joy to watch.

I can't really agree that the allrounders are slotting into place when we have tried a different one at 3 in each game, and we will need to trim one out when we play both seamers.

It's enormously encouraging that we have the talent and depth to consistently get together wins in Asia even including games where things go wrong. But it's hard to see this side providing a foundation for much going forward. This attack will mostly likely never play together again and the top order still needs to get their collective **** together.

 

[Migara]

Congrads for England. We were bad. Rank bad. The only one to shine in the whole series was Dilruwan Perera. He too didn't deliver with the bat. His 50 runs per match would have at least won us a test.

Pushpakumara is ****. He will get collared on flat pitches. Dilruwan may not pick wickets, but he is bloody accurate. Sandakan, who was a revelation when he came in has regressed.

Batting I don't even want to comment other than for DK who tried hard.

But where we lost the series was indiscipline in catching, running, bowling batting.

 

[BSM]

So let's say England were picking a side for the Ashes now... Who plays as the first spinner and do we play a second? I could only see the latter happening if Ali plays an all-rounder but I don't think his batting is much a relevant factor anymore. Is Leach picked ahead of Ali if bowling quality is solely considered? I reckon Ali will probably be first pick tbh but I think Leach would perhaps have a greater impact in a team that already has batting depth covered.

 

[Adders]

Yeah, I can't see Leach playing ahead of Mo in the Ashes. Jennings has justified a bit of the faith the selectors have shown in him but I think we all know he will be cannon fodder for the Aussies. Juries still out for Burns for mine and I'm not yet convinced about YJB at 3 for the Ashes.

All the questions are still there.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Leach gives you control which Mo and Rashid don't. Leach should be first choice as of now.

 

[mr_mister]

Karunaratne is like a modern day Atherton. Stodgy opener who's average of 37 is way better than it looks

 

[Howe_zat]

I would play Moeen even though he does offer less control than Leach. If we're looking at trying to get our spinner to tie it up in the first innings at home we're already a bit ****ed. It's going to be four seamers and then the spinner coming into play late in the game if we're going to win anything, which is why I see Moeen as more likely part of a winning team. And batting does make a difference.

Obviously Leach has done well but he's just done his job on very spin friendly surfaces, like he does in the CC. His home/away record there is pretty stark. On a surface not particularly conductive to spin Leach is likely to be pretty ineffective in Tests.

A harder decision for me is whether to leave out Woakes at home, which sounds just crazy after the last few summers, but we have to fit Stokes, Woakes and Curran into two spots.

 

[Howe_zat]

2016-2018 at home

		M	Runs	Bat	100	Wkt	Bowl	5w
BA Stokes 	14	820	34.16	2	36	29.63	1
CR Woakes 	10	532	48.36	1	48	19.72	2
SM Curran 	5	292	36.50	0	13	23.23	0

 

[Magrat Garlick]

play all three, it's not like you have a specialist batsman that can average 34

 

[MW1304]

Or play all three and drop Broad? Probably harsh.

 

[StephenZA]

Or play all three and drop Broad? Probably harsh.

Is harsh gonna ban Broad now?

 

[harsh.ag]

A harder decision for me is whether to leave out Woakes at home, which sounds just crazy after the last few summers, but we have to fit Stokes, Woakes and Curran into two spots.

You don't actually. All are better than Broad atm.

 

[harsh.ag]

Is harsh gonna ban Broad now?

Heh. Didn't see this until after the above post.

 

[mr_mister]

Woakes still easily better than Sam Curran imo

Really don't see Sam continuing this run in the years to come. Something about his batting seems amateurish

 

[ImpatientLime]

absolutely no way you can drop moeen in england. his record is too good and he is a bona fida match winner on home tracks.

94 at 31 with 4 five wicket hauls.

 

[harsh.ag]

England's next series is ... ?

 

[Howe_zat]

England's next series is ... ?

In the Windies in January.

I'd keep the majority of this side for that. Same top six, 3-6 in any order (it doesn't matter); Foakes, Moeen and Anderson, and two of Broad/Curran/Leach depending on conditions.

Rashid comfortably the 3rd best spinner for me.

Then for the summer you leave out Leach and try to find an opener that isn't Jennings to face real seam attacks.

 

[FBU]

Woakes still easily better than Sam Curran imo

Really don't see Sam continuing this run in the years to come. Something about his batting seems amateurish

For me Curran ALWAYS plays. 20 years old and 7 Tests. Man of the Match and Player of the Series. Root just needs to give him more bowling. The most overs in an inning was 17 when he picked up 4 wickets.
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