**Official** Pakistan and England in the UAE 2015/16

[TheJammyTurtle]

Is the UAE series on Sky?Ok for me if not as ten sports will probably show it here in Ireland where they aren't geo blocked.

 

[Cabinet96]

Yeah it'll definitely be on Sky Sports.

 

[grecian]

fmd, this countries obsession with the ashes.

Not enough of it IMHO, going to start a thread.

 

[Cabinet96]

Should I make this thread the proper tour thread for the series?

 

[honestbharani]

when does this even start? u guys are already talking so much about this series...

 

[smash84]

I think this starts somewhere towards the end of october

 

[honestbharani]

I juz read the cricinfo future series thingy.. seems to start on Oct 13.. so still a month or so away before squad selection needs to be done, right?

 

[smash84]

yeah, english fans in Ashes euphoria can't wait to formulate their next team for their series against Pak

 

[ImpatientLime]

could mark wood have any complaints if he were left out?

 

[Prince EWS]

could mark wood have any complaints if he were left out?

Would depend who for.

If it was for Finn (was more successful in the Ashes) or Rashid (provides a better balance in the conditions) then no. If you're talking about the squad as a whole and someone like Jordan or Plunkett went in his place though, then yes.

 

[91Jmay]

If we take Plunkett ahead of Mark Wood I will murder someone.

 

[mightymariner]

Moeen wants to open, oh dear

BBC Sport - England: Moeen Ali would welcome chance to open batting

 

[mr_mister]

well he cant be any worse than lyth

 

[harsh.ag]

Cook
Moeen
Bell
Root
Ballance
Bairstow
Stokes
Buttler

In the best case scenario, Moeen could be a Mankad for England

 

[Pothas]

It looks like this might actually happen, I don't like it but I would love it so much if he did well.

 

[91Jmay]

What ever way we go we are going to have huge ?s over our batting, this way we get another spinner in naturally though.

 

[Niall]

Bmac wants Ali to open as weell.

MOEEN TO OPEN
Once the ODIs against Australia are over, England head to the UAE, and the fact is you have to do things differently in Asia.
They will need two spinners against Pakistan, and the best way to achieve that is to turn Moeen Ali into an opener. He’ll enjoy the lack of bounce, and looks like a perfect horse for a course.

That means the end, for the time being, of Adam Lyth. He’ll be a very good cricketer — it just didn’t work out for him against Australia. But the selectors deserve real credit for sticking with him throughout the five Tests. That breeds a confidence within the wider group.
In terms of the tour to South Africa that follows the UAE, you wouldn’t want Ali opening there, because the pitches are bouncier. Alex Hales (left) may come into play

Dangerous England have shaken up the world order with Ashes upset of Australia | Daily Mail Online

 

[marc71178]

Moeen opening effectively means we're playing 6 bowlers. Strikes me as a bit of overkill.

 

[Flem274*]

not over there it isn't. the UAE is the sort of place where hafeez is a world class batsman. plenty of bowling for sides not fully confident in both spin options is a must.

id open with moeen as well. tell him he's a genuine allrounder for just this series and tell him to smash it before yasir and babar come on. he seems keen for the job.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

could mark wood have any complaints if he were left out?

Not if he needs an op on that ankle. If he needs it do it now.