**Official** Sri Lanka in England and Ireland 2016

[wpdavid]

He hasn't.

Fair enough.

 

[harsh.ag]

It has actually been cathartic to watch the steep decline in Ballance's stock.

 

[a massive zebra]

It's an option, especially if he'd be in his natural position at 5. No idea how he's gone in the CC this year though.

Ballance has been appalling so far this season, He appears short on confidence, playing with static footwork and an inability to judge his off stump throughout the season.

 

[grecian]

Ballance has been appalling so far this season, He appears short on confidence, playing with static footwork and an inability to judge his off stump throughout the season.

Yep, I was never an huge fan, but his decline has been pretty sad, hope it's not terminal. There's a certain Tim Robinson feel about it.

 

[YorksLanka]

Pradeep has bowled really well on this surface and deserved more wickets..aaaargh

 

[a massive zebra]

Yep, I was never an huge fan, but his decline has been pretty sad, hope it's not terminal. There's a certain Tim Robinson feel about it.

Ballance is only 26 and has a proven ability to score runs consistently at the first class level. With hard work, coaching support and perhaps a little luck, I believe he can turn this around. Given his calibre, I think Yorkshire will stick with him for some time; even if, purely on form, he does not currently merit a place in the Yorkshire side.

 

[Niall]

Can't be Ian Bell again surely?

Had enough chances and that 71 from 190 balls on an absolute road where Malik strolled to 280 still gives me nightmares.

 

[Groundking]

Ballance is only 26 and has a proven ability to score runs consistently at the first class level. With hard work, coaching support and perhaps a little luck, I believe he can turn this around. Given his calibre, I think Yorkshire will stick with him for some time; even if, purely on form, he does not currently merit a place in the Yorkshire side.

Yeah I agree I think his confidence is just completely and utterly shot to bits, and expect him to eventually come good, he just needs a good score, but if he's not quick enough with it other people will get there and stake a claim in the team leaving him no space to get in.

 

[JRC67]

Can't be Ian Bell again surely?

Had enough chances and that 71 from 190 balls on an absolute road where Malik strolled to 280 still gives me nightmares.

Vince will get the Pakistan series, if he fails I think Bell will come back for India. Sam Robson might be the alternative, or they may push Stokes up to 5 and play an extra bowler in India. Borthwick looks like he is playing in the next test and will get the India series so there's probably ideally a vacancy for a slow left armer to play for during the rest of the summer. Big chance for Leach, Ansari and Patel once again. Rashid might be unlucky if Borthwick gets in as a batsman as I can't see us playing 2 leg spinners.

 

[YorksLanka]

Here's a simple idea, what about playing woakes and Stokes and Ali batting at 3..he is an opener after all!!

 

[Pothas]

There is just no need for 6 bowlers, it is just a way of not making difficult decisions.

 

[JRC67]

Here's a simple idea, what about playing woakes and Stokes and Ali batting at 3..he is an opener after all!!

The one thing the winter proved .... Ali isn't an opener. There is a valid argument that Stokes, Ali and Bairstow are better batsmen than some of the alternatives for the top 5 spots, but I don't think any of them are top 3 batsmen. Woakes's batting seemed to stall when he got picked for England as he'd slowly been working his way up the order at Warwickshire and for a while it was conceivable he could have ended up as a batsman who could bowl. He seems to have both sides of his game working now. I guess its conceivable that at some point one of Ali, Stokes or Woakes could be picked purely as a batsman, with their bowling just a bonus, which will probably be the case with Borthwick. I think you need your best 6 available batsmen in test cricket - but if they can also bowl that's got to be a bonus.

 

[YorksLanka]

The one thing the winter proved .... Ali isn't an opener. There is a valid argument that Stokes, Ali and Bairstow are better batsmen than some of the alternatives for the top 5 spots, but I don't think any of them are top 3 batsmen. Woakes's batting seemed to stall when he got picked for England as he'd slowly been working his way up the order at Warwickshire and for a while it was conceivable he could have ended up as a batsman who could bowl. He seems to have both sides of his game working now. I guess its conceivable that at some point one of Ali, Stokes or Woakes could be picked purely as a batsman, with their bowling just a bonus, which will probably be the case with Borthwick. I think you need your best 6 available batsmen in test cricket - but if they can also bowl that's got to be a bonus.

I agree he had a bad winter as opener but one series isn't enough to judge someone -most others get a few series so why shouldn't Ali..I think he would fill the role and TBH I honestly feel he is wasted batting so low currently..it's true to say that you should pick form players from the county circuit but Vince has proved that the transition isn't that easy..I guess I'm a bit traditional in thinking that I expect the runs to come from the top six and anything else is a bonus..

 

[JRC67]

There is just no need for 6 bowlers, it is just a way of not making difficult decisions.

If your 6th bowler is a better batsman than all the alternatives I don't see whats wrong with picking an all rounder as a batsman. England's clear problem is we don't have many good batsmen, but a decent number of decent all round cricketers. Picking someone who is a less able batsman over an all rounder who is a better batsman, but also happens to be able to bowl seems a poor strategy.

 

[JRC67]

I agree he had a bad winter as opener but one series isn't enough to judge someone -most others get a few series so why shouldn't Ali..I think he would fill the role and TBH I honestly feel he is wasted batting so low currently..it's true to say that you should pick form players from the county circuit but Vince has proved that the transition isn't that easy..I guess I'm a bit traditional in thinking that I expect the runs to come from the top six and anything else is a bonus..

I agree with that, but I don't see his technique being right to bat in the top 3. I wouldn't have a problem with Ali or Stokes being picked as a number 5 batsman and wouldn't be surprised if they do that for the India test series.

 

[Prince EWS]

There is just no need for 6 bowlers, it is just a way of not making difficult decisions.

Yeah, that just turns a strength into a weakness.

Woakes has been awesome here, and that's great news. England now have a really good pool of bowlers and allrounders to call from, and that's important in today's age of so much cricket, frequent injuries and player management. Between Anderson, Broad, Finn, Woods, Woakes, Stokes, Moeen and I guess Rashid as well, England will be fielding a very good five man attack that bats deep every time they play now, even if they've got a couple of injuries.

The batting has some serious holes in it though and just picking more of the bowlers in each game isn't going to help the team score runs, particularly since Moeen isn't any more up to it as a specialist batsman than Compton, Vince or Ballance are.

 

[JRC67]

The batting has some serious holes in it though and just picking more of the bowlers in each game isn't going to help the team score runs, particularly since Moeen isn't any more up to it as a specialist batsman than Compton, Vince or Ballance are.

The batting has very serious holes. My view on Ali is he is at the bottom end of an international batsman. Discount his period opening and his average is similar to J P Duminny at a shade over 35. I don't particularly see him being much different to the 3 names you've mentioned as a batsman, but that also means he's just as good a shout at 5. Stokes is probably better than all 4, and Bairstow clearly is.

 

[Groundking]

Yeah, that just turns a strength into a weakness.

Woakes has been awesome here, and that's great news. England now have a really good pool of bowlers and allrounders to call from, and that's important in today's age of so much cricket, frequent injuries and player management. Between Anderson, Broad, Finn, Woods, Woakes, Stokes, Moeen and I guess Rashid as well, England will be fielding a very good five man attack that bats deep every time they play now, even if they've got a couple of injuries.

The batting has some serious holes in it though and just picking more of the bowlers in each game isn't going to help the team score runs, particularly since Moeen isn't any more up to it as a specialist batsman than Compton, Vince or Ballance are.

He is over Compton for certain, and I'm convinced he is over Vince, and Ballance needs runs in the championship before he gets a recoil, it's whether Moeen or Stokes is a better specialist bat over both Robson and Borthwick, which I don't think either is, which is why you judge between Moeen, Stokes and Woakes who is he better all rounder, which is why long term I'd go;

Cook
Hales
Robson
Roots
Borthwich
Stokes
Bairstow
Moeen
Broad
Finn
Anderson

Which is incredibly harsh on Woakes, but he's the first one in if any of Hales, Robson and Borthwick fail by the end of the India series, or any of the bowlers get injured (including Stokes)

 

[Gremlin]

An interesting option may be
Cook
Hales
Borthwick
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Ali
Woakes
Broad
Finn
Anderson

All batsmen in their natural places.

 

[Compton]

An interesting option may be
Cook
Hales
Borthwick
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Ali
Woakes
Broad
Finn
Anderson

All batsmen in their natural places.

With Bairstow now showing himself to be a test batsman, I don't think this is a bad side. Plenty of bowling options, and an annoyingly long batting line up.