Ashes 2017/18

[Junior]

I think I probably would on the basis that they did enough to earn their chance and no one else has been blazing a trail to kick them out. They have had a taste, found their weaknesses, not awful, and hopefully the England set up will be working with them on sorting those out. If we don't go with them we go back to players such as Ballance, tried a few times now, Hamed, tried and worked brilliantly but has fallen apart this year or Jennings who has lost all confidence. I don't see them as alternatives. The other options are trying some of the one day lads in the middle order but the opinion there is they are too loose for test cricket.

Let's stick with them and see what they can do on Aussie pitches. To be fair, ours were not great for those last few matches, it swung around a fair bit, and so they had a tougher baptism than we would have expected.

If it is a total disaster we can always ship in one of the players on the Lions tour who is scoring heavily, hopefully scoring heavily anyway .

I think Westly has a good chance on the wickets in oz with a truer bounce ..... it's a bit easier to play through the leg side when the balls not moving around as much.

Keep him at 3? Or move Root up to 3?

 

[richart]

I think Westly has a good chance on the wickets in oz with a truer bounce ..... it's a bit easier to play through the leg side when the balls not moving around as much.

Keep him at 3? Or move Root up to 3?

I would move Stokes, Bairstow, and Ali and Woakes up a place in the batting order. Our tail is not going to hang around long against Aussie quicks, and can see Bairstow or Ali being stranded. Generally in Oz it is the top order that gets the runs, and the lower order that gets blown away on quicker, bouncier pitches against express pace.

Personally think our only chance is if Cook, Root, Stokes and Bairstow get loads of runs.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I think Westly has a good chance on the wickets in oz with a truer bounce ..... it's a bit easier to play through the leg side when the balls not moving around as much.

Keep him at 3? Or move Root up to 3?

I wouldn't move Root. He is our best player, is comfiest at 4 so leave him there. I wouldn't do anything that could upset his psychology, he is too important to us.

I hope you are right about Westly. It makes sense though, different wickets suit different styles and some of our players may like the extra pace and bounce.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

I think Westly has a good chance on the wickets in oz with a truer bounce ..... it's a bit easier to play through the leg side when the balls not moving around as much.

Keep him at 3? Or move Root up to 3?

Would have to disagree with you on that.

The extra pace and bounce is likely to make it more difficult for a bottom hand player.

Westley, like many other young batsmen, suffers in Test cricket due to the obsession with T20 and one day cricket.

Without fielding restrictions the normal source of runs can be cut off resulting in these batsmen being taken out of their comfort zones.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Keep him at 3? Or move Root up to 3?

Would you move Root? If so would it worry you?

 

[Junior]

Would you move Root? If so would it worry you?

I'd have Root at 3. Sadly, because were usually 20/2 anyway. With him at three its the best chance of getting a solid start. Get through the first 20 overs in Oz and batting becomes a lot easier as the ball doesn't do as much. That's why I'd also have Bairstowe at 4. it's a big ask with him keeping, but he is sheer quality. Then, Balance , Stokes, Hales and Ali would be my engine room. Hales , just because I think the wickets will suit him and he is already an 'international' cricketer. I think the lower middle order could be the making of him as a test cricketer.

Interestingly, there is lots of talk about pace being our downfall. I think it will be Nathan Lyon.

 

[Junior]

Would have to disagree with you on that.

The extra pace and bounce is likely to make it more difficult for a bottom hand player.

Westley, like many other young batsmen, suffers in Test cricket due to the obsession with T20 and one day cricket.

Without fielding restrictions the normal source of runs can be cut off resulting in these batsmen being taken out of their comfort zones.

Maybe. His first class record this season is decent though, and, the bottom hand thing is the way he has always played, a'la John Crawley. He wouldn't be in my starting XI though mate. He be in my squad .

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Junior - Decent shout. I think the Hales in mid order is an interesting one and perhaps worth a try. I think we have to be aggressive in Australia and Hales fits that. At the moment there are enough places up for grabs that a case can be made for a number of players and I would not argue against any of them.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Maybe. His first class record this season is decent though, and, the bottom hand thing is the way he has always played, a'la John Crawley. He wouldn't be in my starting XI though mate. He be in my squad .

This is what I mean when I referred to mental strength.

Pietersen had a poor technique in many ways but also had the strength of character to impose himself upon the opposition.

Unfortunately I have seen no signs of Westley having the same strength. He is listening to advice from various sources to alter his style and I am afraid that ìs only likely to end one way.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Sadly it sounds like it's not good news about TRJ. I understand that he has a suspected stress fracture of the lower back.

If confirmed then it would seem that's it for him and the Ashes. Very sad after he had got his chance.

 

[OnTour]

I like this 👍 I'd bin Westly and go with Vince.

Malan not for me 😕

Cook
Stoneman
Root
Bairstowe
Ballance
Hales
Stokes
Ali
Woakes
Broad
Anderson

Squad players: Leach, Wood, TRJ, Foakes, Westly,

If its a turner and they want to go with 2 spinners, id play Leach for Hales and move everone up 1 in the order.

I send Malan, Crane, Parkinson with the lions to Oz.

 

[Karl102]

I'm not stuck on Ballance. He's the best of an average bunch. I would put Hales in and bar Mo, I would still take Rashid over leach and use him if it's a turning pitch.

I think these discussions highlight how poor the standard of county cricket is. With such a busy international schedule world class players don't get the chance to play, hence our boys are not facing the calibre of player they used to.
Long gone are the days of Waqar Younis, Wasim, Viv or even as recent as Lara, Kallis and Donald....

Look at how well Sangakara has done this year. A truly world class player at the end of his international career smashing county bowlers all over the shop!

 

[Piece]

Ballance isn't the answer and hasn't been for years. That leaky ship has long sailed.

I like the idea of Hales in the mid-order.

Foakes should get a call up to the squad.

Rashid should have been in the team the last few years, so hoping he gets a nod. Can't see it though.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Sky have a few rumours being posted about the squad

Foakes , Billings both being considered

Ballance going and also C Overton as replacement for injured TRJ

Will be delighted if Overton goes - think he can be the next Broad.

Ballance - certainly can go either way , he has had his good series and poor series and was looking good until injury this year so maybe worth giving another go

 

[Beezerk]

Couldn't be bothered starting a new thread.

Ben Stokes arrested in Bristol apparently, will miss the next one dayer, probably as he's still hung over :cheers:

 

[Piece]

Couldn't be bothered starting a new thread.

Ben Stokes arrested in Bristol apparently, will miss the next one dayer, probably as he's still hung over :cheers:

Causing 'actual bodily harm'... to Marlon Samuels?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Stokes and Hales involved and not looking good. No idea what happened but will that affect their Ashes chances?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/41399632

 

[Lord Tyrion]

They'll pick Stokes unless he has done something seriously off the scale. Hales is more vulnerable to a moral decision but as long as he has done nothing worse than Stokes he will be okay.

A bit of d & d will get them a slap on the wrists and a fine, nothing more. Let's hope that's all it is.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

They'll pick Stokes unless he has done something seriously off the scale. Hales is more vulnerable to a moral decision but as long as he has done nothing worse than Stokes he will be okay.

A bit of d & d will get them a slap on the wrists and a fine, nothing more. Let's hope that's all it is.

Rumours of ABH, maybe an assault so pretty serious. I agree that the side needs Stokes (more than Hales) but I guess it depends how this play out

 

[Piece]

Joe Root (Yorkshire) captain
Moeen Ali (Worcestershire)
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Jake Ball (Nottinghamshire)
Gary Ballance (Yorkshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Alastair Cook (Essex)
Mason Crane (Hampshire)
Ben Foakes (Surrey)
Dawid Malan (Middlesex)
Craig Overton (Somerset)
Ben Stokes (Durham)
Mark Stoneman (Surrey)
James Vince (Hampshire)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)

Overton, Foakes and Crane are fine with me. Vince and Ballance?!?! :mmm:

Can't help thinking our middle order is wafer thin here.