Ashes 2017/18

[TheDiablo]

Confirmed squad out. I don't know why it has surprised me, but actually seeing it on paper confirmed makes me realise just how think on the ground we are. Disappointed to see Malan and Vince in over Hales but other than that can't argue.

My side for the first test would be:

Cook
Stoneman
Vince
Root
Balance
Bairstow
Stokes
Ali
Woakes
Anderson
Broad

Would be v surprised to see anyone with a different view other than the spots at 3 and 5.

Pleased for Overton, Ball and Crane, but I really hope the main 5 bowlers are fit and firing!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Disappointed that Leach didn’t get picked - taking wickets again - think a good number more than Crane but I think Leach is going to be another Somerset player that will not get the call up he deserves. Prob would have got selected if he played at Surrey etc

Very pleased for Overton though

 

[Junior]

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.

Who would you take in place of Balance and Vince ? I don't think the selectors have many options !

 

[Junior]

Confirmed squad out. I don't know why it has surprised me, but actually seeing it on paper confirmed makes me realise just how think on the ground we are. Disappointed to see Malan and Vince in over Hales but other than that can't argue.

My side for the first test would be:

Cook
Stoneman
Vince
Root
Balance
Bairstow
Stokes
Ali
Woakes
Anderson
Broad

Would be v surprised to see anyone with a different view other than the spots at 3 and 5.

Pleased for Overton, Ball and Crane, but I really hope the main 5 bowlers are fit and firing!

I agree. bowling looks a little one dimensional. Shame Crane will be carrying the drinks. I'd have liked him to be getting overs under his belt for the lions. For me, the selection says that they want to mould a new number three and Root wont move from 4. I don't mind Vince, arguably Joe Denly would have done enough through the season to warrant a place above Vince, Hales and Malan.

No surprises really. Feel really sorry for your mate. Just as his career was on a swift ascendency too !!

 

[Dando]

Who would you take in place of Balance and Vince ? I don't think the selectors have many options !

i would've taken Joe Denly. Ok, he's only playing Div2 but hes a decent player and scored a few runs this year.

 

[TheDiablo]

I agree. bowling looks a little one dimensional. Shame Crane will be carrying the drinks. I'd have liked him to be getting overs under his belt for the lions. For me, the selection says that they want to mould a new number three and Root wont move from 4. I don't mind Vince, arguably Joe Denly would have done enough through the season to warrant a place above Vince, Hales and Malan.

No surprises really. Feel really sorry for your mate. Just as his career was on a swift ascendency too !!

Yeah he is pretty inconsolable atm. We tried getting him out for a few beers at the weekend but he doesnt want to know for a couple a weeks. Middlesex have been great though apparently so fingers crossed he gets back fit soon.

As I said earlier in the thread, completely agree with Crane. Waste of a winter if he doesnt play at a stage in his career where he should be bowling loads and developing fast.

Pretty clear Root doesn't want to bat 3! Which is a shame as I would personally like to see Foakes with the gloves batting at 7 and Bairstow in at 4 as a specialist batsmen. Stokes/Ali are easily good enough for 5 & 6 and Foakes is a special gloveman who can actually bat when he applies himself. Averaging over 40 with 'Rey this season.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Hard to understand the fascination with Crane.

Foakes has been selected ahead of Buttler or Billings on current form so why Crane and not Leach?

Are the authorities still concerned about his action?

The batting situation is reminiscent of the 90's when we kept going back to the likes of of Ramprakash and Hick without ever finding an answer.

 

[Piece]

Who would you take in place of Balance and Vince ? I don't think the selectors have many options !

Agree there's not a lot to choose from.

For me, Hales should have gone, not Ballance. Someone tweeted Ballance's last 25 test innings: 18, 23, 1, 0, 29, 6, 61, 0, 32, 14, 6, 43, 23, 70, 28, 8, 17, 1, 9, 9, 5, 20, 34, 27, 4. Average 19.16. Hales's average probably won't be much better tbh, but I think he's a better bet.

Vince is a gamble, big time. Very average summer at average of 33. The reason appears that quick Aussie wickets suit his style. :mmm: . If you're Westley, you have to be disappointed to be dropped for Vince. Sam Robson is another name banded around?

TBH, not many names are banging down the door.

Let's hope Crane gets a decent run and not just a tea-boy.

If Stokes gets charged then another slot available....

 

[Piece]

Disappointed that Leach didn’t get picked - taking wickets again - think a good number more than Crane but I think Leach is going to be another Somerset player that will not get the call up he deserves. Prob would have got selected if he played at Surrey etc

Very pleased for Overton though

Just seen averages for spinners. Leach miles ahead. You have a point LP.

 

[richart]

Hard to understand the fascination with Crane.

Foakes has been selected ahead of Buttler or Billings on current form so why Crane and not Leach?

Are the authorities still concerned about his action?

The batting situation is reminiscent of the 90's when we kept going back to the likes of of Ramprakash and Hick without ever finding an answer.

I reckon it is his action that selectors are worried about. Has he been called for throwing this season ? Don't think he has.

 

[Deleted member 1418]

No KP to be made a scapegoat of this time round so a starter for 10 as to who will be the player rounded on for being responsible for the latest shambles down under!!! 😂😂

 

[Lord Tyrion]

If he has to leave halfway through for a stay at one of her maj's residences then Stokes. Otherwise, there won't be one. No split in the team. No obvious player left at home. The squad is okay but not brilliant. A bit like Australia really.

 

[patricks148]

Who would you take in place of Balance and Vince ? I don't think the selectors have many options !

TBH I'd give anyone a a chance over Ballance.. how many times does he have to fail before they get the message????

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Just seen averages for spinners. Leach miles ahead. You have a point LP.

He is a superb spinner - he takes wickets and looks to me to the best since Swann , the Lions tour ruined him a little when they showed concerns about his actions , little him hung out to dry - he made a few tweaks , got used to it and then started to take hatful of wickets.

Last year he got 60 plus wickets and they took Dawson who had 20 wickets

And this year he has 50 wickets and then take Crane who has 16 ? Wickets

Can’t fathom it

 

[Junior]

He is a superb spinner - he takes wickets and looks to me to the best since Swann , the Lions tour ruined him a little when they showed concerns about his actions , little him hung out to dry - he made a few tweaks , got used to it and then started to take hatful of wickets.

Last year he got 60 plus wickets and they took Dawson who had 20 wickets

And this year he has 50 wickets and then take Crane who has 16 ? Wickets

Can’t fathom it

Me neither....... if a fast bowler had done what he has then they would be a shoe in. To take a guy with 16 wickets at 40+ in his place is crazy. The leggy for lancs, Parkinson, has a better record and he has hardly played.

 

[Junior]

TBH I'd give anyone a a chance over Ballance.. how many times does he have to fail before they get the message????

The cupboard is pretty bare..... Denly ? Looks like it's between Ballance and Vince to get the spot. At least they're not rookies so to speak.

 

[richart]

He is a superb spinner - he takes wickets and looks to me to the best since Swann , the Lions tour ruined him a little when they showed concerns about his actions , little him hung out to dry - he made a few tweaks , got used to it and then started to take hatful of wickets.

Last year he got 60 plus wickets and they took Dawson who had 20 wickets

And this year he has 50 wickets and then take Crane who has 16 ? Wickets

Can’t fathom it

In fairness wickets in Somerset do suit him. Not sure he would get so many playing for Yorkshire. Still think his action is the problem,. Not as if the Aussies would mention it.

 

[Junior]

Anyone seen the footage of Ben Stokes wailing on those guys outside the nightclub ? He's toast. they could throw the book at him and I'd be surprised if they let him in to Oz.

 

[fundy]

Anyone seen the footage of Ben Stokes wailing on those guys outside the nightclub ? He's toast. they could throw the book at him and I'd be surprised if they let him in to Oz.

he'll be lucky not to do time for it, let alone be on the ashes tour, his only "hope" is it deemed self defense but he took it way past that point!

 

[Junior]

he'll be lucky not to do time for it, let alone be on the ashes tour, his only "hope" is it deemed self defense but he took it way past that point!

I know there are two sides and all that, but in the video he followed the guy after the skirmish on the floor and decks him. He's seen throwing a lot of punches and towards the end following a guy before knocking him to the ground. I don't see how he can call the last shot self defense !