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I just think Bancroft’s pugnacious style would work just as well in a rearguard action at 6 as seeing off the new ball. And in many cases, number 3 comes in not long after the opener.
Rolling Ashes Squad Thread, now featuring Haddin XII v Hick XII beginning p. 147
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Even so Lab and Bangers are being considered off the back of their county form. Lab has made an extra 400 runs so if there is a spot in the middle order he would be ahead of Bangers
Topkent
Confirmed ITK Drafting King
It's not gonna happen but we need to shake up our bowling lineup.
Tait, Lee, Johnson, Starc have all struggled in England.
We really had to throw a cat amongst the pigeons and try an off the pitch seam bowler as well as a swing bowler.
In 09 Hilfy took 22 wickets at 27
Could have been time for a Sayers or Behrendorff. Hell I'd even like Neser to have a look as something different
Tait, Lee, Johnson, Starc have all struggled in England.
We really had to throw a cat amongst the pigeons and try an off the pitch seam bowler as well as a swing bowler.
In 09 Hilfy took 22 wickets at 27
Could have been time for a Sayers or Behrendorff. Hell I'd even like Neser to have a look as something different
LukeParkerno1
Post-Human
Had Sayers in my squad 6 months ago but isn't he still injured?
- Mar 25, 2003
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I don't think he'll play first test, but if our #6 is struggling to score runs, I wouldn't be surprised if selectors consider him likely to contribute just as many runs and bring Neser in at #7 (Worth remembering he batted well for the Bulls last summer). Selectors clearly rate him, and I think he would bring a hell of a lot of guts and soul into the team, but I'm not sure they can work out how to shoe horn him into the XI, because on face value he isn't as good as bowler as the other five front liners.
But he could certainly provide a few headaches in the same manner Tim Murtagh did last week at Lords, and as many medium pacers prior have in the UK. The problem with Neser is I don't think you're going to get much out of him except with the new ball, so would be hard to select him as a front liner, whilst our batting is short enough without playing a keeper at #6 (He's no more than an OK bat) and a bowling all rounder at #7.
If he comes into the team, it would be intriguing to see how they use him. And if he comes into the team, I think he has to be given the new ball, even if that means seemingly leap frogging one or two more credentialed teammates from the fast bowling unit.
Topkent
Confirmed ITK Drafting King
Very well could be. Haven't kept up on the domestic scene lately
LukeParkerno1
Post-Human
Know he hasn’t played for SA last year but he could be fit now and playing county cricket I’m not sure
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What a pisser, almost literally.
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It would be a distinct disadvantage for a batsman to be knock-kneed.
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Sayers has played four games for Gloucestershire and has 11 wickets at 36 (11/400).
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I reckon BBC readers have the English first test team correct
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/49130551
Roy
Burns
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Buttler
Ali
Woakes
Archer
Broad
Anderson
Not a bad team, especially their quick bowling, but not a team that should send fear running through the Australian camp.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/49130551
Roy
Burns
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Buttler
Ali
Woakes
Archer
Broad
Anderson
Not a bad team, especially their quick bowling, but not a team that should send fear running through the Australian camp.
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Not that I am any sort of expert on the English cricket team but feel like that team is a little overkill in the bowling department. They’ve effectively got 6 front line bowlers.
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The English have been pushing this structure for a while.
I think it underutilises Stokes bowling (who is comfortably the best #5 bowler in the world) and means they have a 4-5-6-7 with test batting averages of 36-33-35-29 respectively.
They seem to be working off the principle that their batting is so poor and their specialist batsmen are unlikely to do any better with the bat than their all rounders, so you might as well pick blokes who can bowl in those positions. I think long term they need to revert to a more traditional team structure with just the one all rounder in the top seven (which should be Stokes at either #6 or #7 depending on who they have keeping).
They seem pretty determined to stick to this methodology, but it's had a pretty mixed bag of results.
VirgilHilts
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I think that's just how it is in English cricket at the moment: our best players happen to be allrounders who are just as likely, if not more so, to get runs than the current crop of top order batsmen, of whom only Root is reliable. If that means the allrounders start at 4 then so be it. Even if he wasn't bowling, Stokes would get into the side on the strength of his batting, ditto Bairstow with the gloves (notwithstanding his recent poor form).
Buttler is keeping isn't he?
Bancroft can bat 3
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This will be interesting. He has only kept 1 test since 2015, although he was only picked for a few tests in 2016 and none in 2017.
eth-dog
Tier 1 WW Player
Surely Leach ahead of Ali/Archer? I'd play Foakes as well tbh.
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He possibly gets in front of Ali, but I think they'll stick loyal to Moeen.
I would be very surprised if Archer doesn't line up in the first test.
Me too and I'm still surprised how quickly he was shafted.
I would have Foakes as keeper at 7, try and get a regular top 6 batting line up (which would be the current top 6) with Stokes as your all rounder. Ali/Leech as the spinner, Anderson and Broad spearheads, with Woakes and Archer rotating dependant on the deck (Broad not a complete lock for all five tests, but would need to have a bit of a shocker to get dropped). That's a more balanced line up for me then the BBC readers one I think they will go with.
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VirgilHilts
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Don't think so. Bairstow kept against Ireland and in the final Test of the Windies series.
Cleavy
Hall of Famer
pretty strong lineup to leave Curran out.
eth-dog
Tier 1 WW Player
I suspect the first sides should be along the lines of:
Harris
Warner (I dunno who everyone keeps listing him at 1, he never faces first pill)
Bancroft (Suspect Khawaja won't be fit)
Smith
Head
Wade
Paine (c, +)
Pattinson
Cummins
Lyon
Hazlewood
Burns
Roy
Bairstow
Root (c)
Buttler
Stokes
Foakes (+)
Woakes
Curran/Archer
Broad
Leach
I'm taking the conservative route with Anderson and Ussie.
Harris
Warner (I dunno who everyone keeps listing him at 1, he never faces first pill)
Bancroft (Suspect Khawaja won't be fit)
Smith
Head
Wade
Paine (c, +)
Pattinson
Cummins
Lyon
Hazlewood
Burns
Roy
Bairstow
Root (c)
Buttler
Stokes
Foakes (+)
Woakes
Curran/Archer
Broad
Leach
I'm taking the conservative route with Anderson and Ussie.
Fox haven’t had the right to an Ashes series since that infamous 2013 series. Last Ashes Tour was exclusive to 9 as well.
Spoilt for choice really, got Bairstow, Buttler and Foakes who can call take the gloves.
Foakes has been the keeper of choice lately if I’m not mistaken. Don’t quote me on that though.
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