Prior at 6?I'd go with
Cook
Carberry
Bell
Pietersen
Root
Prior
Stokes
Swann
Broad
Tremlett
Anderson
Bresnan in for tremlett if fit
Hasn't got a test 50 for ages...
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Prior at 6?I'd go with
Cook
Carberry
Bell
Pietersen
Root
Prior
Stokes
Swann
Broad
Tremlett
Anderson
Bresnan in for tremlett if fit
Well stokes at 6 then whatever.Prior at 6?
Hasn't got a test 50 for ages...
All this because of one test. We won a series on these pitches last time without express pace. The bowlers are not the problem.
Disagree. Pick your best 6 batsmen, you best wicket keeper and your best 4 bowlers - picking bits and pieces players in order to force more "options" in to the team is a recipe for disaster - 5th Test at the Oval was testament to this. I'd go:Cook
Carberry
Bell
Pieterson
Root
Bairstow (W/K)
Stokes
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Mills/Finn/Overton
Dont want to disgard Prior for ever but averaging 15.00 since the tests in NZ where he was outstanding has put some serious doubts in his head about his batting, if he came back stronger he wouldn't be the first england batsman to do so (Bell/Strauss). Giving Bairstow the gloves might allow them to play Stokes in the all rounder position Prior would be vacating. With 5 bowlers in the side hopefully they can pick 1 with some pace as the Aussies are countering our pressure cricket by attacking swann so we over bowl Anderson and Broad. If Finn isn't bowling with good rhythm I'd bring in one of the young quicks from the EPP.
Cook, Carbs, Root, KP, Bell, Ballance, Prior, Bresnan, Broad, Swann, Jimmy
Disagree. Pick your best 6 batsmen, you best wicket keeper and your best 4 bowlers - picking bits and pieces players in order to force more "options" in to the team is a recipe for disaster - 5th Test at the Oval was testament to this. I'd go:
Cook, Carberry, Root, Pietersen, Bell, Bairstow, Prior, Bresnen, Broad, Swann, Anderson
Solid enough batting line up (on paper), put the two younger players amongst the experienced players so as to avoid having 5 & 6 as non-established players. Bresnen for Tremlett gives more control and allows Cook to rotate Broad and Anderson around Bresnen and Swann. Few overs from Root prior to the new ball[DOUBLEPOST=1385553279][/DOUBLEPOST]
Toss up between Bairstow and Ballance - I know nothing about Ballance, but Bairstow has the experience (if not the runs) behind him. Probably less of a risk - we need Prior to step up and start scoring some runs
Disagree. Pick your best 6 batsmen, you best wicket keeper and your best 4 bowlers - picking bits and pieces players in order to force more "options" in to the team is a recipe for disaster - 5th Test at the Oval was testament to this. I'd go:
Cook, Carberry, Root, Pietersen, Bell, Bairstow, Prior, Bresnen, Broad, Swann, Anderson
Solid enough batting line up (on paper), put the two younger players amongst the experienced players so as to avoid having 5 & 6 as non-established players. Bresnen for Tremlett gives more control and allows Cook to rotate Broad and Anderson around Bresnen and Swann. Few overs from Root prior to the new ball[DOUBLEPOST=1385553279][/DOUBLEPOST]
Toss up between Bairstow and Ballance - I know nothing about Ballance, but Bairstow has the experience (if not the runs) behind him. Probably less of a risk - we need Prior to step up and start scoring some runs
Cook
Carberry
Bell
KP
Root
Ballance/Stokes
Prior
Bresnan
Swann
Broad
Anderson
With Bresnan back there's scope to get an extra bowler in without perhaps weakening the batting overall -
Cook
Carberry
Bell
Pietersen
Root
Stokes
Prior
Bresnan
Swann
Broad
Anderson
Stokes and Bresnan are both recognised all-rounders with a combined FC batting average of over 60. They should offer as many runs (at least in theory!) as an out-and out batsman at 6 and an out-and out bowler.
swap bell & root and that's what i would do. wont happen though
I don't like the four-bowler approach at the best of times, smacks of negativity to me, as if they are saying "what if the top 5 don't perform?". You can't pick a side on that basis and expect to be successful long-term, you've got to back yourself. We've gotten away with it in past series on the back of Swann bowling out of his skin. He's by no means on the way down but he is in his 30s and we have to start thinking about how we bowl teams out without a world class spinner. For me that means five bowlers and Stokes (or similar) at 6.
The bottom line is the Aussies were braver than us. They picked a player who goes for runs but gets wickets, he picked up 9. We picked Tremlett over Finn, an fairly economic trundler over a slightly wayward but fast bowling wicket taker with a bit of intimidation. I'm not saying the result would have been different as the batsmen were gash but we simply can't pick Tremlett again unless there's injuries. Bowling high 70's / low 80 MPH just doesn't cut it on these pitches.