wayne entwhistle no9
Winger
That means Durham have got Stokes for the Lancs championship match.
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Mackem DJ
Striker
Just dont think there is much point Stokes playing the last test having commited the cardinal sin of batting poorly at No8 (having been the best bowler) they clearly want someone who can get a nice little 27 n.o even if it means they are bowling a little bit of medium-fast dross as 4th bowler.
Unchanged squad of 13 for the 5th Test but agree with you about Finn for Woakes. I think Stokes was dropped initially because of his poor batting and he hasn't realy rectified that so hopefully he'll be released on Friday and should be at Old Trafford shortly fter lunch.
I'd love to know just what it is exactly that Woakes has on the selectors. I had thought the desperation to get him into the team was the work of Ashley Giles, but still, as soon as is remotely possible Woakes is in. And despite two ordinary performances (to put it charitably) he remains, though it is pretty clear he will never make a front line test bowler. He looks like a good bowler, his action is almost perfect. But it has no snap, and him reaching for extra pace as he does now means he does very little with the ball.
Contrast this with Stokes. He has hardly batted at all this season so it is no surprise he has flopped with the bat and in the Lords test he was by no means alone. Stokes took wickets in that match as well, as he almost always does, 22 in 6 tests. He was sent back to Durham even though they knew he would get no first class batting in before the series ended. He was picked as a bowler, and though he might not be the third best seamer in the country, he did not let England down at all with the ball and he will always take more wickets than Woakes. They appeared to want to get rid of him as keenly as they wanted to get Woakes in.
England need bowlers who will be able to take over from Anderson and Broard. They should be picking bowlers who have the potential to play at that level, even if they are raw. We should be looking at Jamie Overton, Tymal Mills, Finn as well as Stokes. Hopefully Plunket will be fit too.
Jordan is worth sticking with. He has an awful run up and a labouring action but he can take wickets, and has done enough ( though not as much as Stokes!) not to be cast aside. But I would put money on Jordan being the man to miss out if Finn was brought back.
Contrast this with Stokes. He has hardly batted at all this season so it is no surprise he has flopped with the bat and in the Lords test he was by no means alone. Stokes took wickets in that match as well, as he almost always does, 22 in 6 tests. He was sent back to Durham even though they knew he would get no first class batting in before the series ended. He was picked as a bowler, and though he might not be the third best seamer in the country, he did not let England down at all with the ball and he will always take more wickets than Woakes. They appeared to want to get rid of him as keenly as they wanted to get Woakes in.
England need bowlers who will be able to take over from Anderson and Broard. They should be picking bowlers who have the potential to play at that level, even if they are raw. We should be looking at Jamie Overton, Tymal Mills, Finn as well as Stokes. Hopefully Plunket will be fit too.
Jordan is worth sticking with. He has an awful run up and a labouring action but he can take wickets, and has done enough ( though not as much as Stokes!) not to be cast aside. But I would put money on Jordan being the man to miss out if Finn was brought back.
smoker
Striker
Seen as possible F.E.C.
Dougal
Striker
Certainly does - just been confirmed that he's been released from the England squad to play for the lads - thank goodness as we need a our strongest team possible for Lancs. A real must win scenario that ......
H
Harry Lime
Guest
Stokes has been released for the Notts one day game only. Although it more than certainly means he won't make the starting 11 for the test. He'll be released Friday morning and make his way to Old Trafford ASAP.
Dougal
Striker
Shoot
got that wrong then. Hopefully, he will be released in time to get up to Old Trafford for KO .... we certainly could do with him ....
H
Harry Lime
Guest
Shoot
I think they'll hang on untill the team sheet has been handed in incase there's any warm up injuries. He should be at Old Trafford in time for the afternoon session. The train is the quickest way and should get him to Manchester just after 1pm.
Dougal
Striker
That makes sense - actually being at the Oval is handy as he can jump on the tube and be at Euston in twenty minutes. Fingers crossed .....
T
The Hunt
Guest
They wont change the team unless the injury to Broard foreces them to.
No way will they drop anyone from a winning team, they will be giving Robson a chance to gets score.
No way will they drop anyone from a winning team, they will be giving Robson a chance to gets score.
They may well not change a winning team. But they would be showing a weakness in not doing so.
As we all know cricket is a vastly different game to football, where changing a winning team is frowned on for good reasons. But in cricket, even when a team has played well and won it is easy to see where the weaknesses are.
There is also a very crowded test fixture list coming up starting next year, something like 17 tests in 15 months. England will need at least another four bowlers who will be able to operate at test level for this. Chris Woakes will never be a front line test bowler. He is already 25 and straining for pace but now and as a result does little with the ball, and his test record thus far reflects his ability. If he couldn't get among the wickets in the first innings at Old Trafford, in very helpful conditions and with a demoralised team 5 down for under 70 he never will.
The Aussies would change the team. The Saffers would change the team. England of Duncan Fletcher and Andy Flower would have changed the team. We won't, because Woakes apparently "needs a chance" . The type of chance not given to Stokes mind, who has made a contribution in all of his tests, including having to bowl the tough overs in Aus and coming into a demoralised and broken team away from home on his debut.
Durham's gain though as has been said. England's disgrace. He is well out of it. He has probably resisted the attempts of the huge cabal of coaches to change his bowling action. Best not to get on the wrong side of David Saker it seems, who, not content with having a leading role in ruining Steven Finn, has now taken it on himself to push relentlessly the case of Woakes because " he sees something" in him.
Mind boggling.
ProfessionalMackem
Striker
I think Woakes in in because of his superb 1st class averages. The selectors have to play him it seems.
Only change should be Finn in for Broad if he's not recovered.
mackembhoy
Striker
Finn will be in as not playing for England Lions today.
Stokes playing for durham woakes isn't for warwickshire.
So either finn for broad or jordan
Stokes playing for durham woakes isn't for warwickshire.
So either finn for broad or jordan
rentaghost
Striker
Its absolutely pointless persisting with Woakes. As a bowler he will never take wickets on flat pitches.
N
NOMOREFALSEDAWNS
Guest
Cant see the sense in selecting Broad for the fifth Test.He has a knee which needs operating on and a damaged nose/face.Give his place to Finn.Simple as.
rentaghost
Striker
There is a test series to win. He has just taken 6/26 in the last test and Finn is as erratic as they come. Broad can rest, recuperate and have his op after the test.
I don't mind Finn when he also has Broad and Anderson there offering control. Simple as what exactly?
N
NOMOREFALSEDAWNS
Guest
The team should be good enough to win without him.He will be carrying TWO injuries.
rentaghost
Striker
Its up to the medical team to decide whether he is fit enough to bowl after the injury last week. His knee injury didn't stop an outstanding performance from him last time out. You don't rest players in the deciding test of a series on the premise that others 'should be good enough'. If the medical team rule him out then that is different.
J
johnson
Guest
He hasn't took wickets though has he?
No way Jordan and Woakes should play.
Really annoying me, all the media saying we should stick with them as young players need time to adapt to test cricket and develop.
Well the player with the most talent adapted to test cricket straight away, Stokes, but you dropped him just because he was out of nick with the bat, he is bowling fine!
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