England in Sri Lanka Red Ball



Yes or no, do you think Foakes is a better keeper? If you say no, you're mugging yourself.

And Bairstow hasn't been faultless. He's been good but not faultless - he struggled a bit with byes in admittedly very tough conditions in the summer. And I don't think he could stand up to Anderson the way Foakes was doing today. He might have a go, but I don't think it's really in his locker.

I agree any decision should be batting led. If Foakes had scored 20 in this match, I would not be saying Foakes should be keeper because of his glovework. But he didn't, he scored one of the best hundreds I've seen from an English player on the sub-continent. Not a chance given until he unselfishly gave it away slogging for the team. Absolutely immaculate and turned the game on its head.

The only people who could conceivably make way for him would be Burns or Root, as they are the only players who didn't contribute. But you can't drop either of them, obviously. To drop Burns would be criminal.

How? How many times have you seen him play

Bairstow was faultless

By your standards Foakes did drop one this game

There’s not much difference and to stay in the team he will have to score runs

By the way he stood up to Bairstow in the summer and was class

He’s an excellent glove man
 
How? How many times have you seen him play

Bairstow was faultless

By your standards Foakes did drop one this game

There’s not much difference and to stay in the team he will have to score runs

By the way he stood up to Bairstow in the summer and was class

He’s an excellent glove man

I live in London and my father-in-law is a member at Surrey, so you can stick that one in your pipe. How many times have you seen him play?

Also, I tend to trust to received wisdom of pretty much all the experts who watch a damn sight more cricket than both of us.

I'd say we shall see, but I actually don't think we'll see Bairstow behind the stumps again for a very long time.

I don't want this to turn into a pointless debate. Bairstow is a better batsman than Foakes, almost certainly. All his averages suggest that - at county level, he is much better. Foakes has scored a beautiful century, but people will work him out - that's what happens eventually. Bairstow is proven.

But, I think, in the interests of the team Bairstow should take a leaf out of the likes of Buttler and Ali's book and be a little less precious. If the team needs him up top of the order - which they probably do unless you want to stick Buttler or Foakes up there, which are the only realistic alternative - then that's what he should do.

People are saying Stokes, but for me him and Ali are just too pivotal with the ball. They need more rest than coming in at three.
 
Last edited:
I live in London and my father-in-law is a member at Surrey, so you can stick that one in your pipe. How many times have you seen him play?

Also, I tend to trust to received wisdom of pretty much all the experts who watch a damn sight more cricket than both of us.

I'd say we shall see, but I actually don't think we'll see Bairstow behind the stumps again for a very long time.

Just think he was doing very simple things and people were lavashing praise on him

Bairstow is a world class gloveman, not sure how people can dispute that

Foakes is in my team but he has to score runs as his glove work doesn’t earn him a place
 
Just think he was doing very simple things and people were lavashing praise on him

Bairstow is a world class gloveman, not sure how people can dispute that

Foakes is in my team but he has to score runs as his glove work doesn’t earn him a place

I'm not disputing either of those claims. I'm saying 1) I think Foakes is a better gloveman. But more importantly 2) runs are more important, yes.

Ultimately 2) is the reason Bairstow has to sit out the next test, not 1). There's nobody you can drop, really.
 
Reet lads, just ordered mesel some DCCC gear to wear at the Galle test, but not there til the third day. Look forward to seeing any other DCCC supporters there.

The way the weather is out there atm the third day might be part of the first/second play-wise.

I've got no recent news about tickets so winging it atm. I'll be there with me Pompey PO Club flag.

I thought if I'm going it for some of the games I can be afforded the honour of starting the thread. And will post some pics from Galle & Kandy, hopefully with fellow SAFC/DCCC fans. :cool:


You having a good time out there lad,, it’s blowing a pissy Julio back here atm..... culture shock when ya get back here I can tell ya, fermented fish eating material I can tell you!!!! Miserable has shit from the Downs to the Cheviots . Anyway hope your banana leaf cutelry is clean and don’t give you the shits!
 
You having a good time out there lad,, it’s blowing a pissy Julio back here atm..... culture shock when ya get back here I can tell ya, fermented fish eating material I can tell you!!!! Miserable has shit from the Downs to the Cheviots . Anyway hope your banana leaf cutelry is clean and don’t give you the shits!

Up in Ella now with all the hippies, bit chilly at 1400m above sea level. Fed up with Sri Lankan vegetable curry for breakfast, could kill for a bacon sarnie. Sri Lanka is great, natives a bit iffy though.
 
I live in London and my father-in-law is a member at Surrey, so you can stick that one in your pipe. How many times have you seen him play?

Also, I tend to trust to received wisdom of pretty much all the experts who watch a damn sight more cricket than both of us.

I'd say we shall see, but I actually don't think we'll see Bairstow behind the stumps again for a very long time.

I don't want this to turn into a pointless debate. Bairstow is a better batsman than Foakes, almost certainly. All his averages suggest that - at county level, he is much better. Foakes has scored a beautiful century, but people will work him out - that's what happens eventually. Bairstow is proven.

But, I think, in the interests of the team Bairstow should take a leaf out of the likes of Buttler and Ali's book and be a little less precious. If the team needs him up top of the order - which they probably do unless you want to stick Buttler or Foakes up there, which are the only realistic alternative - then that's what he should do.

People are saying Stokes, but for me him and Ali are just too pivotal with the ball. They need more rest than coming in at three.

I still think its stupid that we trying our spinner at 3 when he is clearly a lower order batsman, we talking about playing Stokes at 3 when he is our all rounder who has never batted at 3!

Yet we have one of the best batsman in the world batting just one place lower, just move Root up just one place higher!

The whole balance of the side seems to be set and risked just to keep him just one place lower!
 
Can't see Bairstow being a success opening in red ball cricket-I Haven't seen him play at the ball with soft hands. As for his wicketkeeping I think Foakes display these last few days has revealed how lacking Bairstow is in the role. Possibly Broad for Rashid otherwise unchanged imo.
 
Up in Ella now with all the hippies, bit chilly at 1400m above sea level. Fed up with Sri Lankan vegetable curry for breakfast, could kill for a bacon sarnie. Sri Lanka is great, natives a bit iffy though.

Nuwara is quite Englishafide, can you not find one there? Or the Ozo Hotel in Kandy if you're there next.
 
I still think its stupid that we trying our spinner at 3 when he is clearly a lower order batsman, we talking about playing Stokes at 3 when he is our all rounder who has never batted at 3!

Yet we have one of the best batsman in the world batting just one place lower, just move Root up just one place higher!

The whole balance of the side seems to be set and risked just to keep him just one place lower!

Here we go again....
 
The general consensus in the media is that Foakes has taken the gloves from Bairstow and Buttler. Time for them to step up with the bat.
 
Said for ages we should have Buttler at three and give him time to make it his own.

Don't think someone as free scoring as Buttler and someone with such little red ball cricket as him should be thrown in at the deep end at 3!

That would be unfair on him and could backfire, I am one of Buttler's biggest fans but batting at 3 is a step too far.

It has to be Root at 3 , as few posters have said there is simply no other viable option there.
 
I'm in the Bairstow as opener camp myself - but lets be honest: they're all punts aren't they? But that's the one I'd roll the dice for first. Burns, Bairstow, Jennings top three, Ali back down to eight, before Curran, behind Foakes, Buttler, Stokes.

But not until the West Indies. We need the six bowlers this series I think.

Main question should be the structure of the attack. I think Broad probably comes in for Rashid but depends on the pitch. That'd be my only possible change.
 
Last edited:

Back
Top