Ashes first test squad

[rentaghost]

He’s got a lot more about him than Vince and especially Ballance mind. I like him. Gutsy cricketer and tougher than he looks I reckon. He maybe comes across slightly innocuous with his bowling and on the face of it, isn’t the type I would necessarily be eager to have in the side, but in actual fact he’s the complete opposite, he keeps having an impact on the game and I keep find myself trying to find ways to get him in our team.

I’d certainly be more confident in him to get more runs up the order than either of those two, who have had more than enough chances, unfortunately for them.

Given time, experience and the right opportunity I think Curran could easily turn himself into a reliable and classy number 3 with the added bonus of being able to bowl left arm seam as a useful variation when conditions suited, but he’d have to want to, and be happy to be used as a frontline batsman and 6th or 7th choice seamer imo.

Fair enough - I disagree though. The 20/20 scene has ensured that we have quite a few bowlers who can bat aggressively and confidently down the order but that is a million miles away from being considered a test match number 3 and that all Curran is, a good lower order bat. He wont be considering being a number 3 in this format, those in power wont be thinking of him as a number 3. Its basically pub talk and fans clutching at any straw because of our current top of the order predicament. I would love to be proven wrong.

 

[Salem Street South]

Don’t get the hate for Denly here, he was arguably our most comfortable batsman in the first innings against Ireland (top scored...ok, not saying a lot I know) and looked alright till Root ran him out. Not saying I’d have him in mind or that he’s one of our best 11 cricketers but I still think he’s got something.

 

[Mr Redknapp]

Don’t get the hate for Denly here, he was arguably our most comfortable batsman in the first innings against Ireland (top scored...ok, not saying a lot I know) and looked alright till Root ran him out. Not saying I’d have him in mind or that he’s one of our best 11 cricketers but I still think he’s got something.

Deserves a chance because Root ran him out.

 

[cooky]

We're told he's a world class batsman, so surely he is the natural choice to move to 3? No?

Maybe with the niggles that Stokes keeps picking up (and some of the superb battling innings he's played recently), his future lies in the Kallis role of no. 3 and occasional seamer.

What a mess we've made of this mind.


2017 spec Duke ball in use, it will be moving sideways all day everyday. There's going to be some spells of absolute carnage.

I reckon we will see a good few 1st innings totals of sub 250, maybe even over half. Can't see either side posting many 400+ scores.

 

[Salem Street South]

Fair enough - I disagree though. The 20/20 scene has ensured that we have quite a few bowlers who can bat aggressively and confidently down the order but that is a million miles away from being considered a test match number 3 and that all Curran is, a good lower order bat. He wont be considering being a number 3 in this format, those in power wont be thinking of him as a number 3. Its basically pub talk and fans clutching at any straw because of our current top of the order predicament. I would love to be proven wrong.

Wouldn’t say it’s straw clutching to be fair, just an opinion based on what we’ve seen of him to date, I think that he’s got a bit more than a T20 bowler who can biff it a bit. I think he’s displayed technique and determination that would make him a success higher up. Others seem to think so too, Who knows. I agree with you that we’re unlikely to find out and I’d also love you to be proven wrong

Deserves a chance because Root ran him out.

I don’t see it like that, but I’m not too upset that he’s being given a go.

 

[rentaghost]

Wouldn’t say it’s straw clutching to be fair, just an opinion based on what we’ve seen of him to date, I think that he’s got a bit more than a T20 bowler who can biff it a bit. I think he’s displayed technique and determination that would make him a success higher up. Others seem to think so too, Who knows. I agree with you that we’re unlikely to find out and I’d also love you to be proven wrong

I don’t see it like that, but I’m not too upset that he’s being given a go.

Why do you think we are unlikely to find out?

 

[Salem Street South]

We're told he's a world class batsman, so surely he is the natural choice to move to 3? No?

Maybe with the niggles that Stokes keeps picking up (and some of the superb battling innings he's played recently), his future lies in the Kallis role of no. 3 and occasional seamer.

He is a world class batsman, don't start all that again. He’s fine at 5.

Stokes doesn’t want to bat higher than 6 because of his workload bowling at the tail.

 

[Mr Redknapp]

Wouldn’t say it’s straw clutching to be fair, just an opinion based on what we’ve seen of him to date, I think that he’s got a bit more than a T20 bowler who can biff it a bit. I think he’s displayed technique and determination that would make him a success higher up. Others seem to think so too, Who knows. I agree with you that we’re unlikely to find out and I’d also love you to be proven wrong

I don’t see it like that, but I’m not too upset that he’s being given a go.

Thought to write him off after one innings is a bit harsh.

 

[Salem Street South]

Why do you think we are unlikely to find out?

The reasons you’ve said tbh. I don’t agree with them, but I think you’re correct.
Edit that doesn’t make sense....the bit about the people in power not seeing him as a 3 I mean

Thought to write him off after one innings is a bit harsh.

I do too, especially when he looked our most comfortable batsman (not saying much). Much bigger test against the Aussies, though.

 

[Jack Torrance]

Thought to write him off after one innings is a bit harsh.

Made a decent score against WI in the last test over there as well, pretty sure he'll be out the team after this test anyway (presuming he doesn't score big) but he deserves his chance

 

[Steak Pie]

He is a world class batsman, don't start all that again. He’s fine at 5.

Stokes doesn’t want to bat higher than 6 because of his workload bowling at the tail.

Kind of the point though.

It's fine to push Root up even though he's got the responsibility of captaincy and it's fine to push Bairstow up even though he has the gloves. The two toughest and most draining positions in the field and it's apparently fine to push them up, but not Buttler who does neither and whom everyone says is world class. Weird.

I reckon we will see a good few 1st innings totals of sub 250, maybe even over half. Can't see either side posting many 400+ scores.

If it's warm and humid tomorrow (as forecast) we might see double digit scores. This board might implode at points.

 

[Voice of fair play]

Denly at 4 is an absolutely minging decision. Moving Root up to accommodate Denly is ridiculous.

Moving Root is not to accommodate anybody!

It’s hopefully to stop us been 30 for 3 like we have been for the last 5 years.

Exposing Root for no reason whatsoever, I’m baffled by it.

Honestly think Curran or Woakes would score more at 4 than Denly

We been exposing our inexperience and lack of quality batsman at 3 for years, it’s more than time for our best and most experienced batsman to take that responsibility.

Kind of the point though.

It's fine to push Root up even though he's got the responsibility of captaincy and it's fine to push Bairstow up even though he has the gloves. The two toughest and most draining positions in the field and it's apparently fine to push them up, but not Buttler who does neither and whom everyone says is world class. Weird.


If it's warm and humid tomorrow (as forecast) we might see double digit scores. This board might implode at points.

Everybody are you sure?

I seem to remember a certain couple of posters on this board saying it was one of the most ridiculous decisions by the selectors in years to pick Buttler for test cricket considering his red ball average.

 

[Salem Street South]

Kind of the point though.

It's fine to push Root up even though he's got the responsibility of captaincy and it's fine to push Bairstow up even though he has the gloves. The two toughest and most draining positions in the field and it's apparently fine to push them up, but not Buttler who does neither and whom everyone says is world class. Weird.


If it's warm and humid tomorrow (as forecast) we might see double digit scores. This board might implode at points.

The point is this is all about your agenda where Buttler is concerned.

 

[Steak Pie]

The point is this is all about your agenda where Buttler is concerned.

Asking why he can't be pushed up the order is an agenda. Okey dokey. Weird.

 

[Voice of fair play]

Asking why he can't be pushed up the order is an agenda. Okey dokey. Weird.

Tbf mate unless I have read your posts wrong about Buttler the last few years it’s clear you don’t rate him as highly as others do.

Which is surprising given his obvious talent and ability to adapt to any given situation

 

[Steak Pie]

Tbf mate unless I have read your posts wrong about Buttler the last few years it’s clear you don’t rate him as highly as others do.

Which is surprising given his obvious talent and ability to adapt to any given situation

In red ball, not really. But his record in the Test side since his last recall speaks for itself, probably second only to Root, and add his experience as vice captain and he's an auto pick for the foreseeable. So why then, is literally every other batsman in or out of the side being moved around apart from Buttler?

Your last sentence there just highlights the point I'm making. If that's all true then he's the obvious pick to go to 3. Yes?

 

[rentaghost]

Asking why he can't be pushed up the order is an agenda. Okey dokey. Weird.

Hes a class middle order batsman who made you look as daft as a brush. Roy will make me look as daft as a brush if he is a success opening the batting in the Ashes but unlike you I will have a chuckle at myself and accept I was wrong and at the same time be delighted. Buttler could move up the order but it would be the wrong thing to do. His ability to counter attack and make partnerships with our lower middle order is our best chance of getting a competitive score.

 

[Voice of fair play]

In red ball, not really. But his record in the Test side since his last recall speaks for itself, probably second only to Root, and add his experience as vice captain and he's an auto pick for the foreseeable. So why then, is literally every other batsman in or out of the side being moved around apart from Buttler?

Your last sentence there just highlights the point I'm making. If that's all true then he's the obvious pick to go to 3. Yes?

The obvious pick is Root has been for years, he started and played his early career as a opener with a lot of success, is our best test player as a batsman by quite some way.

Can’t remeber Buttler other than in T20 batting anywhere near the top order.

Buttler may go up in the future by has very less experience at both test level, red ball cricket and batting at the top of the order than Root.

And besides I have just had a bet on Buttler to be top England run scorer for the series and want him no way near that new ball!

 

[Steak Pie]

Hes a class middle order batsman who made you look as daft as a brush. Roy will make me look as daft as a brush if he is a success opening the batting in the Ashes but unlike you I will have a chuckle at myself and accept I was wrong and at the same time be delighted. Buttler could move up the order but it would be the wrong thing to do. His ability to counter attack and make partnerships with our lower middle order is our best chance of getting a competitive score.

In red ball, not really. But his record in the Test side since his last recall speaks for itself, probably second only to Root, and add his experience as vice captain and he's an auto pick for the foreseeable. So why then, is literally every other batsman in or out of the side being moved around apart from Buttler?

Your last sentence there just highlights the point I'm making. If that's all true then he's the obvious pick to go to 3. Yes?

Yeah, I'm absolutely hammering him like. Only the second best batter in the side and an automatic pick, huge burn there.....

The obvious pick is Root has been for years, he started and played his early career as a opener with a lot of success, is our best test player as a batsman by quite some way.

Can’t remeber Buttler other than in T20 batting anywhere near the top order.

Buttler may go up in the future by has very less experience at both test level, red ball cricket and batting at the top of the order than Root.

And besides I have just had a bet on Buttler to be top England run scorer for the series and want him no way near that new ball!

Fair dos. I think (hope) this is Stoksey's summer.

 

[Salem Street South]

Hes a class middle order batsman who made you look as daft as a brush. Roy will make me look as daft as a brush if he is a success opening the batting in the Ashes but unlike you I will have a chuckle at myself and accept I was wrong and at the same time be delighted. Buttler could move up the order but it would be the wrong thing to do. His ability to counter attack and make partnerships with our lower middle order is our best chance of getting a competitive score.

Spot on