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Sri Lanka tour

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The Breen Machine said:
Moeen out of the first test, I wonder if they call up one of the reserves.

FWIW, I don't think Crane and Parkinson are test class bowlers at the moment. Virdi would be the better option for me but do we really need 2 off-spinners, particularly when Root would be called upon? Would also leave a long tail.

IMO, Bairstow hasn't done enough to warrant a recall but the batting is so light that he probably has to play. The other option would be that Buttler plays as a specialist batsman and Foakes takes the gloves at either 6 or 7.

Bowling wise, 1 of Anderson, Broad and Woakes to partner Wood with the new ball with Leach and Bess the spin options. Having said that, no Stokes leaves the bowling attack light so there's a case for Woakes to play so we have a 5th bowling option and Root as the third spinner.

Tough XI to pick I think.
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Is archer not involved have been out of the loop with cricket for a while
 

Archer & Stokes were rested. Pope played in the warm-up but has an injured shoulder so being kept out of the side. Probably.

So yea. Team will look rather different.

I'd actually like to see Parkinson play, but Sri Lanka pitches are generally so slow it's a tough gig for a wrist spinner as you've got no margin for error. I think he'd be an infinitely better Test bowler than Crane. But the pitches would favour faster wrist spinners. Anyway none of those or Virdi bat and Root/Lawrence both bowl off spin.

Wood *has* to play. Unless the pitches are expected to be different to the normal there's just no point in picking 3 seamers. But it's England. So they'll probably screw Wood over for the 452246th time and pick Curran, Woakes, Anderson because they always have to pick Broad or Anderson and fit bowlers who bat around them. Last tour Stokes was the only England seamer to take more than 1 wicket in an innings - that was bang it in stuff.
Oh forgot to mention Rory Burns is supposed to be missing for the birth of his child. Don't know what the latest is there, he was in the warm-up.
Oh wait he wasn't in the warm-up, forget that.
I guess (optimistically) then:


Crawley
Sibley
Bairstow
Root
Lawrence
Buttler
Curran
Bess
Wood
Leach
Anderson
 
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scaly_piscine said:
Archer & Stokes were rested. Pope played in the warm-up but has an injured shoulder so being kept out of the side. Probably.

So yea. Team will look rather different.

I'd actually like to see Parkinson play, but Sri Lanka pitches are generally so slow it's a tough gig for a wrist spinner as you've got no margin for error. I think he'd be an infinitely better Test bowler than Crane. But the pitches would favour faster wrist spinners. Anyway none of those or Virdi bat and Root/Lawrence both bowl off spin.

Wood *has* to play. Unless the pitches are expected to be different to the normal there's just no point in picking 3 seamers. But it's England. So they'll probably screw Wood over for the 452246th time and pick Curran, Woakes, Anderson because they always have to pick Broad or Anderson and fit bowlers who bat around them. Last tour Stokes was the only England seamer to take more than 1 wicket in an innings - that was bang it in stuff.
Oh forgot to mention Rory Burns is supposed to be missing for the birth of his child. Don't know what the latest is there, he was in the warm-up.
Oh wait he wasn't in the warm-up, forget that.
I guess (optimistically) then:


Crawley
Sibley
Bairstow
Root
Lawrence
Buttler
Curran
Bess
Wood
Leach
Anderson
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The only question, literally, is Anderson or Broad

they will play in 1 test each I reckon.

I know Foakes can bat, but its a really strange squad in that there are no reserve specialist batsman, and far too many seamers
brandon said:
Really looking forward to this one now, on nights on Wednesday and Thursday too so will get to watch 2 full sessions when I get home :cool:
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Aye I cant wait either, working nights in the house for first 2 days, so will be same as you I think.

Really enjoyed watching the Oz India game, work just flew.
 
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For me, not that it'll be anywhere close, I'd go

Crawley
Sibley
Bairstow
Root
Lawrence
Buttler
Foakes Wk
Woakes
Broad
Wood
Leach
 
The Rat said:
You need 2 spinners mate, it sounds like it’s going to turn square
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I'd genuinely go root over Bess as spinner....I would give virdi a game but think they are backing themselves into a corner playing bairstow and Lawrence with buttler as wk
Jack Torrance said:
Need 2 spinners. Bess over Woakes and that would be my team
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Originally had that but feared the workload for wood
 
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scotch said:
I'd genuinely go root over Bess as spinner....I would give virdi a game but think they are backing themselves into a corner playing bairstow and Lawrence with buttler as wk

Originally had that but feared the workload for wood
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Haway

Bess did class in South Africa
 
The Rat said:
Bairstow got a 100 in his last test in Sri Lanka, why woldnt he play there :confused:


After playing absolutely zero cricket, especially in extreme conditions?

Be an amazing result, one of England's best for a while if they could do that
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Because since that knock for England and Yorkshire he averages 20 and has 2 half tons in 22 innings.

Nobody can say that is form for
a recall.

Then we should factor in leaving Crawley to develop at 3, after his excellent double ton.
 
Jack Torrance said:
3 Seamers by the sounds of it. I know they’re missing Stokes but I wouldn’t play 3 quicks. They won’t bowl much at all
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Moeen getting Covid changed the plans.

Otherwise your giving a debut to one of virdi and Parkinson. Or giving crane a second test when all are number 11s and the batting depleted already.

Play woakes and Curran and it's a longer batting line up with one of wood/stone as the express pace option.

I don't understand why we need 3 seamers and would rather give one of the reserve spinners a chance.
mackembhoy said:
Moeen getting Covid changed the plans.

Otherwise your giving a debut to one of virdi and Parkinson. Or giving crane a second test when all are number 11s and the batting depleted already.

Play woakes and Curran and it's a longer batting line up with one of wood/stone as the express pace option.

I don't understand why we need 3 seamers and would rather give one of the reserve spinners a chance.
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Nope seems like its going to be one of Jimmy/broad wood/stone and Curran.

I think last time round Jimmy broad and Curran got 4 wickets or something. So that's a great plan
 
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