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Test squad for Pakistan


Crawley, Duckett, Jennings
Pope, Abell
Root, Bairstow, Stokes
Foakes
Broad, Potts, S.Curran, J.Overton
Bess, Leach, Parkinson

Would be my squad, dependant on availability.
 
Tricky this like, I am a big defender of Lees and Crawley, they have batted totally and utterly unselfishly, not worried about their average, and tried to get england off to fliers, and its won them a couple of games, it frusrtates me nobody seems to acknowledge that and just looks at a number on a paper. I'd take both but with another lad who could maybe step in, Duckett.

We also need a 2nd keeper remember if Bairstow is out, which he probably is, I trust them on Billings, who is your typical flinty aggressive keeper and a good character.

We need a spare batter and someone who can bowl a bit of off spin like Will Jacks is perfect, just did that role for Surrey.

We can't pick Broad and Anderson together, under any scenario, I dont think Broad will go because of his bairn so I think its a good excuse to change things up. If Wood is fit I'd probs just pick one spinner, with Robinson and Jimmy, I dont see them being big turners. We need back up spin options and would take Ali if he wanted, but he has turned it down. Probs take Bess as reserve spinner and J Overton as a wild card.

17, that us about right.

Crawley
Lees
Duckett
Pope
Root
Brook
Foakes (WK)
Billings (WK)
Stokes *
Jacks
Leach
Bess
Jimmy
Potts
Robinson
Wood
J Overton

I suspect Jennings will go however, both due to recent form and the fact he is good mates with Stokes. I really think Duckett should go too even if that is the case.
Bairstow wont go like, he is out till the new year at least
Salem Street South said:
Think Potts may go, 6 wickets this week and can get it reversing which might be key out there.

They seem like they want to keep faith with players and he was excellent in those first four Tests.
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Potts is a certainty, he also attacks massively with the new ball which is absolutely vital on those pitches.

The real worry is back up for Wood, I have picked J Overton as its about the best we have right now, but I am not convinced he is quick enough considering how wild he is. If Mahmood was fit he'd go ahead. Stone, I just dont trust to get through a game.
 
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The Rat said:
Tricky this like, I am a big defender of Lees and Crawley, they have batted totally and utterly unselfishly, not worried about their average, and tried to get england off to fliers, and its won them a couple of games, it frusrtates me nobody seems to acknowledge that and just looks at a number on a paper. I'd take both but with another lad who could maybe step in, Duckett.

We also need a 2nd keeper remember if Bairstow is out, which he probably is, I trust them on Billings, who is your typical flinty aggressive keeper and a good character.

We need a spare batter and someone who can bowl a bit of off spin like Will Jacks is perfect, just did that role for Surrey.

We can't pick Broad and Anderson together, under any scenario, I dont think Broad will go because of his bairn so I think its a good excuse to change things up. If Wood is fit I'd probs just pick one spinner, with Robinson and Jimmy, I dont see them being big turners. We need back up spin options and would take Ali if he wanted, but he has turned it down. Probs take Bess as reserve spinner and J Overton as a wild card.

17, that us about right.

Crawley
Lees
Duckett
Pope
Root
Brook
Foakes (WK)
Billings (WK)
Stokes *
Jacks
Leach
Bess
Jimmy
Potts
Robinson
Wood
J Overton

I suspect Jennings will go however, both due to recent form and the fact he is good mates with Stokes. I really think Duckett should go too even if that is the case.
Bairstow wont go like, he is out till the new year at least


Potts is a certainty, he also attacks massively with the new ball which is absolutely vital on those pitches.

The real worry is back up for Wood, I have picked J Overton as its about the best we have right now, but I am not convinced he is quick enough considering how wild he is. If Mahmood was fit he'd go ahead. Stone, I just dont trust to get through a game.
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Jennings over Lees and Parkinson over Bess and probs the same 17. Maybe Lawrence over Jacks
 
Jack Torrance said:
Jennings over Lees and Parkinson over Bess and probs the same 17. Maybe Lawrence over Jacks
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I could see Jennings coming in for Lees aye. Think Jacks bowling is superior to Lawrence. Parkinson.....am just not convinced. Bess has got good players out at test level tbf, but I guess they are all marginal calls.
 
The Rat said:
I could see Jennings coming in for Lees aye. Think Jacks bowling is superior to Lawrence. Parkinson.....am just not convinced. Bess has got good players out at test level tbf, but I guess they are all marginal calls.
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I only went Parkinson cos he was Leach’s replacement earlier in summer. I think Stokes might see him as the more attacking option
 
Jack Torrance said:
I only went Parkinson cos he was Leach’s replacement earlier in summer. I think Stokes might see him as the more attacking option
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Fair point aye

I think they realise the lack of lower order runs is an issue tho

I just think Bess gets unfairly maligned his record is decent both at test and county level at somerset and Yorkshire
 
Jack Torrance said:
Jimmy our best bowler in Asia, Robinson and Wood have to go as well. That will probably be our pace attack for the first test
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If Woody is fit, fair enough.

Leave Jimmy and Robbo for the NZ tests, in preparation for the ashes.
Hughesy SAFC said:
If Woody is fit, fair enough.

Leave Jimmy and Robbo for the NZ tests, in preparation for the ashes.
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All in my opinion, of course.
 
Watching the Surrey Lancs game on sky and the commentator (Adam Collins the Aussie journalist) mentioned that Notts spinner Liam Patterson-White was on the reserve list for the last test series v South Africa. So he could be an outside bet for a place on the tour
 
SuperSub said:
Watching the Surrey Lancs game on sky and the commentator (Adam Collins the Aussie journalist) mentioned that Notts spinner Liam Patterson-White was on the reserve list for the last test series v South Africa. So he could be an outside bet for a place on the tour
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Interesting. I suspect they like the fact he’s a three dimensional cricketer and importantly tends to be quite economical. I’m not against him going, but I think it’s absolutely criminal if we don’t take Parkinson. He’s an attacking bowler and he makes things happen. I watched more or less every ball of the series last winter between Pakistan and Australia and in the first two matches the pitches were some of the flattest and most robust I’ve ever seen, to the point where if the Test had been timeless, I don’t think it would’ve started to break up until day 7/8.

What’s more, the new ball was key, as was the short period of time where the teams got the ball reversing. If the pitches this winter are similar, I see no reason to play anymore than 3 seamers - Anderson & Wood with the new ball and Stokes being the third, with an eye of utilising his ability to (reverse) swing the ball prodigiously. I’d play two spinners every game, Leach will be first choice, even though I don’t massively rate him and Parkinson would get the nod for me as the other. Rooty can bowl plenty of overs too. I’m interested to see whether there’s a conversation with either Rashid or Ali too regarding their ‘availability’.

Batting wise, I like our chances with Root and Brook, I also quite like the idea of Duckett being involved as The Rat alluded to. I’ve long been against the idea of picking Test players on their ability to play white ball cricket well, but he’s played the spinners beautifully in the T20’s and I suspect the red ball won’t turn a great deal in the Tests, atleast not in the first dig, they tend not to from memory.

I worry about Lees, I think he’s got a problem with being stuck on the crease against genuine fast bowling and then if he survives the new nut I worry about his technique against spin. I’d have dropped Crawley long ago but once again I find myself contradicting my own opinions on him. I actually think the conditions over there could suit him. Again, like Lees, he’ll have to stick in early on, he’ll have to probably put that airy drive away for the first hour or so of his innings, but should he get through it I fancy him to do well with his counter-attacking style against their slower bowlers.

If I’m picking a 17 now I’m going:


Lees
Crawley
Jennings (can’t leave him at home after the summer he has)
Pope
Root
Brook
Bairstow (fitness pending)
Stokes
Foakes
Wood
Parkinson
Anderson
Leach
Robinson
Duckett
Broad
*Spinner (As mentioned, could be Patterson-White, he’s a fairly solid cricketer, if not I wouldn’t be too against the idea of one of Ali/Rashid)
 
scotch said:
Openers - Crawley (i still wouldnt but they will) Jennings (Duckett spare)
Pope (Duckett backup 3)
Root
Brook (maybe Duckett if he scores heavily in warm ups etc)
Stokes C
Foster WK
Wood
Broad (Anderson to swap, though not sure if they will take both if the pitches are flat)
Robinson
Leach

Team dynamic relies on Stokes being fit to bowl and Root getting through a few overs if it spins.

Reserves - Billings Wk, M Parkinson, Duckett, Lawrence, Anderson/Broad, Potts
Not sure they will take 17 players so Billings might miss out if they go with Pope as the reserve WK
Click to expand...
Lot of buzz about jacks going as a reserve allrounder...
Jennings has to go now on merit
Broad might skip the tour for birth of his child, would free up a tour spot.
 
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