Big decisions before the summer

[wayne entwhistle no9]

Surely prior is finished. His keeping has been awful forever really with his batting justifying selection. He can barely chalk so time to move on for me. Surely there are some good keepers out there who could average 30 at number 7. For god sakes mustard could manage it!

If there is better then this is there chance over the next six months. I don't think Bairstow is the answer, ask any Somerset supporter and they all say Keisswetter is a far better player than Butler, thats why they let Butler go and kept Keisswetter they had their choice. Probably a bit early for him but long term i think Ben Foakes at Esex will become Englands next long term wicketkeeper/batsmen. Essex have a massive problem this season with him and Foster.

 

[Carteron]

There was load for hype over priors keeping in the media, but IMO it was bollocks. As a keeper myself (albeit not great) I think his footwork is absolutely horrific and he dives far more than he should have to. He is very poor up to the stumps too and has missed many many stumpings off swann over the years. Even when colly bowled he rarely stood up. He could have done a really good containing job in tests if the keeper was up allowing him to hit a good full length

 

[NOMOREFALSEDAWNS]

The coaches future.

 

[johnson]

I have written off Sydney, we look clueless. But we do need to start putting together a coherent strategy for the future. We have Sri Lanka and India next, and whilst good sides we should be able to turn them over in English conditions (India especially are also rebuilding)

Lots of questions for me, fewer answers

Captaincy
Unfortunately I don't see an obvious candidate. Cook is a solid bloke, if hardly inspirational, and his batting seems to be struggling. I do think he is pragmatic enough that his nose won't be put out if they go elsewhere. Prior?

Batting
Assuming they decide Root is the future, and the jury is out for me, they need to decide now where he bats. If it's as opener, then we need to find a 3 (which for me has to be Bell). If it's 3, then we need an opener. Any opener needs to be strategic and long term. As much as I didn't mind the Compton/Carberry choices, there will be transition in the rest of the order in the next few years so we need to make changes. Ali? Chopra? Frankly I ain't got a clue.
If it's Root at 2, and Bell at 3....the selectors need to decide if they fancy James Taylor at 5 or not
Stokes is a no brainer at 6 and KP should be retained

Keeper
Matt Prior is the best keeper/bat we have had in decades. Is this just a blip? If so, he stays and potentially skippers. If not, who else is there? I'm not at all convinced by Bairstow or Buttler in the test arena, either as batsmen (both have serious limitations) or keepers (neither have kept enough)

Spinner
Do we have one? In my view it's not Monty. He doesn't offer enough with the ball to justify a rabbit and a liability in the field. Is Kerrigan worth another shot? If not, there is no one. If it's a spinning all rounder, the Borthwick at 8 strengthens the side

Seamers
Broad is a no brainer
Has Jimmy lost his nip? In my view, we stick with him but allow sufficient rest whilst at the same time blooding the younger players.
The third seamer is hard. As much as I like Bresnan as a cricketer, we don't need his batting if Borthwick is at 8. Rankin is not the answer long term. Finn obviously has something but needs cricket and needs to start taking wickets for Middlesex. Is Overton ready? Onions obviously, but hardly one for the future

The worry is we need to start blooding players, and very few make a compelling case. Apologies for the long ramble, feel free to disagree

I don't get this at all.

He has to bat higher if he is going to play.