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Test squad v Ireland

Voice of fair play said:
The controversy is Crawley has been shocking the best imo was to bring back Bairstow into the side keep Foakes and move another player up to open.

Bairstow had to come back in imo too good not too
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Opening is a specialist position, can’t just play anybody there. Fine if want to drop Crawley but Brook or Bairstow can’t open. I don’t get the controversy, 2 different issues.
 

scotch said:
I agree, with a full choice of bowlers to pick from i was expecting a close series but now the Aussie attack has the more threat regardless of pitch surface (nibble/flat, fast/slow).

Broad hasnt looked all that this year tbf, i could see Potts playing the Ashes

Catches more, but his record since 2016 with the gloves is not great, his renaissance has come as a specialised batter.
Its not a great message to send out when Foakes has averaged just under 39 and nearly won us the last test through his keeping at batting.
Bairstow had to come back in, but i wouldnt have given him the gloves
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I think your argument about Bairstow record as a batsman while keeping is a weak one mind, as totally different player recently so don’t see that has relevant at all as soo many years ago and not under this coach and captain where he has been simply brilliant

That said as previously said would have Bairstow and Foakes in the side with Foakes keeping and Crawley drooped
 
MustardAndOnions said:
Unless you open with Foakes, no.

You seem to be trying to create tension, I didn’t pick team, stokes did. I’m simply agreeing with him.

ThAt 3 to 7 is world class, I’m more confident than ever we will win.
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I’m not sure how asking a simple question is ‘trying to create tension’. I’m trying to engage you in debate, you know, the whole reason why things like discussion forums exist.

I know you didn’t pick the team, but you did say you “agree with all of it” in your first post in this thread. You then made the first of your ridiculous false equivalences by suggesting “You can’t drop Brook for Foakes.” I’ve not seen anyone suggesting that Brook should be dropped for anyone, firstly, but you missed the obvious problem straight away because Foakes was in the last squad, so him being in this squad wouldn’t be him being brought ‘in’ for anyone. After that, you’ve seemed to try and labour the point over and again that Foakes can’t be in over Bairstow or Foakes, again, this isn’t the only option, nor has anyone made much of a point of arguing the toss on it. What’s more, you have completely missed the blatantly obvious comparison(s), but I’m starting to think that was intentional.
 
MustardAndOnions said:
Opening is a specialist position, can’t just play anybody there. Fine if want to drop Crawley but Brook or Bairstow can’t open. I don’t get the controversy, 2 different issues.
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It’s pretty straightforward one of our batsman Crawley has been horrendous, where another two Bairstow and Foakes really good, so you drop Crawley and get someone else to open.

As despite it been a specialist position will be better than Crawley ( doesn’t take much) allowing you to keep both above.

Not sure what not to understand about that?
 
brandon said:
I’m not sure how asking a simple question is ‘trying to create tension’. I’m trying to engage you in debate, you know, the whole reason why things like discussion forums exist.

I know you didn’t pick the team, but you did say you “agree with all of it” in your first post in this thread. You then made the first of your ridiculous false equivalences by suggesting “You can’t drop Brook for Foakes.” I’ve not seen anyone suggesting that Brook should be dropped for anyone, firstly, but you missed the obvious problem straight away because Foakes was in the last squad, so him being in this squad wouldn’t be him being brought ‘in’ for anyone. After that, you’ve seemed to try and labour the point over and again that Foakes can’t be in over Bairstow or Foakes, again, this isn’t the only option, nor has anyone made much of a point of arguing the toss on it. What’s more, you have completely missed the blatantly obvious comparison(s), but I’m starting to think that was intentional.
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I’m a bit lost to why you are being so agressive towards me just because I don’t agree with your opinion? Your version of debate seems to be, agree with your view.

Bairstow and Brook are world class middle order players, that’s where they need to play. Stokes is our best ever number 6, he needs to play there, root our best ever batsman, he needs to bat 4

None of them are openers and none of them can play there

Therefore Foakes misses out. Read Atherton’s piece, I agree with all of that.
Voice of fair play said:
It’s pretty straightforward one of our batsman Crawley has been horrendous, where another two Bairstow and Foakes really good, so you drop Crawley and get someone else to open.

As despite it been a specialist position will be better than Crawley ( doesn’t take much) allowing you to keep both above.

Not sure what not to understand about that?
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Who opens? Bairstow and Brook can’t open.

Drop Crawley then bring in another opener then

I’m a bit lost

You can’t pick an opener in an ashes who has never opened in their life, it’s a specialist position.

Is your point open with Foakes or someit? Maybe but it’s unfair on him when he has never done that before
 
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MustardAndOnions said:
I’m a bit lost to why you are being so agressive towards me just because I don’t agree with your opinion? Your version of debate seems to be, agree with your view.
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Where’s the aggression?

No wonder you’re lost. It’s called debate.

I’m pointing out that you seem to be under the flawed impression that it’s either Bairstow or Brook who misses out for Foakes. You’re completely ignoring the fact that Foakes was in the last squad.

If you’re going to state an opinion, be prepared for others to highlight the flaws within it.

You don’t see me dripping because you disagree with my view.
 
Voice of fair play said:
It’s pretty straightforward one of our batsman Crawley has been horrendous, where another two Bairstow and Foakes really good, so you drop Crawley and get someone else to open.

As despite it been a specialist position will be better than Crawley ( doesn’t take much) allowing you to keep both above.

Not sure what not to understand about that?
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Ben Stokes doesn’t agree with you, so yo I can say it’s easy to understand and straight forward, but he thinks the complete opposite to this.

I’m a bit taken back by the negativity of this thread! That’s the strongest 3 to 7 I’ve seen from England since the Strauss team days
brandon said:
Where’s the aggression?

No wonder you’re lost. It’s called debate.

I’m pointing out that you seem to be under the flawed impression that it’s either Bairstow or Brook who misses out for Foakes. You’re completely ignoring the fact that Foakes was in the last squad.

If you’re going to state an opinion, be prepared for others to highlight the flaws within it.

You don’t see me dripping because you disagree with my view.
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It is

They’re competing for the same positions

None of them open

Ben Stokes agrees with me.

You still haven’t answered who opens?

Bairstow, stokes, Brook all bat in the middle order, so does foakes, we can’t pick all 4, so someone misses out.

I’ll keep my opinions to myself next time!

I notice you were doing this on the Durham match thread too so maybe it’s not just against me!
 
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brandon said:
:lol:

Did he ring you up and ask for your opinion prior to the selection meeting like?

Next you’ll be telling me that your dad is bigger than mine :lol:
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No I just agree with his selection

Who opens then? Are you alwayw this aggressive, you were doing it on the Durham and Yorkshire thread when I was observing too.

Ben Stokes is god, he knows what he’s doing.
 
MustardAndOnions said:
I’m a bit taken back by the negativity of this thread! That’s the strongest 3 to 7 I’ve seen from England since the Strauss team days
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How many players make up a cricket team?? Maybe when you consider that you’ll begin to understand why we aren’t all the happy clappers that you are.
 
MustardAndOnions said:
I’m a bit lost to why you are being so agressive towards me just because I don’t agree with your opinion? Your version of debate seems to be, agree with your view.

Bairstow and Brook are world class middle order players, that’s where they need to play. Stokes is our best ever number 6, he needs to play there, root our best ever batsman, he needs to bat 4

None of them are openers and none of them can play there

Therefore Foakes misses out. Read Atherton’s piece, I agree with all of that.


Who opens? Bairstow and Brook can’t open.

Drop Crawley then bring in another opener then

I’m a bit lost

You can’t pick an opener in an ashes who has never opened in their life, it’s a specialist position.
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You can if you think the current opener is very poor and you think someone else will do better than that the current opener who has proved very poor.

Think that’s the bottom line, is whoever moves up be it Pope, Bairstow, Root are whoever will imo do a better job than Crawley.

That will in turn get both Bairstow and Foakes in the side which is best for the team imo.

Still think we will still win like as have complete and utter confidence in the coach and Captain.

But doesn’t mean people can’t have the correct opinion in my opinion that Crawley should not play.
 
brandon said:
How many players make up a cricket team?? Maybe when you consider that you’ll begin to understand why we aren’t all the happy clappers that you are.
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What does happy clapper mean?

The fact you can’t even answer who opens tells me you haven’t thought this through

Ben Foakes can’t open for England in my view, you disagree, fair enough. I’m new to this but maybe talk to people on the forum like you’d talk to people in real life. It’s a deeply unpleasant way to talk to people.
Voice of fair play said:
You can if you think the current opener is very poor and you think someone else will do better than that the current opener who has proved very poor.

Think that’s the bottom line, is whoever moves up be it Pope, Bairstow, Root are whoever will imo do a better job than Crawley.

That will in turn get both Bairstow and Foakes in the side which is best for the team imo.

Still think we will still win like as have complete and utter confidence in the coach and Captain.

But doesn’t mean people can’t have the correct opinion in my opinion that Crawley should not play.
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Crawley has absolutely nothing to do with Ben Foakes.

It’s completely unfair to move likes of Brook and bairstow up when they’ve been so brilliant in the middle order in a position they’ve never batted before in their life.

Why would you want to. They’ve averaged double foakes under mccullum n stokes, they’re our best player, keep them in their best positions.

Never mind this is my last post on England, I’m going to stick to Durham, which is why I originally signed up.
 
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MustardAndOnions said:
What does happy clapper mean?

The fact you can’t even answer who opens tells me you haven’t thought this through

Ben Foakes can’t open for England in my view, you disagree, fair enough. I’m new to this but maybe talk to people on the forum like you’d talk to people in real life. It’s a deeply unpleasant way to talk to people.


Crawley has absolutely nothing to do with Ben Foakes.

It’s completely unfair to move likes of Brook and bairstow up when they’ve been so brilliant in the middle order in a position they’ve never batted before in their life.

Why would you want to. They’ve averaged double foakes under mccullum n stokes, they’re our best player, keep them in their best positions.

Never mind this is my last post on England, I’m going to stick to Durham, which is why I originally signed up.
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Top international sport is not about what is fair or unfair.

It’s about what is best for a team to win a series and imo and looks like many others the best thing for the team is for Crawley to not play.

That said still think they will win as think McCullum and Stokes have this great skill of giving players confidence and freedom.

So bring on the ashes and come on England
 
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Voice of fair play said:
Top international sport is not about what is fair or unfair.

It’s about what is best for a team to win a series and imo and looks like many others the best thing for the team is for Crawley to not play.
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Your first line is 100% right and that’s why leaving foakes out is the correct decsision. Brooks and Bairstow have to play in the middle order, simple as that really, it’s better for the team. Foakes is good but they are better.
 
MustardAndOnions said:
Your first line is 100% right and that’s why leaving foakes out is the correct decsision. Brooks and Bairstow have to play in the middle order, simple as that really, it’s better for the team. Foakes is good but they are better.
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Just going in circles as we often do mate, as both passionate about England.

While I agree Bairstow and Brook better than Foakes and if we had good opener would have no objection dropping Foakes for Bairstow as agree fully with you better option.

But what you seem to not be grasping is our current opener is one of the worst we have had for a long time and with a bit flexibility could have both of them in that side and drop Crawley.

Despite your contrary view it’s a fair view
 
TheRey said:
Yup. This summer is gonna be a much needed reality check for Stokes and McCullum.
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Yeah it feels like that. Some of the noise in the media is baffling of late, almost bordering on arrogance and stupidity. Asking for flat and pacy wickets and saying he’d declare in the last Test to force a result even if we only need a draw.

Of course it’s all just “noise” and he may just be talking bollocks but I’m finding it very bizarre.
 
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