Durham making a proper arse of this now.
Like watching Kent!
Stokes getting stuffed has probably buggered up the gameā¦
Still not out of it, but we need to bowl really well and take every chance.
Yes, I have a degree in stating the bloody obviousā¦
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Need to break this partnership.
Should have taken that easy catch and it would be broken.
Rawlins not picking the wrong un at all.
He nearly did him with it again at the end of that last over
Yeah, I think Sussex are home and dry now.
Could change now!
Wood is the last chance. Beat him for pace there.
Why is Stokes playing if heās carrying an injury?
Money?
I sincerely hope not.
I donāt think he can play the next test just as a batsman. Maybe he can rest up for the next week.
If he canāt bowl it will be an interesting decision. He showed at Trent Bridge that he can play the patient innings when required, but are there better specialist batsmen we can replace him with? Iām not sure thereās anyone better.
With Vince recalled and Jennings given another chance, I expect England will either be unchanged or, if they are, then Vince for Bairstow.
I think he is good enough to play as a specialist bat, itās just we would need to find room for another seam bowler.
I think if there are any real fitness worries with Bairstow, he shouldnāt play either. Apparently he can hold the bat normally but whether he could do that for long periods is a big question.
Well then, if you want to play 4 seamers (and I think that Southampton is generally helpful to spin, so 3 seamers and two spinners might be an alternative) you have to recall Curran. Jamie Porter could be the fourth seamer, but he canāt bat, so thatās not an option.
Personally I wouldnāt risk Bairstow or Stokes, so my team would be
Cook
Jennings
Root
Pope
Vince
Buttler
Ali
Woakes
Rashid
Broad
Anderson
If we must play 4 seamers (and I suspect they will want to) then Curran in place of Moeen, with Woakes moving up to 7
Iām concerned about Woakesā dismissals in the last game, India seem to have worked out that he doesnāt handle the short stuff too well. Also, I worry about Rashidās lack of intensity. He took a wicket in the last game and his first ball to the incoming bat was a rank wide long hop which went for 4. Really, if selection is based on form in the Championship, then Moeen should come in for him instead having taken 8 wickets and scored a double hundred against Yorkshire last week. Iām not sure Ed Smith will have Rashid dropped though, considering the furore over his selection in the first place. I guess having 2 spinners in the side would mean we would need plenty of runs for them to bowl at. Not a fan of Vince honestly but I guess he will come in for Bairstow and it looks like Jennings will get another go, even though he looks out of his depth and has lost the ability to catchā¦
I donāt have any answers, only questions!
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Me too, Iām only trying to find the most balanced team from the current squad.
Vince is a tentatively (very) poor mans Gower (right hand version). Looks great, but seems to inexplicably lose his wicket after getting in He does have the small disadvantage that he is light years from actually emulating Gower - the classiest English batter Iāve ever seen - but hey ho, heās in the squad, so maybe the selectors still garner some hope that he can come close (I doubt it) As for his catching, send him to long leg.
I think Moeen has been very unlucky in one respect. He could easily have retained his place, had it not been for Rashidās āwonder ballā that got Kohli out in the ODI. His is a much better batsman than Rashid (although itās with the ball that they will be judged) and has the uncanny knack of taking a key wicket early in his spell.
Anyway, weāll know soon. Iāll stick with the 2 spinner option and I wouldnāt be surprised if India pick two spinners too.
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Vince looks like a world beater when playing well, that first innings in the Ashes for instance. If he could apply himself then would easily make the team. Hopefully he will come good.
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