by Dogwatcher » Tue Dec 19, 2017 8:50 am
by batmanbegins » Tue Dec 19, 2017 8:51 am
westozfalcon wrote:The Ashes are lost but I think England should make some changes for the 4th Test to try and find some spark and finish the series on a positive note.
Despite horrendous form, Alastair Cook has earned the right to leave on his own terms so if he has the desire to keep going he must be retained.
I’d drop Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali, and Stuart Broad and bring in highly-rated keeper Ben Foulkes, spinner Mason Crane and fast bowler Mark Wood. Current keeper Jonny Bairstow can play as a number-six batsman.
Woakes is a straight-up-and-down bowler and ordinary batsman. A one-day cricketer and not Test standard.
Broad has a great record but his poor form can’t be tolerated any longer. The only way I’d retain him is if Craig Overton doesn’t overcome his rib injury.
Either way, Wood can bowl consistently above 140km/h and gets good bounce off a length so he should come in to the side. Lack of a genuine quick has been England’s Achilles heel, especially when Australia has three blokes bowling at 90mph plus.
Moeen has apparently been troubled with a finger injury which has affected his bowling. You could give him a reprieve if he was scoring runs but he’s not so should be left out. There’s nothing to lose in giving Crane a run.
I’m assuming Ben Stokes will remain unavailable so this would be my England side:
Cook
Stoneman
Vince
Root
Malan
Bairstow
Foulkes
Overton
Crane
Wood
Anderson
12th Woakes
by Dogwatcher » Tue Dec 19, 2017 8:53 am
DOC wrote:Perhaps a lone voice, but, Smith acts like many young captains and as yet can not control his outer being. He feels the pressure when leading the side and struggles with his emotions yet when batting is a picture of patience.
Some of you may never have seen Alan Border as a young captain but he was far more demonstrative than Smith has ever been.
We are about to be 3 blot and on our way to five bloody nil. Onya Smithy.
by johntheclaret » Tue Dec 19, 2017 9:18 am
by Booney » Tue Dec 19, 2017 9:22 am
johntheclaret wrote:Nothing to see here, move on.
Trouble with you colonials is you live in the past.
Ashes series is old hat now so just move on.
You were lucky, end of.
I’ve asked the mods to close this thread down, it’s just pointless and should be archived Ali e with the 2016 Olympus thread. NO AFL IN THE SANFL
by Dogwatcher » Tue Dec 19, 2017 9:30 am
by Booney » Tue Dec 19, 2017 9:36 am
by Lightning McQueen » Tue Dec 19, 2017 9:42 am
by Aerie » Tue Dec 19, 2017 9:52 am
by Corona Man » Tue Dec 19, 2017 9:55 am
Aerie wrote:Australia have regained the Ashes on the back of Steve Smith, a brilliant bowling attack and the batting cameos of the Marsh brothers. England have performed poorly.
Batting still looking very dodgy. History suggests Warner will come good and Shaun Marsh will continue to produce every now and then.
Mitch Marsh has now given himself some confidence and almost definitely the number 6 spot going in to the South African tour. I would not be at all confident at him coming in at 4-100 on a pitch slightly harder to bat on than the WACA was on Day 3.
We need Khawaja to find some real form going in to the South African tour.
Renshaw and Handscomb, who were looking like the future by the end of last Summer are now on the outer.
Bancroft the jury still very much out.
Maybe Smith is that good (and backed up by the bowlers) that we can ride them through to the next Ashes series. It would be nice to add another couple of world class batsman to the side though.
by Lightning McQueen » Tue Dec 19, 2017 10:01 am
Corona Man wrote:Aerie wrote:Australia have regained the Ashes on the back of Steve Smith, a brilliant bowling attack and the batting cameos of the Marsh brothers. England have performed poorly.
Batting still looking very dodgy. History suggests Warner will come good and Shaun Marsh will continue to produce every now and then.
Mitch Marsh has now given himself some confidence and almost definitely the number 6 spot going in to the South African tour. I would not be at all confident at him coming in at 4-100 on a pitch slightly harder to bat on than the WACA was on Day 3.
We need Khawaja to find some real form going in to the South African tour.
Renshaw and Handscomb, who were looking like the future by the end of last Summer are now on the outer.
Bancroft the jury still very much out.
Maybe Smith is that good (and backed up by the bowlers) that we can ride them through to the next Ashes series. It would be nice to add another couple of world class batsman to the side though.
Good wrap. The unanswered question for me is who is the #2 spinner? Swepson, or will the selectors look at Maxwell for the Sydney test.
Bancroft not cemented yet, but he gets 2 more tests to prove himself.
Starc injured, do the rest him now we have the urn? Do they bring in Bird. Do the even consider Sayers?
by Booney » Tue Dec 19, 2017 10:10 am
by Corona Man » Tue Dec 19, 2017 10:58 am
Booney wrote:Bancroft - Only played 3 Tests and looks to have the temperament to open. Needs a big on in the next 2 Tests now the pressure is off
Warner - Looks like a man batting on his own at the moment. Doesn't seem to have confidence in the bloke at the other end so is just eeking out runs
Khawaja - Not convinced at all that he's a long term #3
Smith - Freak
S.Marsh - On his last chance and batting like it. Good for him.
M.Marsh - Might be the making of him that innings, can he bowl though? I'm not sure he can.
Paine - Dropped a few off Lyon, that partnership will develop over time, looks sound with his batting and like S.Marsh, last chance.
Starc - Can swap with the next bloke
Cummins - Time to move him to 8 and can he bowl Hazlewood length instead of just bumpers? Is that him or Smith asking for it?
Hazlewood - The backbone of our attack. Looks more and more like a bloke who has found his rhythm, length, pace.
Lyon - In career best form
Khawaja worries me, could Warner or Bancroft bat 3 and bring Renshaw back in to open? I know Renshaw is out of touch at the moment but he could be an option.
Could Weatherald be the longer term answer at #3? He must be in the selectors minds for the future.
by Brodlach » Tue Dec 19, 2017 11:38 am
Brodlach wrote:Rory Laird might end up the best IMO, he is an absolute jet. He has been in great form at the Bloods
by bennymacca » Tue Dec 19, 2017 11:49 am
by Corona Man » Tue Dec 19, 2017 11:52 am
bennymacca wrote:No way do we play two spinners unless starc is ruled out.
Given our pace attack is good enough and quick enough to make something happen on dead tracks, the requirement for a second spinner is much less (than say England who looked pedestrian on the flat waca pitch)
by whufc » Tue Dec 19, 2017 11:55 am
by heater31 » Tue Dec 19, 2017 12:11 pm
by beef » Tue Dec 19, 2017 12:19 pm
by Booney » Tue Dec 19, 2017 12:40 pm
Dogwatcher wrote:I'd suggest keep Woakes, bring in Foulkes and bring in Stokes.
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