England in South Africa

[muckthenuts]

Though tbf i felt England never had a chance in UAE conditions before the series even begun and i'm not surprised at the result, there's still a bunch of room for improvement before the next overseas tour.

For me Moeen should no longer be an automatic pick for selection and i would give up on trying to make him a frontline spinner. England should stick to their strengths by playing 3 seamers and plump for a specialist spinner in Rashid instead. Moeen should be considered a 'batsman who can bowl a bit', too many bits and pieces players otherwise is not the way forward in test matches. Picking him as an opener just to slot him in somewhere as well was a ludicrous decision which rightly backfired. I would like to see Compton come back into the squad to partner up with Cook.

So much inconsistency in the middle order as well. Is Bell's time finally up? But who comes in?

[verndog158]

Don't think moeen was ever going to open in South Africa unless he scored a bundle in the UAE.
I like rashid but he won't play in SA, not many pitches warrant 2 spinners and he isn't consistent enough. Moeen will keep his place at 7/8 and play as our spinner and probably rightly so, his record is not terrible and does have a knack of taking wickets. No doubt we will play jimmy, broad, wood and stokes (if fit). That attack looks fine, and looking at the SA batting this morning, it seems their openers won't score many v us and the series comes down to how Amla and AB go at 4/5.
Bell will defo play; and rightly so. Still one of the better players, and with no one else near pushing his place runs wise you have to go with the runs and experience.
Biggest concern is the keeping/ batting slot. Bairstow doesn't cut It for me, as a batter or a keeper. Buttler is out of sorts, so JB will have the role, but this is where we are really lacking. Taylor should keep his spot.
Maybe call carberry up? Or chuck hales in there? I like hales and think he would score runs, if he sorts the bouncer issue out, but if he is good enough then he will. Maybe open with bell? Don't think there's much point, would keep it simple and go something like...

Cook
Hales
Bell
Root
Taylor
Stokes
Bairstow
Ali
Wood
Broad
Anderson

Balance of that side looks good IMO, and one the coaching staff will fancy to go well, plus the best side we have ATM


Regards

VD

[buzzharvey22]

I'd like to see this:

Ballance
Cook
Taylor
Root
Bell
Buttler (wk)
Stokes
Rashid/Ali/Patel/Croft/Tuffnell/Stephen Hawkings football boots
Broad
Wood
Anderson

Thought Gary Ballance was a little hard done to as he was probably our 2nd best batsmen in 2014. Give him a go opening.

We don't have anything in better than Ian Bell, and he could still have another 3 years in him yet. Move him down the order and slightly out of the firing line to take a bit of pressure off him. I don't know the numbers but i'm 99% sure his stats are better at 5/6 than 3/4.

I don't think Stokes is good enough to bat at 6 consistently. And i'd like to move Buttler up to 6, give him that confidence boost that he is clearly lacking.

My guesses are as good as anyones.

[Longy]

Cook (c)
Compton
Bell
Root
Taylor
Stokes
Bairstow
Ali
Wood
Broad
Anderson

Is what I would pick for Durban, picking Bell on the basis that I don't see a better alternative. Happy to give Rashid a go on pitches that will geniunely turn, unlikely to get one in South Africa. Plunkett to come when Wood misses a test.

[horseplayer]

Like longys side

Personally I would have carberry opening with cook (one full series second top scorer away to the auspices who were rampant then dumped) but that isn't going to happen.

Ali keeps taking wickets a lot of people don't like to believe it but his bowling record over a fair sample now tells us he is not just OK but a very effective spin bowler .

Lots of positives from the uae series. Considering lost all 3 tosses with a bit more luck/ better application could have been 1-1 2-1 or even 1-2.

[TightEnd]

8 of the side pick themselves if fit

cook
x
x
Root
Taylor
Stokes
Bairstow
x
Wood
Broad
Anderson

you can't pick Rashid, will get torn to pieces by that batting line up. Has to be Ali, batting at 8

that leaves an opener and number 3

suppose they stick with Bell and hope he fires, as much for his experience and a lack of an alternative as anything

that leaves opener. Heck knows. I'd pick compton, expect they will give Hales a go

generally cook and root apart the batting isn't strong enough to win a series away in south africa. the seam bowling might be.

ballance, buttler, plunkett, finn and ansari if fit in reserve


by the way for England in the UAE tests

fast bowling 31 wickets at 24, run rate 2.29

spin 20 wickets at 59.85 (!) run rate 4.07

if they are going at over 4 in the uae, and being comprehensively outbowled by the quicks, it doesn't reflect very well

[Woodsey]

Great, will have something to watch on telly over xmas and new year 

[verndog158]

Compton has been basically dumped, harshly yes as his record is alright. Picking hales for UAE suggests he will get the gig.

Plus not sure how amazing their batting is? Look at their test side today, their runs is all 3,4&5 as far as I'm concerned. Their bowling is different! Any side that doesn't need to pick morne Morkel is certainly spoilt for choice

[TightEnd]

Plus not sure how amazing their batting is? Look at their test side today, their runs is all 3,4&5 as far as I'm concerned.

our runs is all 1 and 4

player for player they are a stronger team than us, but our quicks and good pitches give us a squeak 

[fatcatstu]

South Africa are currently getting dismantled by India, nothing to fear here!!

[horseplayer]

Our pace attack will cause issues for any side in any conditions

IF cook and Root continue in form (fairly likely) and even if just one other of the talented middle order has a great series we have a chance

[TightEnd]

South Africa are currently getting dismantled by India, nothing to fear here!!

in mohali

a pitch that the BCCI said was too seam friendly (way up in the north, a lot of dew) so the curator was asked to dry it out so it could favour the spinners more

durban, cape town or joburg it is not

[buzzharvey22]

8 of the side pick themselves if fit

cook
x
x
Root
Taylor
Stokes
Bairstow
x
Wood
Broad
Anderson

you can't pick Rashid, will get torn to pieces by that batting line up. Has to be Ali, batting at 8

that leaves an opener and number 3

suppose they stick with Bell and hope he fires, as much for his experience and a lack of an alternative as anything

that leaves opener. Heck knows. I'd pick compton, expect they will give Hales a go

generally cook and root apart the batting isn't strong enough to win a series away in south africa. the seam bowling might be.

ballance, buttler, plunkett, finn and ansari if fit in reserve


by the way for England in the UAE tests

fast bowling 31 wickets at 24, run rate 2.29

spin 20 wickets at 59.85 (!) run rate 4.07

if they are going at over 4 in the uae, and being comprehensively outbowled by the quicks, it doesn't reflect very well

Jonny Bairstow picks himself? I'm not saying there is anybody better but neither him nor Buttler have exactly nailed down the keeper/batsmen slot. Just shows how poor our team is at the moment. I'd personally still give Buttler the nod.

[nirvana]

Not sure what wickets are like in SA these days but I think it's a toss up between Finn and Wood on who would go better over there. I think taking wickets is more important than economy so would quite like to see Finn in the side. I guess that probably puts a bit more workload on Anderson & Broad and may be why Wood will tend to get preferred.

Lack of solidity at the top is a big concern. Not sure whether Balance is ready for a recall, rarely seen a player look so out of sorts and SA bowlers likely to give him the same test as the Aussie bowlers. Compton I think

Bairstow got to stay in for Buttler I think - not a whole lot better but Buttler's transition from slogger to test player is far from seamless.

Can't believe  there's any question about Ali - outstanding talent

[verndog158]

Not sure what wickets are like in SA these days but I think it's a toss up between Finn and Wood on who would go better over there. I think taking wickets is more important than economy so would quite like to see Finn in the side. I guess that probably puts a bit more workload on Anderson & Broad and may be why Wood will tend to get preferred.

Lack of solidity at the top is a big concern. Not sure whether Balance is ready for a recall, rarely seen a player look so out of sorts and SA bowlers likely to give him the same test as the Aussie bowlers. Compton I think

Bairstow got to stay in for Buttler I think - not a whole lot better but Buttler's transition from slogger to test player is far from seamless.

Can't believe  there's any question about Ali - outstanding talent

Don't get why everyone raves over Finn. One good spell v an ordinary Aussie side this summer and it's almost like he's a second coming. Bowls too many bad balls and no balls. Wood has done nothing but impress and does take wickets

Bowl bowling attacks will go well, comes down to which side bats best