I would say that Root is safe as a player but there is a question mark as a captain. Obviously Ben Stokes will be ok as well, the other players have to prove they are good enough.Which is one of the reasons why I would persist with Hameed. If he's sacrificed now after three atrocious Tests, then the likelihood is he won't tour the Caribbean. It would also mean he'd have future question marks over his ability to tour Australia in future. I appreciate that there are already question marks over his position in general, but that's arguably true of the whole team (save Root), so I'd persist with Hameed and Crawley at the top for now.
I'd also allow all batsmen to tell any coaches who've been saying they should tinker with their techniques where to go. Any coach saying "trigger movements" and "time out of the firing line" should be shown the door.
It’s back in a two league format next season. However, it won’t be until later this month that we discover what the powers have decided in terms of dates.True. The only time the county championship became really competitive was when the powers that be divided the championship into two leagues.
Based on your last point I think they will stick with Hameed. Forget the runs column by hanging around for 20 overs he did contribute in some small way to today's 'escape'.Your guess is as good as mine. They had Alex Lees in the Lions squad, so maybe they’ll give him a whirl. Heavens, to think there was a time when the selectors fretted over such things as having a left-handed and right-handed opener together; now, they would settle for anyone who could just get through the first twelve overs.
Would agree but we need to remember that the two forthcoming Test series overlap with the IPL, so some players may have to decide where their priorities lie, and the ECB needs to decide how it’s going to manage these realities as it rebuilds its Test team. Going to be a fascinating year and won’t be without bumps and surprises.I would say that Root is safe as a player but there is a question mark as a captain. Obviously Ben Stokes will be ok as well, the other players have to prove they are good enough.
Hope you’re right. I think they just need to decide and stick with him come what may. I didn’t pluck that 12 overs figure out of the air, that is indeed what he’s been averaging, but if he can develop some ‘stickability’, the runs will come. Irrespective of the Test result, I’m sure England would take a 300+ first innings score in Hobart with the runs shared across the top 5.Based on your last point I think they will stick with Hameed. Forget the runs column by hanging around for 20 overs he did contribute in some small way to today's 'escape'.
There was a line from Root's interview that suggests to me that there is no way back for Burns. Talking about Crawley he highlighted that he has 'a sound technique which will stand the test of time'.
Reminded me of a discussion I heard about Burns the other week. I'm paraphrasing but somebody, maybe Farbrace, described him as uncoachable. How do you go about ironing out the flaws in a technique as weird as that, let alone during an Ashes series?
In the context of series gone by there is a bigger justification for calling him unelectable than there ever was for Steven Finn.
but this is England he's nailed on to start on Friday..
I like your optimism.Going first 3 days
No idea what the team will be
Drop Buttler?
…well, I’ve GOT tickets for the first 3 days!!!I like your optimism.
Got to give him a fair crack at it. He's had 10 tests, all against India and Australia, the majority away from home over 5 years. Inbetween his game has fell off a cliff and has had to rebuild his career at a new county ... and he only turns 25 on Saturday!Hope you’re right. I think they just need to decide and stick with him come what may. I didn’t pluck that 12 overs figure out of the air, that is indeed what he’s been averaging, but if he can develop some ‘stickability’, the runs will come. Irrespective of the Test result, I’m sure England would take a 300+ first innings score in Hobart with the runs shared across the top 5.
Boult and Roach are excellent bowlers.Work on that over winter, then if they think he's made loads of progress play take him to West Indies in March, if he needs more confidence, keep him home and let him play County Championship from April to June before New Zealand.
New Zealand and WI should be a nice change because neither of them have a great fast bowler.
They are good bowlers, I wouldn’t say excellent.Boult and Roach are excellent bowlers.