Agreed. Our number three spot is my biggest concern. I can’t see Pope scoring many runs unless it’s a batting paradise and Bethell should probably be coming in at 5 or 6 at this stage of his career.We’ll need the top three to occupy the crease long enough to make life easier for Root. If he has to face a newish ball and fresh bowlers we will be done for.
Do we risk Wood? Love him, but he's more balsa that oak!!!!!Hazelwood has now been ruled out of the first test as well. England will never have a better opportunity to start off the series with a win.
I’d play Carse, Atkinson, Archer and Tongue.Do we risk Wood? Love him, but he's more balsa that oak!!!!!
Totally agree about the lack of prep mate but I think that’s down to the modern day overcrowded schedule more than anything else. Some of the best players in the test squad were playing ODIs in New Zealand just a couple of weeks ago. Arranging a one day series so close to an Ashes series doesn’t sit right with me, and those players would’ve been better off playing two or three warm-up matches in the longer format against quality Australian sides in the run up to the first test.The lack of prep bothers me.
I'm sure they used to play some Aussie reserve team in a test/ODI before playing the real ones.
Bazball seems to be about little prep and spawn the win on the day.
All fair points.Totally agree about the lack of prep mate but I think that’s down to the modern day overcrowded schedule more than anything else. Some of the best players in the test squad were playing ODIs in New Zealand just a couple of weeks ago. Arranging a one day series so close to an Ashes series doesn’t sit right with me, and those players would’ve been better off playing two or three warm-up matches in the longer format against quality Australian sides in the run up to the first test.
For all the critics of Bazball, I honestly think Stokes would’ve had the team acclimatising in Australia a month before the first test if he’d been allowed. He clearly values test cricket more than any other format and the Ashes is the pinnacle of that. Unfortunately, the bloated schedule governs what he can and can’t do.
Totally agree about the lack of prep mate but I think that’s down to the modern day overcrowded schedule more than anything else. Some of the best players in the test squad were playing ODIs in New Zealand just a couple of weeks ago. Arranging a one day series so close to an Ashes series doesn’t sit right with me, and those players would’ve been better off playing two or three warm-up matches in the longer format against quality Australian sides in the run up to the first test.
For all the critics of Bazball, I honestly think Stokes would’ve had the team acclimatising in Australia a month before the first test if he’d been allowed. He clearly values test cricket more than any other format and the Ashes is the pinnacle of that. Unfortunately, the bloated schedule governs what he can and can’t do.
Totally agree about the lack of prep mate but I think that’s down to the modern day overcrowded schedule more than anything else. Some of the best players in the test squad were playing ODIs in New Zealand just a couple of weeks ago. Arranging a one day series so close to an Ashes series doesn’t sit right with me, and those players would’ve been better off playing two or three warm-up matches in the longer format against quality Australian sides in the run up to the first test.
For all the critics of Bazball, I honestly think Stokes would’ve had the team acclimatising in Australia a month before the first test if he’d been allowed. He clearly values test cricket more than any other format and the Ashes is the pinnacle of that. Unfortunately, the bloated schedule governs what he can and can’t do.
I'm just hoping for 4-5 day matches, not 2 day garbage!