Bairstow won't and shouldn't open although he should be up the order but leave him in the middle. I'd love to see Foakes and Overton in the side though.
Squad for the lions has been announced. 3 spinners and 6 seamers in the 17 man squad. Presumably Duckett is the back up keeper.
Dom Bess (Somerset), Joe Clarke (Worcestershire), Paul Coughlin (Durham/Nottinghamshire), Alex Davies (Lancashire), Ben Duckett (Northamptonshire), George Garton (Sussex), Nick Gubbins (Middlesex), Tom Helm (Middlesex), Keaton Jennings (Durham/Lancashire), Dan Lawrence (Essex), Jack Leach (Somerset), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Jamie Porter (Essex), Amar Virdi (Surrey), Tom Westley (Essex), Mark Wood (Durham).
Hope Craig Overton get's in
There could be one or two getting call-ups from the Lions to the Test squad. I reckon the obvious ones would be Westley, Jennings, Leach, Wood.
Hameed wasn't considered for the Lions because of his hand injury.
Moeen has a great record at 7, Woakes is still a fantastic number 8 and then we can have 4 out and out seamers as well. Shame TRJ is injured.
I agree Phenom. Bairstow, Ali and Woakes from 6-8 is still arguably the best 6-8 in the world in the batting department and allows us to bring in another seamer into the line up should Stokes not feature.
I'd preference Overton over Ball to be honest. Ball had a pretty average season especially considering he was playing in division 2. Overton has been really good over the last few seasons, he's not quite as quick as his brother but he's not injury prone and a he's a better batsmen which means he's likely to have an England career.
It's a shame that our bowlers capable of bowling 90+ mph have such bad injury problems; Wood, J Overton, Mills, Meaker.
Could bring Samit Patel in and keep the same strong middle order and 5 bowlers albeit 2 spinners.
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Comment deleted by Site Moderator
comment by Greatteamswinit4times- a terrible enemy (U6008)
posted 2 minutes ago
If Stokes is out then it's just Bairstow 6, Ali 7, Woakes 8 and then you bring in another seam bowling option. Lets be honest, 6,7 and 8 will probably score more than 2, 3 and 5 anyway.
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1000% this. If we lose Cook early on then we have to rely on Root to damage the scoreboard, can Stoneman and Malan do well on Australian wickets?
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Comment deleted by Site Moderator
For any neutrals no Ashes without Stokes makes it more interesting, we have a good spine of the team, Cook, Root, Broad, Jimmy, Alli, Bairstow
If they consistently perform we need others to step up
For me, no Stokes would hand a big advantage to Australia, who were already favourites. And surely most neutrals would want to watch Stokes play? But I wouldn't totally count out England even without Stokes. This isn't the greatest Australian side ever.
comment by Greatteamswinit4times- a terrible enemy (U6008)
posted 1 hour, 16 minutes ago
I think Vince in naturally good enough to score runs there. His issue is that he cannot rein it in when needed. He'll get 25 or 30 and nick off time and time again.
Ballance deserves a shot at 5 considering his record there for Yorkshire. He isn't a 3. I also fear his technique against someone like Starc who is quick and full. He plays so deep that he's a walking LBW.
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This, Vince will score pretty 20s or 30s but his strength is also his biggest weakness. He'll drive some of the most pleasing looking strokes you'll see to the boundary and make you think "wow, he looks in great tou...ah, he'd nicked to slip again!"
Australia in England, we win this hands down
In Australia it becomes a tougher test
comment by Thudd (U1029)
posted 8 minutes ago
For any neutrals no Ashes without Stokes makes it more interesting, we have a good spine of the team, Cook, Root, Broad, Jimmy, Alli, Bairstow
If they consistently perform we need others to step up
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I fancy Stoneman to have a good series and I'll make a bold prediction and say I think he'll end up with a better average than Cook. And if Cook can match his 2010/11 exploits then you won't see the Aussies taking too many wickets.
Problem is Ballance or Vince are going to bat at number 3 when they are better off lower down. Root may as well bat there because we will be 10 for 2 in most tests probably. Stoneman needs a big series to prove me wrong there.
Ballance/Vince/Malan fighting for 2 spots at 4 and 5 for me. Then we will rely on 6,7,8 which is easily the strongest in the world.
Would be great to see Woakes get a maiden ton in the ashes.
The other possibility should Stokes miss out, which is a scary one, is that if England go a bit defensive decide they want an extra bat then they could end up going...
Cook
Stoneman
Ballance
Root
Vince
Malan
Bairstow
Ali
Woakes
Broad
Anderson
On the basis that Vince can bowl a bit of medium pace dross and Malan's part time leg spin isn't too bad to complete a few overs.
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
comment by Phenom (U20037)
posted 41 minutes ago
Problem is Ballance or Vince are going to bat at number 3 when they are better off lower down. Root may as well bat there because we will be 10 for 2 in most tests probably. Stoneman needs a big series to prove me wrong there.
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I actually like Malan over Stoneman, he's looked more confident with the bat in the last few tests.
Stoneman looks shakey
comment by The Candlestick Maker (U8959)
posted 19 minutes ago
The other possibility should Stokes miss out, which is a scary one, is that if England go a bit defensive decide they want an extra bat then they could end up going...
Cook
Stoneman
Ballance
Root
Vince
Malan
Bairstow
Ali
Woakes
Broad
Anderson
On the basis that Vince can bowl a bit of medium pace dross and Malan's part time leg spin isn't too bad to complete a few overs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
that's the problem england have is they cannot field a team like this, which they may have got away with in the past, because the batters now i not reliable coming in
I don't think we will go for that line up but it's not out of the realms of possibility. I feel we'll do the right thing and pick Overton if Stokes doesn't tour.
It is a horrible looking line up though and there's no obvious solutions to our batting woes.
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Ashes Starting Line Up for 1st test
Page 2 of 5
posted on 30/9/17
Bairstow won't and shouldn't open although he should be up the order but leave him in the middle. I'd love to see Foakes and Overton in the side though.
posted on 2/10/17
Squad for the lions has been announced. 3 spinners and 6 seamers in the 17 man squad. Presumably Duckett is the back up keeper.
Dom Bess (Somerset), Joe Clarke (Worcestershire), Paul Coughlin (Durham/Nottinghamshire), Alex Davies (Lancashire), Ben Duckett (Northamptonshire), George Garton (Sussex), Nick Gubbins (Middlesex), Tom Helm (Middlesex), Keaton Jennings (Durham/Lancashire), Dan Lawrence (Essex), Jack Leach (Somerset), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Jamie Porter (Essex), Amar Virdi (Surrey), Tom Westley (Essex), Mark Wood (Durham).
posted on 2/10/17
Hope Craig Overton get's in
posted on 2/10/17
There could be one or two getting call-ups from the Lions to the Test squad. I reckon the obvious ones would be Westley, Jennings, Leach, Wood.
Hameed wasn't considered for the Lions because of his hand injury.
posted on 3/10/17
Moeen has a great record at 7, Woakes is still a fantastic number 8 and then we can have 4 out and out seamers as well. Shame TRJ is injured.
posted on 3/10/17
I agree Phenom. Bairstow, Ali and Woakes from 6-8 is still arguably the best 6-8 in the world in the batting department and allows us to bring in another seamer into the line up should Stokes not feature.
I'd preference Overton over Ball to be honest. Ball had a pretty average season especially considering he was playing in division 2. Overton has been really good over the last few seasons, he's not quite as quick as his brother but he's not injury prone and a he's a better batsmen which means he's likely to have an England career.
It's a shame that our bowlers capable of bowling 90+ mph have such bad injury problems; Wood, J Overton, Mills, Meaker.
posted on 3/10/17
Could bring Samit Patel in and keep the same strong middle order and 5 bowlers albeit 2 spinners.
posted on 4/10/17
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 4/10/17
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 4/10/17
comment by Greatteamswinit4times- a terrible enemy (U6008)
posted 2 minutes ago
If Stokes is out then it's just Bairstow 6, Ali 7, Woakes 8 and then you bring in another seam bowling option. Lets be honest, 6,7 and 8 will probably score more than 2, 3 and 5 anyway.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1000% this. If we lose Cook early on then we have to rely on Root to damage the scoreboard, can Stoneman and Malan do well on Australian wickets?
posted on 4/10/17
Or Vince and Ballance
posted on 4/10/17
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 4/10/17
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 4/10/17
For any neutrals no Ashes without Stokes makes it more interesting, we have a good spine of the team, Cook, Root, Broad, Jimmy, Alli, Bairstow
If they consistently perform we need others to step up
posted on 4/10/17
For me, no Stokes would hand a big advantage to Australia, who were already favourites. And surely most neutrals would want to watch Stokes play? But I wouldn't totally count out England even without Stokes. This isn't the greatest Australian side ever.
posted on 4/10/17
comment by Greatteamswinit4times- a terrible enemy (U6008)
posted 1 hour, 16 minutes ago
I think Vince in naturally good enough to score runs there. His issue is that he cannot rein it in when needed. He'll get 25 or 30 and nick off time and time again.
Ballance deserves a shot at 5 considering his record there for Yorkshire. He isn't a 3. I also fear his technique against someone like Starc who is quick and full. He plays so deep that he's a walking LBW.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This, Vince will score pretty 20s or 30s but his strength is also his biggest weakness. He'll drive some of the most pleasing looking strokes you'll see to the boundary and make you think "wow, he looks in great tou...ah, he'd nicked to slip again!"
posted on 4/10/17
Australia in England, we win this hands down
In Australia it becomes a tougher test
posted on 4/10/17
comment by Thudd (U1029)
posted 8 minutes ago
For any neutrals no Ashes without Stokes makes it more interesting, we have a good spine of the team, Cook, Root, Broad, Jimmy, Alli, Bairstow
If they consistently perform we need others to step up
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I fancy Stoneman to have a good series and I'll make a bold prediction and say I think he'll end up with a better average than Cook. And if Cook can match his 2010/11 exploits then you won't see the Aussies taking too many wickets.
posted on 4/10/17
Problem is Ballance or Vince are going to bat at number 3 when they are better off lower down. Root may as well bat there because we will be 10 for 2 in most tests probably. Stoneman needs a big series to prove me wrong there.
posted on 4/10/17
Ballance/Vince/Malan fighting for 2 spots at 4 and 5 for me. Then we will rely on 6,7,8 which is easily the strongest in the world.
Would be great to see Woakes get a maiden ton in the ashes.
posted on 4/10/17
The other possibility should Stokes miss out, which is a scary one, is that if England go a bit defensive decide they want an extra bat then they could end up going...
Cook
Stoneman
Ballance
Root
Vince
Malan
Bairstow
Ali
Woakes
Broad
Anderson
On the basis that Vince can bowl a bit of medium pace dross and Malan's part time leg spin isn't too bad to complete a few overs.
posted on 4/10/17
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 4/10/17
comment by Phenom (U20037)
posted 41 minutes ago
Problem is Ballance or Vince are going to bat at number 3 when they are better off lower down. Root may as well bat there because we will be 10 for 2 in most tests probably. Stoneman needs a big series to prove me wrong there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I actually like Malan over Stoneman, he's looked more confident with the bat in the last few tests.
Stoneman looks shakey
posted on 4/10/17
comment by The Candlestick Maker (U8959)
posted 19 minutes ago
The other possibility should Stokes miss out, which is a scary one, is that if England go a bit defensive decide they want an extra bat then they could end up going...
Cook
Stoneman
Ballance
Root
Vince
Malan
Bairstow
Ali
Woakes
Broad
Anderson
On the basis that Vince can bowl a bit of medium pace dross and Malan's part time leg spin isn't too bad to complete a few overs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
that's the problem england have is they cannot field a team like this, which they may have got away with in the past, because the batters now i not reliable coming in
posted on 4/10/17
I don't think we will go for that line up but it's not out of the realms of possibility. I feel we'll do the right thing and pick Overton if Stokes doesn't tour.
It is a horrible looking line up though and there's no obvious solutions to our batting woes.
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