50 up

G'wan Chef, make it a big one

I should clarify that I completely agree, he's still the best opener available to England and if it were up to me his place would be safe for a good 2-3 years yet.

Agree, I feel he definitely had a couple of more years left in him.

Thought he'd retire after an Ashes series

Yeah I wish he'd decided just to take some time out instead, skip the Sri Lanka tour and then reassess.

Just read that there's only been 3 50+ scores by any opener this summer in the India and Pakistan series, and Cook has made 2 of them. Says it all really.

Safe to say I'd feel better seeing Cook and Burns stride out in the first Sri Lanka test, instead of Burns and Jennings

Not sure Jennings' place in the side is certain after another failure today

comment by I Kante Drinkwater (U15973)
posted 43 seconds ago
Not sure Jennings' place in the side is certain after another failure today
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I'm pretty sure....he's poor

comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 25 seconds ago
comment by I Kante Drinkwater (U15973)
posted 43 seconds ago
Not sure Jennings' place in the side is certain after another failure today
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I'm pretty sure....he's poor
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Had too many chances now...just not stepped up

So who opens vs Sri Lanka - Burns & ???

comment by I Kante Drinkwater (U15973)
posted 3 minutes ago
So who opens vs Sri Lanka - Burns & ???
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we've tried a few...must be some we haven't seen who are decent

Maybe Roy comes back...he's more a white ball player though

Burns & Stoneman will probably come back?

They open for Surrey who are the best county side, so makes sense for it to be them two.

Guessing Moeen will stay at 3 and then it'll be a choice of Woakes/Curran and who the 2nd spinner will be

I'd rather see Stoneman open than Jennings. I'd rather see Roy open than Jennings too. To be fair, I would rather see myself open than Jennings.

I doubt we'll get in two brand new openers at the same time in an way series, though. Plus Jennings is, supposedly, a half-decent player of spin (we'll ignore his wicket today because apparently ignoring his deficiencies is how the selectors operate).

I'm not saying I support the decision - far from it - but I would be surprised if Jennings doesn't open in the Sri Lanka series.

Stoneman hasn't had a great summer though so I doubt he's under much consideration. Jennings is literally stealing a Test career by virtue of the lack of credible alternatives and not much else.

The right thing to do would've been to bring Burns in for the... I dunno, 2nd or 3rd test, when it was already glaringly obvious Jennings was gash. That way, Burns would've had a few Tests alongside Cook to pick up some experience, and then by the time Sri Lanka rolls around, we could try someone new alongside Burns who would, by that point, have a few Tests under his belt.

Long-term planning ain't the selectors boat, though

Seems to be talk about Denly as he can also bowl some legspin which could be handy. Guess the only other ones who would be within a shout are Browne and Gubbins

Denly would be OK. Not the world's most inspiring option but he could be good I suppose.

Neither Browne nor Gubbins has shown any real form this season. Guess we are just trying anyone who's English...

That's the issue. Other than Burns, no one else would even warrant a call up based on county form this season.

Shame that Hameed has completely dropped off, looked like he would have been Cook's long term successor at one stage but is only averaging something like 17 for Lancashire this year.

Just checked and he's actually averaging 9.71 this summer

Yeah, I think his average since his first call-up/his injury has been in single-figures. Such a shame considering the promise he showed.

Noooooooo

Cook goes for 71 and Root follows for a duck. 133-3.

Aren't we glad Root is back at 4

comment by Blue Heaven (U20912)
posted 2 minutes ago
Cook goes for 71 and Root follows for a duck. 133-3.
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And isn't that just a perfect metaphor for their respective captaincies

Sigh.