Leach and Sam Curran in

England squad for second Ashes Test: Joe Root (capt), Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes.

https://www.ecb.co.uk/england/men/news/1304119/england-name-squad-for-second-ashes-test

Sensibility prevails with Mo being dropped for Leach, love him but he's clearly cooked and low on confidence.

This is surely Bairstow's last chance, he can't keep getting a free pass.

Hope Curran starts ahead of Archer.

I like the suggestion of dropping Denly and having Sam Curran, he's as likely to score runs as Denly is.

comment by Arsenal_49 (U10665)
posted 18 hours, 30 minutes ago
Hope Curran starts ahead of Archer.
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Really?

Archer is the only bowler (with Wood injured) who can hit the deck hard and fast and bowl bouncers.

I feel that’s our best chance of unsettling Smith

To be fair both Archer and Curran bring something different so including them both wouldn't be the worst idea. Might seem give us a "long" tail but at the moment you'd back Curran and Leach to score more runs than Denley and Moeen and definitely take more wickets.

comment by palmers_spur (U8896)
posted 1 day, 2 hours ago
comment by Arsenal_49 (U10665)
posted 18 hours, 30 minutes ago
Hope Curran starts ahead of Archer.
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Really?

Archer is the only bowler (with Wood injured) who can hit the deck hard and fast and bowl bouncers.

I feel that’s our best chance of unsettling Smith
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I'm not sure that bouncers are going to phase the Aussie batsmen as much as swing and lateral seam movement.

Swing and seam movement is the solution.

and quality spinner

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

On paper, Aus are stronger, England chances are bright if conditions aid swing and seam bowling.

Don't see why it needs to be Archer or Curran when they both could play. I think we need Archer as he offers something different and should enable us to clean up the tail quicker. Curran should probably be in for swing and left armers tend to do better at Lords.

Just drop Denly and rely less on Stokes. Both Curran and Archer have 30+ averages with the bat anyway so it's not like we'd be losing much batting.

Assuming Denly plays (seems more likely than not), it has to be near enough his last chance. If he fails again, and we find ourselves two down in the series, we can't really afford to carry him for any more tests.

Then again I doubt the selectors would be keen on bringing in someone like Sibley and heaping all the pressure of saving the series on a new opener. Presumably they'd favour bringing in someone like Curran at 7 and bumping everyone else up a position, or potentially bringing Foakes back in. There's still a horrible little voice at the back of my mind that fears they'd give Vince yet another undeserved chance, though

Look, I know you guys want to have 5 bowling options, but I really don't think your batting line up needs any weakening. Currently, as an Aussie fan, I'm only really scared of Root.

Honestly, if you'd had 4 frontline bowlers last test England may very well have won. Losing Anderson is a massive blow.

Losing moeen is good, I personally think that if you're going to drop a batsmen you should bring in a batsmen.

I feel that the loss of Anderson massively outweighs the positive of dropping moeen. Even if archer or curran play a blinder I still think the England team is weaker now and traditionally Australia like the conditions at Lord's.

England were without Anderson in the last Test. Now they've got Archer in his place. So they're stronger there. Leach in for the off-form Moeen might strengthen the bowling as well. But overall I still make Australia favourites.

The weather might come into it. The forecast for Wednesday doesn't look good for a start.

Aussies definitely stronger in player to player comparison but difference is not massive, England can win if there is more swing and seam movement on offer

comment by Duncan1987 (U2291)
posted 11 hours, 14 minutes ago
Look, I know you guys want to have 5 bowling options, but I really don't think your batting line up needs any weakening. Currently, as an Aussie fan, I'm only really scared of Root.

Honestly, if you'd had 4 frontline bowlers last test England may very well have won. Losing Anderson is a massive blow.

Losing moeen is good, I personally think that if you're going to drop a batsmen you should bring in a batsmen.

I feel that the loss of Anderson massively outweighs the positive of dropping moeen. Even if archer or curran play a blinder I still think the England team is weaker now and traditionally Australia like the conditions at Lord's.


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You're not wrong, but there's not many batsmen who are good enough to come in. Frankly Curran offers more runs than most at the moment, he's genuinely good with bat in hand, though he's yet another all-rounder who's more likely to average mid-30s than high 40s in the long run.

There's many batsman I'd rather in the side than Curran but none of those have been selected in the squad so it's pointless. As it stands Curran for me will offer more runs than Denly whilst also offering something different with the ball.

Would love to be proven wrong but I just don't see Denly ever getting a big score at test level.

comment by The Welsh Xavi (U15412)
posted 53 minutes ago
There's many batsman I'd rather in the side than Curran but none of those have been selected in the squad so it's pointless. As it stands Curran for me will offer more runs than Denly whilst also offering something different with the ball.

Would love to be proven wrong but I just don't see Denly ever getting a big score at test level.
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This.

comment by hopeforthebest (U3251)
posted 3 days, 11 hours ago
I like the suggestion of dropping Denly and having Sam Curran, he's as likely to score runs as Denly is.
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The Times is saying this could happen.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

comment by Blue Heaven (U20912)
posted 10 hours, 12 minutes ago
comment by hopeforthebest (U3251)
posted 3 days, 11 hours ago
I like the suggestion of dropping Denly and having Sam Curran, he's as likely to score runs as Denly is.
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The Times is saying this could happen.
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If it does then that could well mean Buttler at 4 although if we're picking Curran then Stokes is essentially a 5th seamer so would hopefully bat at 4 instead. That then means Woakes or Curran at 6 with the other at 8 but it means it's a very long tail with the out of form Buttler at 5.

be lucky to get a hours play today

Non starter today