It's always funny when the backup players do well in warm ups like these. Cos they invariably don't get picked anyway, and they probably go away wondering what was the point.

I noticed Leach bowled 15 overs and Moeen only 7. No wickets for either but a better economy for Leach too.

excuse my ignorance is this game on today too?

Must be. Team Stokes didn't bat yesterday

3 days I think

team Stokes haha

I'm pretty sure that's what the XIs are called. They're named after their captain. Buttler XI vs Stokes XI

cringe

comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 2 hours, 20 minutes ago
It's always funny when the backup players do well in warm ups like these. Cos they invariably don't get picked anyway, and they probably go away wondering what was the point.

I noticed Leach bowled 15 overs and Moeen only 7. No wickets for either but a better economy for Leach too.
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I suppose it gives players a taste and then they can go back to county cricket and make the selectors take note through weight of runs. Lawrence potentially has an outside chance for the first test with Root missing but I expect we'll go with Denly.

Not that it matters a great deal but I'm a little surprised they didn't pick a proper 14 vs a back up / lions 14. Surely it would be better for the batsmen likely to be batting together to have some time in the middle together and have bowlers bowling in tandem? Or better yet, split the teams by having our best batsmen vs our best bowlers rather than a more even split.

comment by Phenom (U20037)
posted 44 minutes ago
cringe
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Agree with this. Should just be England XI vs England XI with Stokes and Buttler as captains. Makes it seem like they actually did a playground selection of teams where they alternated picks. Who'd have been picked last?

"Team Stokes" are batting now.

https://www.ecb.co.uk/england/men/news/1703010/watch-live-england-men-intra-squad-match

My only worry with this warm-up game is Bairstow is batting 4. I really hope they don't pick him for Root if he does well today.

I completely missed Bairstow being in squad! Yes it'll probably be him batting at 4 as a specialist bat.

comment by The Welsh Xavi (U15412)
posted 35 minutes ago
My only worry with this warm-up game is Bairstow is batting 4. I really hope they don't pick him for Root if he does well today.
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You'll all be happy to know Bairstow has gone for 11

comment by TCM (U8959)
posted 3 hours, 46 minutes ago
comment by Phenom(U20037)
posted 44 minutes ago
cringe
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Agree with this. Should just be England XI vs England XI with Stokes and Buttler as captains. Makes it seem like they actually did a playground selection of teams where they alternated picks. Who'd have been picked last?
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Moeen

comment by Phenom (U20037)
posted 1 hour, 1 minute ago
comment by TCM (U8959)
posted 3 hours, 46 minutes ago
comment by Phenom(U20037)
posted 44 minutes ago
cringe
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Agree with this. Should just be England XI vs England XI with Stokes and Buttler as captains. Makes it seem like they actually did a playground selection of teams where they alternated picks. Who'd have been picked last?
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Moeen
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Nah. He's like Bairstow, Jennings, Vince who get picked repeatedly despite being sheet

Just seen Bairstow and Moeen both out cheaply. Shame

CRICKET SAVE ME LORD

5 more days Phenom

I hate to break it to you though, Spurs play again before then

It's looking like it's going to be a really tight battle for the final Europa League spot(s) now. I'm expecting us to fall back down the table a bit with our next 4 games being Wolves (a) Leicester (h) your lot (a) and Liverpool (h) before a cup semi with City. I expected you boys to close in on the top 6 rather than get dragged back into our battle.

At least we've got a few test matches to distract us if things really go sideways.

Unless this is drastic improved Windies side, should be walkover for England. They should experiment for more like picking a new spinners and giving other young blokes a chance.

The other lot are back in:

https://www.ecb.co.uk/england/men/news/1703010/watch-live-england-men-intra-squad-match

team Buttler setting a solid foundation

Unbeaten half century for Pope and some quick 30s from Buttler and Woakes leaving team Stokes a target of 255 to chase. 2 wickets for Moeen and 3 for Leach.

Bairstow has been promoted to open with Sibley which is potentially a sign that they want to give him more time in the middle before the first test.