Moeen should be absolutely nowhere near the plane to Australia. He's absolutely hopeless against short bowling.

Buttler and Leach recalled. Not sure how Buttler can get back in unless it's a straight swap back in for Bairstow. Surely they won't drop Pope?

Leach being recalled surely means they'll use him otherwise what's the point? Might seem harsh dropping Moeen after 3 tests but he got given a chance and nothing is different about him. He can bowl some nice deliveries and he can hit some lovely shots but the consistency or maturity just isn't there in his game and that's what we need right now.

He'll probably end up playing and we'll have called up Leach for no reason but we'll see.

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Yeah, that would be the team I'd go with. Buttler/Bairstow, I don't really mind who gets selected as Bairstow has managed to get some runs in this series whilst Buttler has struggled but it's not like Bairstow is flying either.

Woakes can definitely bat at 7, Robinson can bat up the order too, a high score of 42 in tests already plus a FC century and 7 50s shows he's got ability to come in at 8.

Essentially, Root needs 5 bowlers who he can trust to bowl their spells and not have to take them off early. I know the batting needs work but other than Stokes, I don't really see how we can improve on it in terms of personnel.

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I'd have Buttler instead of Bairstow because I think he has fewer technical issues which the Aussies will be able to exploit. Bairstow can expect to face a lot of quick, full and straight bowling from the Aussie seamers, and he'll be a walking wicket over there.

I'm not suggesting Buttler is without his own much-publicised flaws, and I'd much rather have Foakes than either, but needs must. I think Buttler is the less vulnerable of the two. The irony is that he's become too stodgy and defensive in the test side despite being known as a power hitter. Like so many others in the team he needs to work on his ability to tick over with singles.

comment by GTWI4T- some people deserve to get trolled (U6008)
posted 52 minutes ago
We have to take 20 wickets. That is the priority now because without it obviously we can't win the match and will lose the series. A ballsy move would be:-

Hameed
Burns
Malan
Root
Pope
Buttler
Woakes
Robinson
Wood
Leach
Jimmy
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Hope we go with this team too as there's still plenty of batting depth. Always annoys me when we don't pick our best bowlers just so we can have some extra lower order runs.

Leah and Wood are handy enough.

comment by GTWI4T- some people deserve to get trolled (U6008)
posted 22 minutes ago
Yeah, Stokes coming into that top 5 would help massively but we have the age old issue of not really having a genuine number 3. I like Malan and he's probably the best option we have but like so many others, he is a 4 or 5. I don't think Stokes will tour Australia, which is a shame as he also missed our last tour there and was a huge miss.
I suspect that the main focus will be on winning the T20 world cup and unfortunately, due to circumstances that Ashes tour will be a bit of an after thought.
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Unfortunately you're probably right although T20 is a bit more of a lottery compared to ODI, if we can have a good tournament or even win it then the ECB will feel justified in their focus of white ball cricket if we're holders of the two shorter format world cups.

Malan has made a solid return and hopefully he can plug that gap for a few years and if that messes with his T20 form, that's fine, we've got plenty of batsmen who can succeed in that format. The selectors should bring Crawley back as I think he could do pretty well in Australia as a back up to the top 3.

Stokes missing would be a huge blow, he had a good maiden test series 8 years ago so to miss two Ashes tours in a row when he's in his peak years will be sad for him but he has to look after himself. I hope he doesn't play the T20 world cup over the Ashes if it was a case of one or the other.

Then again, if he's struggling with mental health, then an Ashes series down under is probably not the best reintroduction

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T20s are his weakest format and with the rise of Livingstone I don't think he'll be missed too bad anyway at the T20 world cup.

Root just confirmed Buttler will play the final test.

Better be in place of Bairstow and not Pope.

Good news butler back good luck england for next game

Also been confirmed that Mo is playing and will be first choice spinner, so Leach has been called up just to carry drinks

Leach effectively has been called up as a "we'll see if we need two spinners". If this hot weather was staying about over the course of the next week or so then I'd get it but after today, the temperature is dropping back down and it's going to be overcast with a bit of rain about.

Even if we could, surely there's no way we'd prepare a pitch that'll spin whilst they've got Ashwin sitting on the bench?

I fear we'll drop Pope on the basis that it's not at the Oval.

Would be crazy to drop Pope for Buttler.

Buttler and Bairstow are much of a muchness. Both poor keepers and batsmen at this level. What I would say is who would I rather have had last innings? I'd go Buttler. He seems to be a bit more capable of grinding it out and getting important runs. The partnership with Woakes v Pakistan for example was superb.

Either way neither are good enough at test level and I wouldn't expect either to make a significant contribution this test.

Agreed, we've got an excellent and extremely reliable gloveman in Foakes and it's long overdue that he gets an extended run. If he can find form with the bat then he's a better option then the other 2 regardless of him being the best with the gloves.

It's a lovely thought that Buttler or Bairstow, so destructive in one day cricket, could bring that 'Gilchrist' effect down the order but other than Bairstow's brilliant year in 2016, neither have shown they are capable on a consistent enough level. Buttler made a solid return a few years ago but has gradually looked more like the player who was dropped.

Looks likely Bairstow will be dropped.. So Root can get his mate into the 11.Bairstow is no good but Buttler is a worse batsman in my opinion. has for keeping Moeen in the 11..Another i will help you and you help me kinda scenario..

After the ashes. thre needs to be a major shake up Root should step down. Silverwood should be fired. and if Burns fails he should be gotten rid off. along with several others.

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comment by bestoftherest2021 (U22523)
posted 2 minutes ago
Looks likely Bairstow will be dropped.. So Root can get his mate into the 11.Bairstow is no good but Buttler is a worse batsman in my opinion. has for keeping Moeen in the 11..Another i will help you and you help me kinda scenario..

After the ashes. thre needs to be a major shake up Root should step down. Silverwood should be fired. and if Burns fails he should be gotten rid off. along with several others.
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Surely Root is mates with Bairstow?

If Root lost the captaincy then who comes in? The next best option in Burns you're booting out too

The decline of our test team stems from the decisions at the top to focus on white ball cricket after the 2015 world cup. It worked a treat with the 2019 world cup win but imo they should have reset and looked at the red ball game after that.

Things that could change,

1) Create flatter pitches in the county championship. We need batsman to get used to getting big scores and seamers not getting a hatful trundling in at 75mph

2) play county championship games when England are playing series so in form players can stake a claim

3) obviously won't happen, but ditch the hundred. There were better crowds for the t20 blast.

The issue is deep rooted, a captain and a coach would only have a limited impact on this team.

Isn't one of the best country players a 45 year old all rounder with both bat and ball

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Any idea who would take over as captain and who are better options for the mass changes you are talking about? I keep hearing x,y or z needs to go, but nobody ever says who should come in.

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Thats not my job is it?? Its the ECB job to get a winning test team (they get paid multi millions).
these current crop of test players are failures. its evident with the last 5 years results.

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Surely Root is mates with Bairstow?

If Root lost the captaincy then who comes in? The next best option in Burns you're booting out too

The decline of our test team stems from the decisions at the top to focus on white ball cricket after the 2015 world cup. It worked a treat with the 2019 world cup win but imo they should have reset and looked at the red ball game after that.

Things that could change,

1) Create flatter pitches in the county championship. We need batsman to get used to getting big scores and seamers not getting a hatful trundling in at 75mph

2) play county championship games when England are playing series so in form players can stake a claim

3) obviously won't happen, but ditch the hundred. There were better crowds for the t20 blast.

The issue is deep rooted, a captain and a coach would only have a limited impact on this team.
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I think Root is a very poor captain his decision making leaves a lot to be desired.

The solution is a difficult one. The coaching of the players leaves a lot to be desired right from the lower levels of cricket.
The players techniques are poor.. You see Bairstows dismissal the other day has an example. Hes stuck in the crease and his bat is facing midwicket.
none of the batters are taught from an early age to go forward back then across. they just get stuck with no foot movement..

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