5th Test: England vs India - The Kia Oval

[budgetmeansbudget]

Think you're right about Malan, but Jennings has dropped catches in the slips which led him to being taken out the cordon. Trouble is he can't catch anywhere in the field.

Ed Smith is keen to stress that the test team contains the eleven most talented all round cricketers in England.

Jennings doesn't get anywhere close to that criteria, can't field, bowl or bat. Would probably drop the drinks if he was twelfth man.

[yuppie]

England letting the tail get away again.

India were 6-160.

[budgetmeansbudget]

We're good at that!

Mind you India have been more guilty than us in letting the lower order get runs in this series. Probably the difference between the teams.

[yuppie]

Both teams could flip the batting order.

[Arthur Crabtree]

He's never exactly been prolific in county cricket either. Low 30s average, ripped apart in internationals...what do they see in him.

Putting up a sail in a wind sort of stuff? He's one of those players who have scored well on Flower's personality tests. They're not going to throw away that sort of potential without a fight.

I feel certain he will go to SL.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Handy lead with India batting last.

Could all go wrong of course, and England get bowled out for 150.

[yuppie]

Didn't Jennings have a good county season a couple of years ago? Or have i got the wrong player?

But judging from his performance in this series those days are long gone. Surely there are better South African players out there that England can use?

[Arthur Crabtree]

He's done ok in CC1 this season. Three tons is a lot these days, and in few games too. But it's not all that clear anymore how much a good CC record implies a capacity to step up.

I think he had a bit of a nightmare season at Durham last year. Not Haseebesque, but unimpressive.

[alfie]

Yes I think Jennings has benefited from "fortunate timing".

With Stoneman failing someone had to come in...he had some success in Asia at his first try so probably wasn't an unreasonable choice for a second chance. Then he was lucky enough to be part of a team that was 2-0 up...and then left alone while they fussed around with injured keepers and 3-4 batting spots...so here he is in the last match...

And with Cook retiring maybe he goes to Sri Lanka on the theory he can play spin , has experience - and they don't want a completely new top three ? Indeed fortunate...

Said all along I don't think he's nearly good enough. But Smith doesn't return my calls

[budgetmeansbudget]

Listening to Ed Smith on TMS at lunchtime you wouldn't say that Jennings fits as the type of cricketer that he would select.

He clearly wants players who can do more than wield a cricket bat or let go of a red ball. Preferably they come multi faceted, are England's talent cream, and then the captain and team can decide which order they come in at. If there are no stand out openers out there, just pick a test match quality batsman to open. He seems to want a side that adapts to situations, which I tend to agree with.

Should we consign the specialist opener to the history books, at least while there remains a dearth in the county game? We've looked to find an answer for four or five years by trying out average county openers over that time but it clearly hasn't worked.

[alfie]

Is there a worse judge of a review than Kohli ? And why waste one to go after Jennings ?

[sussexpob]

Listening to Ed Smith on TMS at lunchtime you wouldn't say that Jennings fits as the type of cricketer that he would select.

He clearly wants players who can do more than wield a cricket bat or let go of a red ball. Preferably they come multi faceted, are England's talent cream, and then the captain and team can decide which order they come in at. If there are no stand out openers out there, just pick a test match quality batsman to open. He seems to want a side that adapts to situations, which I tend to agree with.

Should we consign the specialist opener to the history books, at least while there remains a dearth in the county game? We've looked to find an answer for four or five years by trying out average county openers over that time but it clearly hasn't worked.

Rory Burns averages 45 in FC, Stoneman 34, Jennings 33..... This summer, we picked the latter two. It's a bit like saying you've run out of salad, so let's starve rather than eat the 35 day matured steak in the fridge. If continued form and a first class average 45 is "pot tottaly empty", then we may as well draw lots....

[backfootpunch]

Is there a worse judge of a review than Kohli ? And why waste one to go after Jennings ?

From bad to worse

[alfie]

Is there a worse judge of a review than Kohli ? And why waste one to go after Jennings ?

Slow learner , too. That desperate to get the first wicket ? He 'll be hoping the umpires are very kind to India on the marginals for the rest of this innings...

[sussexpob]

It's obviously of interest for the selector to blame the talent at his disposal, or the county game. Where is the narrative going to go back to picking failures who are obviously rubbish when you have good players on the shelf.

And when those good players fail, when do we acknowledge the fact there is a constant? No one stepping up, but 50 players going to work with the lions. Almost like the academy is terrible, the coaching staff have done nothing, and the whole setup needs ripping up.

All those coaches and science, scouts and computers ....net effect, a huge slump in productivity