1st Test England v Pakistan, Lord's 14-18 July

[backfootpunch]

Root gets himself in
then gets himself out

Starting to become a very bad habit, doesn't have the killer instinct of a Steve Smith

Bit harsh to say the least.

Not really

Pretty 40s and 50s aren't good enough for a player of his class

Especially since the bowlers aren't getting him out he is getting himself out

Has to be more ruthless

[budgetmeansbudget]

As I predicted earlier Cook, Root and Bairstow will have to score at least 250 between them.

[backfootpunch]

So which player would be dropped now for stokes, Ballance or Vince.

Finn surely

6 bowlers would be unecessary

[budgetmeansbudget]

Root gets himself in
then gets himself out

Starting to become a very bad habit, doesn't have the killer instinct of a Steve Smith

Bit harsh to say the least.

Not really

Pretty 40s and 50s aren't good enough for a player of his class

Especially since the bowlers aren't getting him out he is getting himself out

Has to be more ruthless

It happens now and again in a career, he has earnt the right for us to not criticize him on the back of one or two poor dismissals.

Besides Steve Smith has had his moments too.

[Dr Cricket]

So which player would be dropped now for stokes, Ballance or Vince.

Finn surely

6 bowlers would be unecessary

Anderson would replace Finn, Stokes a batsman well that how it would probably end up happening unless Ali also gets dropped.

[Dr Cricket]

Root gets himself in
then gets himself out

Starting to become a very bad habit, doesn't have the killer instinct of a Steve Smith

Bit harsh to say the least.

Not really

Pretty 40s and 50s aren't good enough for a player of his class

Especially since the bowlers aren't getting him out he is getting himself out

Has to be more ruthless

It happens now and again in a career, he has earnt the right for us to not criticize him on the back of one or two poor dismissals.

Besides Steve Smith has had his moments too.

no need to criticise him, but it would hurt root not to get more hundreds or to average more during his peak.

[budgetmeansbudget]

So which player would be dropped now for stokes, Ballance or Vince.

Finn surely

6 bowlers would be unecessary

Anderson would replace Finn, Stokes a batsman well that how it would probably end up happening unless Ali also gets dropped.

Yep, unless scores some big runs in this game, Rashid has to come in.

For a side that is supposedly on the up, England have got plenty of issues in their eleven.

[backfootpunch]

So which player would be dropped now for stokes, Ballance or Vince.

Finn surely

6 bowlers would be unecessary

Anderson would replace Finn, Stokes a batsman well that how it would probably end up happening unless Ali also gets dropped.

Ali was batting 8 before stokes got injured he will move back and stokes will slot in for ball and bat 6 or 7

That's the team they picked before he got injured

Stokes isn't a batsmen he is an all rounder

Will likely be

Cook
hales
root
Vince
ballance
bairstow
stokes
moeen
woakes
broad
jimmy

5 bowlers plus lots of batting

Personally I would pick rashid for mooen but I can't see them doing that atm

[Arthur Crabtree]

Yes, Stokes will replace a bowler. England replaced him with Woakes, who will now effectively replace Finn, with Stokes taking back Woakes' slot. JB and Mo will slip back down a place and the balance will revert back to what it was. Four bowlers and a spinner.

[Dr Cricket]

Yeah england do have lots of issues in the eleven, but lets not forget england don't exactly have good fair cricketing reports, even Sky don't really criticise or question England cricket team too much either.

[backfootpunch]

Yeah england do have lots of issues in the eleven, but lets not forget england don't exactly have good fair cricketing reports, even Sky don't really criticise or question England cricket team too much either.

Yes they do

Have you ever seen the verdict? It's just that we are winning at the moment

At least we aren't like India whose commentators are contractually hamstrung by the bcci and cant say anything

[Arthur Crabtree]

I had posted that Ballance might be back just for one game until Stokes got fit, I now see I was a bit muddled. In theory, he's back in and might well get the series, unless clearly technically malfunctioning I guess.

[Dr Cricket]

Ah yes that would be the team, no idea why I always thought one of the batsman would get dropped since the squad announcement.
Anyway guessing one of vince or ballance or both getting dropped soon anyway.
loads of question marks in that team for a team that is supposedly the best in Test cricket lol.

[backfootpunch]

The English media loves nothing more than laying into its sports teams but you can't do that if they are winning

[Arthur Crabtree]

I think I agree with Bhaves. Boycott and Willis are just a little colour. The broadcast media, and overwhelmingly the press have now been encouraged to see themselves as part of the product.