Second Test: England v South Africa, Nottingham, July 14-18

[ianp1970]

i know he's only had a couple of games but unless Wood does something pretty special in this innings then he is probably going to make way for Woakes for the third test, assuming they dont just see Woakes as a replacement for Dawson to bat at #8

Woakes is currently in the - if everyone is fit - best XI: Stokes, Bairstow, Moeen, Woakes, Broad & Anderson looks fine at 6-11 in a one spinner side (A), or at 5-10 with a leggie at 11 (B)

The problem with (A) is we are already struggling at 2 & 3 without trying to find a number 5 as well, and with (B) we remain a batsman light and a bowler heavy, albeit a different type in each innings

[Durhamfootman]

indeed

I also think that having KJ and ZBGB left in the middle, after an early Cook dismissal, is a recipe for disaster and that Root might be better coming in at 3 in that scenario to split them up, particularly if they are trying to develop them as test cricketers

[backfootpunch]

:dunno indeed

I also think that having KJ and ZBGB left in the middle, after an early Cook dismissal, is a recipe for disaster and that Root might be better coming in at 3 in that scenario to split them up, particularly if they are trying to develop them as test cricketers

I don't see Jennings lasting past this series

Not that there are many candidates to replace him

[westoelad]

The way the domestic schedule has been arranged means it's difficult to make changes with no other players having played red ball cricket for over month when the 3rd test begins. Woakes has been ruled out for the series and Ball has barely played all season. Seems then we're stuck with what we have at present which is,in all probability, the best we have available apart possibly from Dawson. A week off then and then down to serious practise- this is when Bayliss and his team prove their worth-or otherwise.

[backfootpunch]

The batting of the top 3 has been pathetic for 2 years now

Every player that is tried fails miserably

If cook doesn't score we are so reliant on the 4-7 that collapses like this are inevitable

County cricket just isn't producing any batsmen

[sussexpob]

Doesnt help Jennings was hardly bang on form in county cricket, average scraping 30. They dropped Hameed for that reason, but picked Jennings? Did make much sense.

Ill say again, Sam Robson needs a second dig

[sussexpob]

We are also now into the 3rd year of Strauss in his leading role, and so far its 3 wins out of 9 in test series, and puzzling selections and failure to bring county players to international standards are abound. I wonder at what point Strauss becomes under pressure, its hard to really know in the test sphere what they are getting right, and the CT failure, while glossed over, was noteworthy. Im struggligng to see what hes bringing to the party.

[ianp1970]

Surely we'll have to deteriorate considerably over the next 18 months for Strauss to come under pressure prior to a home CWC 2019 and the following Ashes series

[bigfluffylemon]

Well, I'm not happy to say I called it - low scorer with a collapse determining the outcome . Almost no chance of England recovering this one.

I just can't understand why the batting has been so hopeless for so long. Apart from one good summer with Ballance, our 2 and 3 have been awful for ages now. Where are the good batsmen in the county game who can make the step up to international level?

The selection of Dawson v another batsman looks more and more stupid. Surely Woakes will come back, but Wood and Dawson should both have to move over, and one should be replaced with a bat, although goodness knows who. Robson is the choice on form for an opener, but I'd imagine they'll give KJ the whole series, if not the whole summer. But for lower order? I guess Westley or Stoneman might be in the running on county form?

[sussexpob]

Surely we'll have to deteriorate considerably over the next 18 months for Strauss to come under pressure prior to a home CWC 2019 and the following Ashes series

It is the ECB.... another 4 test series lost in a row, theyll make Strauss Prince of the World

[bigfluffylemon]

Really does not bode well for playing in Australia. Yet another thumping is no doubt in store.

For a while now this whole England side looks far less than the sum of its parts. We've got a world class opener, who perhaps doesn't make as many hundreds as he used to but is still pretty reliable and is our best opener since at least Boycott, maybe Hutton. You've got a batsman who could make a legitimate case for best in the world, and is certainly in the top 3. You've got not one, not two, but three world class allrounders, each of which would get into the side on the strength of one discipline alone, and are more than handy with the other. You've got an opening pair of bowlers who are among the best in the world, incredibly consistent top performers. You've got a wicketkeeper-batsman who narrowly missed the record for most runs in a calendar year, at an average of nearly 60 last year. On paper, this is a high quality side, yet they have the consistency of Donald Trump's twitter account, and a string of awful results for the last couple of years, mitigated by the odd unexpected triumph.

We probably ought to have expected this, as England-South Africa never achieve back-to-back wins (either of them), but I still can't understand how England keep failing to turn the apparent quality we have in the side into results.

[Arthur Crabtree]

But there's still a lot they don't have. A spin attack, back up pace, or a pace attack that functions away from home. Batting depth and a reliable top order. A strong keeper (though JB is improving) and good catchers...

And in terms of behind the scenes, they are set up to bat recklessly but in the field attack too cautiously. The selectors have a dismal record recently and for the past few years England have had a limited and uninspiring captain.

[rich1uk]

some suggestions that Woakes wont play in the series

[Slipstream]

some suggestions that Woakes wont play in the series

Why can't Woakes play 2nd XI cricket. Hameed played the other day against Warks 2nd XI. Got 71 (135)

[rich1uk]

some suggestions that Woakes wont play in the series

Why can't Woakes play 2nd XI cricket. Hameed played the other day against Warks 2nd XI. Got 71 (135)

no idea, just what i've read that he wont be fully fit til the WI series