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

[Aidan11]

Have they selected the 2nd test squad?

It starts on Friday.

[KipperJohn]

Moeen's fc average is only slightly better than Woakes - yet the former is a top order bat in Div 2 and Woakes is a lower order bat in Div 1. Woakes has made several winning scores for Warwicks and only weeks ago made the highest score for a number 8 in ODI history.

As I recall, when he first came on to the England scene his lower order batting was a significant factor in his selection.

However, as usual it's our batting that's the main problem. I don't think Stokes return particularly strengthens that area unless or until he brings some consistency.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bairstow's resistance today reinforced the good impressions he's made since his return. If England need six credible top order bats, then he could be considered one of them now.

[ianp1970]

Cook/Hales/Root/Hildreth/Ballance/Stokes/Bairstow/Woakes/Broad/?Rayner/Anderson

Cook/Hales/ Root/Vince Ballance/Stokes/ Bairstow/ Ansari/Woakes/Broad/Anderson.

Woakes needs to go up the order, or at least not down. Having a batting spinner seems to be a bit counterproductive.

Woakes at 8 looks great, but if Stokes is also playing - alongside Jimmy and Broad - who is the spinner?

Rashid is unproven, Kerrigan had a mare, Ansari/Samit/Dawson look like Moeen light...

Is Monty getting a recall for the winter?

[braveneutral]

Agree about Bairstow from AC's POV. He seems a lot more of a mature player since he first came on to the scene.

[backfootpunch]

Cook/Hales/Root/Hildreth/Ballance/Stokes/Bairstow/Woakes/Broad/?Rayner/Anderson

Cook/Hales/ Root/Vince Ballance/Stokes/ Bairstow/ Ansari/Woakes/Broad/Anderson.

Woakes needs to go up the order, or at least not down. Having a batting spinner seems to be a bit counterproductive.

Woakes at 8 looks great, but if Stokes is also playing - alongside Jimmy and Broad - who is the spinner?

Rashid is unproven, Kerrigan had a mare, Ansari/Samit/Dawson look like Moeen light...

Is Monty getting a recall for the winter?

Woakes will likely bat 9

With stokes and moeen 7 and 8

[ianp1970]

Cook/Hales/Root/Hildreth/Ballance/Stokes/Bairstow/Woakes/Broad/?Rayner/Anderson

Cook/Hales/ Root/Vince Ballance/Stokes/ Bairstow/ Ansari/Woakes/Broad/Anderson.

Woakes needs to go up the order, or at least not down. Having a batting spinner seems to be a bit counterproductive.

Woakes at 8 looks great, but if Stokes is also playing - alongside Jimmy and Broad - who is the spinner?

Rashid is unproven, Kerrigan had a mare, Ansari/Samit/Dawson look like Moeen light...

Is Monty getting a recall for the winter?

Woakes will likely bat 9

With stokes and moeen 7 and 8

So Broad at 10 and Jimmy 11.

1-5 not dissimilar to Lords...

QED

[sussexpob]

I dont for the life of me see how Stokes gets back in this team.

Bairstow is wasted at 7, and England dont need bits and pieces crickters all over the middle and lower order.

Stokes is not a top 6 batsman. England need a top 6 batsman.

[sussexpob]

In fact Bairstow for me goes to 6, and they pick a full time keeper.

England were all over Pakistan yesterday and Bairstow dropped Ahmed when the biggest partnership of the innings was turning their target from a gettable to a not gettable one.

Bairstow cant keep. Can give the gloves to anyone and they will snaffle or drop as much as him.

[backfootpunch]

I dont for the life of me see how Stokes gets back in this team.

Bairstow is wasted at 7, and England dont need bits and pieces crickters all over the middle and lower order.

Stokes is not a top 6 batsman. England need a top 6 batsman.

Given how finn is bowling stokes may as well play

Not like he is going to bowl any worse

I'd like to see Borthwick given a go if vince fails again

I can't think they will move jonny down to 7 given how he has played

[sussexpob]

Given how finn is bowling stokes may as well play

Not like he is going to bowl any worse

Finn bowled really well yesterday, England just refused to catch anything of him.

[backfootpunch]

Given how finn is bowling stokes may as well play

Not like he is going to bowl any worse

Finn bowled really well yesterday, England just refused to catch anything of him.

Doesn't really make up for the utter dross in the first innings

Cook didn't trust finn to bowl until he had no choice

[Dr Cricket]

Hard to see england winning the series unless Broad and Anderson have a special series.

[hopeforthebest]

Cook/Hales/Root/Hildreth/Ballance/Stokes/Bairstow/Woakes/Broad/?Rayner/Anderson

Cook/Hales/ Root/Vince Ballance/Stokes/ Bairstow/ Ansari/Woakes/Broad/Anderson.

Woakes needs to go up the order, or at least not down. Having a batting spinner seems to be a bit counterproductive.

Unless you're going to pick Finn or Ball ahead of Stokes.

Apart from bringing Ansari in for Moeen I posted the team I expect not the one I would choose. With the winter games approaching it's time to try out another spin option and who better than against an Asian team. I know I'm repeating myself but the message makes sense. On the sub continent I believe a slow left arm spinner is more effective than an off spinner unless the offie is very good.

[backfootpunch]

Hard to see england winning the series unless Broad and Anderson have a special series.

I think we will still win the series

Surely we can't bat this badly again

And despite having to carry moeen and fInn plus a debutant we bowled them out for 330 and 200 on a wicket that offered almost nothing for the seamer, so I'm confident we can dismiss them cheaply when it swings or seams

Woakes and broad bowled pakistan out by themselves