Pakistan v England 3rd Test, Sharjah, Nov 1-5

[Aidan11]

Looks like Jos is the fall guy for the 3rd test, so Taylor will slot into the middle order.

I reckon this could be the team on Sunday -

Cook (or Hales if Cook not fit)
Ali
Bell
Root
Taylor
Stokes
Bairstow
Rashid
Broad
Wood
Anderson

[Aidan11]

This might also be Bell's last test if he doesn't get a score.

[hopeforthebest]

Vaughan suggesting Bell should open may not be so outlandish an idea considering how often he comes in after so few overs. Maybe a big ask for him but having Moeen in the lower order where he's had more success might strengthen the batting. It wont happen but it was an interesting proposal.

[Gingerfinch]

Vaughan suggesting Bell should open may not be so outlandish an idea considering how often he comes in after so few overs. Maybe a big ask for him but having Moeen in the lower order where he's had more success might strengthen the batting. It wont happen but it was an interesting proposal.

I'd prefer to see Bell come in at five, and add some experience to our order.

[Aidan11]

I wish Cook could clone himself and be the entire top 6.

[Aidan11]

OK five of the top 6 accompanied by Root.

[hopeforthebest]

Vaughan suggesting Bell should open may not be so outlandish an idea considering how often he comes in after so few overs. Maybe a big ask for him but having Moeen in the lower order where he's had more success might strengthen the batting. It wont happen but it was an interesting proposal.

I'd prefer to see Bell come in at five, and add some experience to our order.

That's a good idea but who then bats a three. It would hardly be fair to Taylor to throw him into the deep end and Root is going so well at four it would be foolish to change that.

[meninblue]

Vaughan suggesting Bell should open may not be so outlandish an idea considering how often he comes in after so few overs. Maybe a big ask for him but having Moeen in the lower order where he's had more success might strengthen the batting. It wont happen but it was an interesting proposal.

I'd prefer to see Bell come in at five, and add some experience to our order.

Alex Hales is an opener in domestic cricket too, and in form. So they have a player for that role. Proper place proper form. What is confusion in selectors.

Moeen is important because he is spinner, so he has to be in team but by batting at middle order.

[Gingerfinch]

Vaughan suggesting Bell should open may not be so outlandish an idea considering how often he comes in after so few overs. Maybe a big ask for him but having Moeen in the lower order where he's had more success might strengthen the batting. It wont happen but it was an interesting proposal.

I'd prefer to see Bell come in at five, and add some experience to our order.

That's a good idea but who then bats a three. It would hardly be fair to Taylor to throw him into the deep end and Root is going so well at four it would be foolish to change that.

I'd bat Taylor at three. A tough ask but he's as well equipped as anyone.

[sussexpob]

Id personally like to see Root take the step up to 3, I am a great believer in the fact that a player capable of form at the moment scoring runs at the top of the innings will give less pressure down the order. I can appreciate that its a risk though, as you might end up ruining the only really consistent run scorer in the line up.

If Taylor plays, he has to go to either 4 (with Root at 3) or in at 3. Give Bell a last chance in that 5 slot for the rest of the winter before we condemn his career to dust. Until there are people coming from the reserves to justify places, I am not that keen on getting rid of Bell. Rather a player with zero test hundreds and no form (Bairstow/Buttler) get the boot before one in a similar situation, but 1000s of runs and 20 odd hundreds

[sussexpob]

As for Ali/Hales.

Id be tempted to drop Stokes for this test, Hales to open and Ali at 6, with South Africa in mind.

Without bowling is Ali going to open in South Africa? I doubt it, might as well give Hales a try this test, obtain Ali for his bowling, and slot Stokes back in first test in SA.

[Making_Splinters]

Bell has done OK this tour, 63 in the first Test and 46 in the second. Decent enough return to not merit the constant calls for him to be dropped given the for. Of the rest of the side baring Cook and Root.

[Gingerfinch]

Bell has done OK this tour, 63 in the first Test and 46 in the second. Decent enough return to not merit the constant calls for him to be dropped given the for. Of the rest of the side baring Cook and Root.

Bairstow is the only comparable player who could be dropped, and given the fact he can keep wicket, you can see why Bell's name has been banded around.

[Making_Splinters]

Bell has done OK this tour, 63 in the first Test and 46 in the second. Decent enough return to not merit the constant calls for him to be dropped given the for. Of the rest of the side baring Cook and Root.

Bairstow is the only comparable player who could be dropped, and given the fact he can keep wicket, you can see why Bell's name has been banded around.

Not really when you have a player in the side whose barely troubled the scorers in seven Tests. Ali needs to make a score more than Bell at this point in time.

[Gingerfinch]

Bell has done OK this tour, 63 in the first Test and 46 in the second. Decent enough return to not merit the constant calls for him to be dropped given the for. Of the rest of the side baring Cook and Root.

Bairstow is the only comparable player who could be dropped, and given the fact he can keep wicket, you can see why Bell's name has been banded around.

Not really when you have a player in the side whose barely troubled the scorers in seven Tests. Ali needs to make a score more than Bell at this point in time.

But Ali can bowl. England won't be dropping him whilst we're still in the UAE.

Anyway, Bell will play, I'm certain of that.