First Test: West Indies v England, Bridgetown, 23-27 Jan.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Mo doesn't really deserve to be dropped as a bowler. He's contributing nothing as a number 7/8 bat though.

Maybe Curran should be considered as a middle order batter rather than a bowler.

Unsettled by Bairstow at three but he did well in SL. Different game when the pacemen carry no threat though.

Seems reasonable to change the batting, which means bringing in Denly. Probably Jennings is the most sensible to leave out. The only issue is whether it is reasonable and productive for JD to open when he no longer does that in CC. Probably Broad for Curran and Leach (or Woakes) for Rashid depending on the conditions.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Jennings averages 26 generally, but 17.5 outside Asia with no fifties (highest score 48). In Asia, 44.4, with two hundreds and a fifty.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Since the start of the last Ashes, Moeen averages 17.6 with the bat with one fifty against India.

But no one who played in the Ashes series averages above 40, and only Root above 35.

Bairstow has three hundreds but averages 31, which suggests a lot of low scores. Stokes averages 26 with no hundreds and four fifties, and he didn't even play in Australia.

Stoneman averages a little more than Jennings...

Buttler (42) and Foakes (42) average over 40, but didn't feature in the Ashes.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... pe=batting

[alfie]

Since the start of the last Ashes, Moeen averages 17.6 with the bat with one fifty against India.

But no one who played in the Ashes series averages above 40, and only Root above 35.

Bairstow has three hundreds but averages 31, which suggests a lot of low scores. Stokes averages 26 with no hundreds and four fifties, and he didn't even play in Australia.

Stoneman averages a little more than Jennings...

Buttler (42) and Foakes (42) average over 40, but didn't feature in the Ashes.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... pe=batting

So what are you saying , Arthur ? England's batting is a bit dodgy at the moment ? Stop the presses

I think you are addressing the Moeen question ? If so I agree with you that he doesn't deserve to be dumped as a bowler just because his batting has tailed off. However with a view to winning the next Test Match I think there must be a strong chance that Leach would be a better bet if only one spinner is to be deployed. Right now , the better batting argument seems less relevant...

[Durhamfootman]

a typically scathing piece from Dobell

http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/ ... glish-game

the ECB will have to try and get him the sack............. or get him gagged..... talking off script again.... it surely can't be tolerated

and to suggest that bringing white ball cricket into front and centre of the county season has led to the CC not producing 'an indisputably top class test opener for a decade and a half' is positively commie talk

they'll have to send the boys around to his house one night.... or send him to China for admission into a 're-education' centre

[Arthur Crabtree]

Seem reasonable conclusions to draw.

[Arthur Crabtree]

But certainly, invite him into the dressing room and make sure he is aware that his role is to be a part of team England's public image going forward and his own future as a journalist is tied to the commercial profile of the English game.

[Arthur Crabtree]

If that doesn't bring into focus the goals the ECB are trying to accomplish, then of course remove access to the players and further press leaks.

[sussexpob]

Dobell not missing out the opportunity to put the boot in. I guess its a good point about Anderson, who seemed to tire a lot second dig.

He beat the record for deliveries sent down against NZ in 2018, and thats before he played another a year of tests. Has he much left in the tank?

[mikesiva]

[bigfluffylemon]

Dobell not missing out the opportunity to put the boot in. I guess its a good point about Anderson, who seemed to tire a lot second dig.

He beat the record for deliveries sent down against NZ in 2018, and thats before he played another a year of tests. Has he much left in the tank?

We're all wondering that. I've been expecting him to hang up his boots after the Ashes, and I still expect him to. But to be fair to him, he had only 77 runs of rest between the first and second innings, and he's carrying the rest of the attack.

[Arthur Crabtree]

On the other hand... he hardly plays.

Touring itself is hard emotionally and physically. The training may well be hard, but that should make him better able to handle the work. But he is a single format player and hardly plays fc cricket. So that should keep the tank fuller than it might be. I don't think he wanted to give up the other formats, but it must have helped him to continue and also escape the wear and tear that weakens many pace bowlers.

[bigfluffylemon]

He took the decision to be a single format player to prolong his test career, and you'd have to say it's worked. He's had a longer and more prolific career than any other quick in history.

I think he's allowed to be a bit weary. It must be draining bowling so well, and watching a batting collapse defeat all your hard work time after time after time.

[bigfluffylemon]

Actually, Jimmy has just passed Warne's record and has now played more matches than any specialist bowler in history. He should pass 150 tests during the Ashes.

That's a remarkable feat of longevity and fitness.

[Slipstream]

He took the decision to be a single format player to prolong his test career, and you'd have to say it's worked. He's had a longer and more prolific career than any other quick in history.

I think he's allowed to be a bit weary. It must be draining bowling so well, and watching a batting collapse defeat all your hard work time after time after time.

Broad and Anderson were dropped by Strauss/Morgan. They would love to still be playing ODIs. Said to prolong their red ball career but really Morgan didn't want them.

Was looking at Anderson's bowling, in 56 Tests he has bowled over 40 overs, two Tests bowled over 60 overs so he is used to a heavy workload. Also didn't have 2 or 3 three day warm up games before the Test. In the 4 day net game he only bowled 11 overs.

I see that for the tour to NZ we have the 4 days net game again. We should have the Lions out there and play 2/3 4 day games against them. Much like the Aussies are doing before the Ashes, playing against their A team.