Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

unless Hales is a naughty boy again in the next 12 months, of course

New England director of cricket http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/25475436

Mark Nicholas is in the running?

Arthur Crabtree wrote:Mark Nicholas is in the running?

the oleaginous Mark Nicholas, Arthur?

he'll probably glide right past the door to the interview room and not be able to make his way back until it's too late

I nearly went back and corrected it!

I should probably have said 'slither' rather than 'glide'

Denly survives. Only change from the SL squad is Foakes for Pope is made permanent.

Im glad Denly is still there, he may not play but im glad the selectors still want him there....and Foakes had to stay he's now a key part of this side, his glovework is exceptional!

Any thoughts on the Gilo appointment? Seems fairly predictable, he's generally considered to have done well at Warcs. But I don't know enough about the details to really be able to comment.

Feels a bit odd that Gilo is back, given the sorry time he had as ODI coach.

My impression is the job is mainly a PR/admin role. There are others in charge of the teams.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/ ... evelations

Giles' first job....

Seen Giles, Bayliss, Smith and Root in discussion. Root looking the most stressed. Is he choosing the team? Last XI picked, he said it was a gut feeling which must mean Bayliss is happy to let him select. When Flower was in charge you felt he picked the team and Cook was happy with that. Cook didn't got to selection meetings.

Smith hasn't selected players for particular places in the batting order just players to be fitted in wherever.
Pope who bats at 5 for Surrey batted 4 for England while Root was 3
Stokes has batted from no. 3 to 11. He best average is at no 6.
Bairstow is learning the no 3 position but looks most comfortable at 7.
Ali has batted from no 1 to 9.

No one feels settled. I have a feeling that Roy will be the next to be playing at 3 or opening instead of the middle order. As much as it is hard to tell who will be batting for Australia, it's hard to name a XI for the Ashes.

You would expect the XI to be roughly the same for last summer but only 5, Cook, Root, Buttler, Broad and Anderson played all 7 Tests. Bess played 2 Tests. Where was Ali, Rashid, Leach?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/201 ... -consider/

More players talked about and not in their batting position.

Ashes
Vince opening
Clarke at 3

Also in the 3rd Test Root maybe back to three. Heavens knows where Bairstow will go.

Not sure how certain players can be tipped for Ashes selection when there is going to be If a solid eight rounds of County Championship cricket between Mid-May and Mid-July. Plenty of time for players in their natural positions to make their case for England selection.

If England are contemplating playing someone else at 3 in the Windies 3rd test as a one off, might as well play Moeen in that position since he bats there for Worcestershire. Moeen at 3, Bairstow at 5 would make a difference in preventing middle order batting collapses.

Alviro Patterson wrote: Moeen at 3, Bairstow at 5 would make a difference in preventing middle order batting collapses.

well you say that, but it appears there is no force in the world that can prevent an England middle order collapse, once they put their minds to it