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

Who should and shouldn't be included in the England squad for the Test series against Pakistan in UAE?

Quite a few positions probably still up for grabs.

What would your 16/17 man squad look like?

No knee-jerk for me. I would probably drop Lyth for Hales. Take Buttler as a reserve keeper only.

Cook
Hales
Bell
Root
Taylor (perhaps)
Bairstow
Stokes
Moeen Ali
Rashid
Borthwick
Anderson
Broad
Finn
Plunkett
Wood
Buttler

Cook
Hales
Ali
Borthwick (not thought of him but love that shout)
Taylor
Root
Bairstow
Buttler
Rashid
Anderson
Broad
Finn
Jordan
Wood
Woakes

Just have a feeling Bell might call it a day after the Oval test. If he doesn't he replaces Finn. I might also wait to see if anyone steps up in the ODI series.

Aidan11 wrote:No knee-jerk for me. I would probably drop Lyth for Hales. Take Buttler as a reserve keeper only.

Cook
Hales
Bell
Root
Taylor (perhaps)
Bairstow
Stokes
Moeen Ali
Rashid
Borthwick
Anderson
Broad
Finn
Plunkett
Wood
Buttler

i dont think they will drop buttler, he has been identified as the future and will be given a long run in the side

this series is also a good chance for him to put some hard work into his keeping with all the spin that will be bowled

Baring a match saving double ton, Lyth's goose is surely cooked. England need to play two spinners in the UAE, surely that will be Rashid and Ali with Tredwell or another as back up. Bairstow offers a back up keeper so no need to take a third. The only real question is what they do with the opening slot. I'd be in favour of Ali opening and Rashid coming in down at eight, that'd allow for two spinners, three pace bowlers and Stokes so plenty of hands to keep bowlers from wilting in the heat. The other option would likely be Hales, but England would have to use him as a Warner type opener instead of expecting him to come in and play like a Cook or Rogers. Taylor or Ballance as the back up batsman one would expect.

Can't see Buttler or Bell being dropped.

Zafar Ansari anyone?

Cook
Hales
Bell
Taylor
Root*
Stokes
Buttler
Bairstow
Moeen
Rashid
Panesar/
Tredwell
Wood
Finn
Anderson
Broad

Consider Woakes, Shahzad, Compton. Not seen Robinson??? But four pace bowlers plus Stokes should be enough.

Making_Splinters wrote:Can't see Buttler or Bell being dropped.

yep that 8.5 average bell had in the UAE last time we were there really inspires confidence that he deserves to keep his place on the back of a poor run of form for the last 18+ months

After Bell's UAE tour, and arguably poor tour of India, i thought he'd be gone before England went back to Asia.

Arthur Crabtree wrote:After Bell's UAE tour, and arguably poor tour of India, i thought he'd be gone before England went back to Asia.

well after today that's his average since the start of 2014 back below 30 so given how poor "England's best player of spin" looked last time in the UAE I really think there have to be question marks over his place

There is a new coach, and I'd guess Farbrace has a different voice without Flower/Moores, so selection might be less predictable than usual. Bell feels to be part (without his connivance) of the post KP rewrite. He is one of the 'big five' who would see England forward (so was Prior). Hard to say he won't be there. He always is.

Would Ballance replace him?

I just cant see how its acceptable for a specialist batsman to be averaging under 30 over such a prolonged period and continue to keep his place

the odd "pretty" innings of 60ish shouldn't mean the overall performance gets ignored

Cook batted for two years with an average of 30, and is getting those numbers again.

The way the ECB promotes its players now (including through figures in the press, tv, radio) gives an impression that these players are characters in their narrative, rather than sportsmen who survive or perish by results. Bell was the player who was going to make Pietersen not matter.

But, Bayliss isn't part of that group mentality, apart from not being allowed to have Pietersen.

rich1uk wrote:

Making_Splinters wrote:Can't see Buttler or Bell being dropped.

yep that 8.5 average bell had in the UAE last time we were there really inspires confidence that he deserves to keep his place on the back of a poor run of form for the last 18+ months

Bells made 3 50s this series, not terrible for 7 innings.