Pakistan v England 2nd Test, Dubai, Oct 22-26

[Arthur Crabtree]

Stokes only needs to get his batting average up from 31 to 35, and his bowling down from 40 to 35 to be well worth a place, maybe at seven, but potentially at six. He's England's best fielder.

Bairstow averages four fewer from a game more with no hundreds. Stokes has a hundred in Perth in a series in which no other England player scored a ton... he's a player of huge all round potential. You can't say he absolutely deserves to be there, but with so much wrong (England have four functioning players and a dodgy skipper) I don't know why an inquest would start with him. He's my fifth name on the scoresheet.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Superb ball from Yasir to get poor Jos. England will do very well to last until tea.

Chance for Adil to do himself some good.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Stokes gets away with a difficult stumping. I'd just been thinking he was playing sensibly.

As MPV is saying, the CC doesn't prepare you for this. And the warm ups aren't enough for the newer players.

[Dr Cricket]

Stokes only needs to get his batting average up from 31 to 35, and his bowling down from 40 to 35 to be well worth a place, maybe at seven, but potentially at six. He's England's best fielder.

Bairstow averages four fewer from a game more with no hundreds. Stokes has a hundred in Perth in a series in which no other England player scored a ton... he's a player of huge all round potential. You can't say he absolutely deserves to be there, but with so much wrong (England have four functioning players and a dodgy skipper) I don't know why an inquest would start with him. He's my fifth name on the scoresheet.

TBH not suggesting to drop him he is a wonderful prospect just in these conditions it was better to pick a team for the conditions.

I remember in twitter before the first test discussing a possible first test team and whether bairstow or Taylor should be picked and one person said would be harsh to drop someone after the summer.

Then I replied that might explains england poor record in the first test of an overseas tour considering england always pick the wrong team because they look at the summer team in different conditions.

I wonder what the team would be for the last test.
Surely Bairstow, Buttler spots are in question.

Just think Stokes is a waste of a spot in this team at the current conditions although as you say they are bigger issues with the batting than him but still doesn't change the fact England will struggle to fit him in the team next winter as well especially if England finally get a solid top 6.

[Dr Cricket]

Stokes gets away with a difficult stumping. I'd just been thinking he was playing sensibly.

As MPV is saying, the CC doesn't prepare you for this. And the warm ups aren't enough for the newer players.

Well shouldn't they play cricket overseas then.
Was waiting for England to lose before I post this especially since I don't really believe in the County cricket argument and the fact it is always being mentioned when ever teams lose in England.

I am surprised no one ever mentions England players should play domestic cricket in India, Sri lanka, Australia, South Africa etc.

[Dr Cricket]

Stokes gets away with a difficult stumping. I'd just been thinking he was playing sensibly.

As MPV is saying, the CC doesn't prepare you for this. And the warm ups aren't enough for the newer players.

Well shouldn't they play cricket overseas then.
Was waiting for England to lose before I post this especially since I don't really believe in the County cricket argument and the fact it is always being mentioned when ever teams lose in England.

I am surprised no one ever mentions England players should play domestic cricket in India, Sri lanka, Australia, South Africa etc.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I am surprised no one ever mentions England players should play domestic cricket in India, Sri lanka, Australia, South Africa etc.

This does get an airing at times. Borthwick went to SL and struggled. I wonder at what level, in those conditions, English players can justifiably operate.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Lots of English players play in Australia. It's a bit of a rites of passage.

'A' tours are useful.

Excellent morning for Pakistan.

Big test there for Ben. Well done to him for holding on.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I think most England followers would have had Taylor in the side. Few would have opened with Mo.

Though, England have outperformed my expectations. Pretty much all of them, maybe except Broad.

[Dr Cricket]

Lots of English players play in Australia. It's a bit of a rites of passage.

'A' tours are useful.

Excellent morning for Pakistan.

Big test there for Ben. Well done to him for holding on.

personally think Australia club cricket shouldn't really count not sure they learn anything in cricket terms, conditions are kind off similar and quality not the same.

ECB are not a fan of A tours any more think they realised that pitches just are not challenging enough and it just hasn't been useful enough then they thought it would be 5-10 years ago.

Also yeah ben done well for holding on if he scores a 50 here would have to give him credit for the knock and would make my argument void this morning.
But be happy for him since he a really good player.
Still wouldn't pick him here in these conditions unless he a genuine top 6 batsman or the keeper can bat at 6 and he slots in at 7.

[Dr Cricket]

I think most England followers would have had Taylor in the side. Few would have opened with Mo.

Though, England have outperformed my expectations. Pretty much all of them, maybe except Broad.

yeah would be crazy if taylor didn't play in this tour.

Would be interesting to know why Taylor didn't get picked for the first test and the reason why.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Don't think the runs are a factor here, it's balls lasted. If Ben lasts 100 balls, that's a fifty. If he lasts 200 (he won't get the chance) that's a ton.

Young England players aren't going to get in first class sides overseas. Woakes did in NZ, but it's very rare. They're going to play a level down.

I think Australia really does represent an alien experience for England batters, as we saw in 2013-4.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I think most England followers would have had Taylor in the side. Few would have opened with Mo.

Though, England have outperformed my expectations. Pretty much all of them, maybe except Broad.

yeah would be crazy if taylor didn't play in this tour.

Would be interesting to know why Taylor didn't get picked for the first test and the reason why.

They wanted to stand by Bell, that was a policy. They wanted to not keep dropping and picking Bairstow, which is what his whole international experience has been. And they didn't have enough belief in their spinners (part of England's dna since Swann mutated) not to go in without a specialist third seamer. I wouldn't have picked Bairstow again without him doing the sort of yakka on the A circuit that Taylor has done, and which Ballance should now do. To prove that the reasons they failed are no longer factors.

For some reason, England don't like Taylor. Is it Flower's lingering influence? But you only have to consider how he got dropped from the ODI side after the WC to see their heart isn't in picking him.

[Dr Cricket]

Don't think the runs are a factor here, it's balls lasted. If Ben lasts 100 balls, that's a fifty. If he lasts 200 (he won't get the chance) that's a ton.

Young England players aren't going to get in first class sides overseas. Woakes did in NZ, but it's very rare. They're going to play a level down.

I think Australia really does represent an alien experience for England batters, as we saw in 2013-4.

good point on the runs very gutsy innings from Stokes need to find a way to score runs and be solid in these conditions though.
not sure the club cricket would do though I doubt the pitch will have the express pace or quality to trouble England players.
Think more players could play in NZ, SA, Ban, Sri lanka and even India.

Sri lanka/Ban are the best places if you want Spin/Slow practice and Aus for the pace.
ECB would have to make the deals and player have to actually wanna go since the money won't be good unlike County cricket.
the only reason people play county cricket is the money.

Anyway my point was more on County cricket and it doesn't actually make you suddenly world beaters in cricket or a very good player.

[Dr Cricket]

Might be hard with ECB not exactly interested on the A circuit any more.
This winter lions only playing T20/Odi games this winter.
ECB are keen on Overseas camps where their hire out nets/stadiums and basically play inter squad games impossible for fans to know how players are doing though but the players do get better preparation and is better for them than playing games.