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

[Arthur Crabtree]

This place is so quite when England are doing well :hmmm

Cook gone, everyone back in

Got up 06.30 and he was still in, so went back to bed. Just woken up again. I need an app.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Come on JT.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Some investigation into the management of Taylor since he started for England A would be interesting. Why he's been continually successful for the Lions, and outscored the other batters who have been shuffled ahead of him in both formats, with a fca of nearly 50... but found it so hard to get a chance. Including being dropped after the WC from the ODI side.

Sky 15 secs behind TMS.

[Arthur Crabtree]

If Bell get a ton would it be:

A) be the the perfect opportunity to call a day on his dwindling returns with a moment of triumph. Or

B) be the perfect opportunity to launch a late career renaissance starting with the Tests in SA.

[Gingerfinch]

A rebuilding job being done by two men under pressure. Could do with a 100 run lead, if possible.

[yuppie]

If Bell get a ton would it be:

A) be the the perfect opportunity to call a day on his dwindling returns with a moment of triumph. Or

B) be the perfect opportunity to launch a late career renaissance starting with the Tests in SA.

Not sure who can replace Bell.

Not been great in UAE, but not been bad either. I presume that not retiring after the ashes would mean that he would be going to SA.

[Arthur Crabtree]

His batting in this tour has looked hard work. He's stuck to it well but it's been a slog and he's looked scratchy. He appeared to carry on reluctantly after the Ashes. He'll be able to carry on if he wants, but it doesn't seem certain that he'll want to.

[yuppie]

His batting in this tour has looked hard work. He's stuck to it well but it's been a slog and he's looked scratchy. He appeared to carry on reluctantly after the Ashes. He'll be able to carry on if he wants, but it doesn't seem certain that he'll want to.

Tough to carry on if your hearts not in it, specially against the SA quicks.

More of a problem for England will be who replaces Stokes

[Arthur Crabtree]

Not sure who can replace Bell.

Given he averages 28 this year and 30 over the past two years, isn't it plausible that those sort of runs could be replaced?

[backfootpunch]

If Bell get a ton would it be:

A) be the the perfect opportunity to call a day on his dwindling returns with a moment of triumph. Or

B) be the perfect opportunity to launch a late career renaissance starting with the Tests in SA.

its pretty clear that they want bell in the team due to the inexperience of the rest of the batting line up

he has done enough on this tour to keep his place in the team

the lack of success of bairstow, moeen, buttler and stokes with the bat in recent times pretty much guarantees him a place in the side

moeen better hope that rashid doesnt score runs in this test or take 3 or 4 wickets in the second innings as his place in the side will start to come into question

he isnt scoring runs and is bowling worse now than when he first came in

[Arthur Crabtree]

More of a problem for England will be who replaces Stokes

6. Batter/keeper
7. Moeen
8. Broad
?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Good effort for England, three down at tea.

[Gingerfinch]

In South Africa, a batting order of Cook, Hales, Bell, Root, Taylor, Stokes, Bairstow/Buttler, Rashid/Ali, looks good. I still think Bell can do a job, though he needs runs of course.

[Arthur Crabtree]

If Bell get a ton would it be:

A) be the the perfect opportunity to call a day on his dwindling returns with a moment of triumph. Or

B) be the perfect opportunity to launch a late career renaissance starting with the Tests in SA.

its pretty clear that they want bell in the team due to the inexperience of the rest of the batting line up

he has done enough on this tour to keep his place in the team

I don't really rate experience over runs (and Root replaced Bell in the vc role, so England didn't promote Bell's experience there).

[hopeforthebest]

Bell hasn't looked scratchy todaynor in his second innings at Dubai. Quite clearly after losing Cook and Root in double quick time and no Stokes someone has to try and play a long innings. It would appear for some he's damned iif he does and damned if he doesn't.