Slipstream wrote:backfootpunch wrote:Arthur Crabtree wrote:Foakes?
I meant butter bug I suppose foakes did have the highest
Buttler had 760odd at just under 45
Can't believe I forgot Buttler.
Burns Bairstow Stokes Root Buttler Foakes Ali Curran Rashid Broad Anderson
Six bowlers , three wicket keepers and two batsmen ? I know it's been difficult to find worthy top order bats lately but I don't think that means totally giving up on normal team selection and expecting 7-9 to make the lion's share of the runs...
That XI has Stokes artificially high at three , YJB - already on trial at 3 - now punted to opener ; and Buttler and Foakes arguably one spot higher than they'd prefer : none of these necessarily
wrong ; but surely , combined , a risk . And all just because of a reluctance to make a choice as to which bowling combination is best for the conditions facing the team in this match ?
As Arthur indicated earlier , five bowlers should be ample. Six were employed in a few games mainly because (a) batting lineup made it possible (b) selectors were experimenting with their spinners ; and (c) unusual conditions in Sri Lanka. As it was one at least of those bowlers was generally underemployed , though the team didn't suffer due to the overall all round strength. To best the strongest opposition , I suspect resources might need to be more focused ; so I think setting up a reliable top six while rotating the bowling options for prevailing conditions is probably the best way forward.
I think that should start here.