India series

[Bath Hammer]

I know everyone is euphoric after the narrow win in the first test & it was an exciting game but Stokes evidently thinks it will shut people up. I think it just papers over the cracks & I can’t see any upward trajectory with this England side as far as batting & catching is concerned. I don’t know what the answer is but Bayliss’s ODI approach certainly doesn’t help.

[Andy]

Sadly with the passing of Barry Chuckle, my grand plan to replace Stokes and Malan now won’t come to pass. Looks like Woakes and/or Ali to come in instead.

[JasonP]

I know everyone is euphoric after the narrow win in the first test & it was an exciting game but Stokes evidently thinks it will shut people up. I think it just papers over the cracks & I can’t see any upward trajectory with this England side as far as batting & catching is concerned. I don’t know what the answer is but Bayliss’s ODI approach certainly doesn’t help.

Putting the best catchers in the slips would help.  Root has moved himself out of there and Stokes is a brilliant slips catcher as well.

[Oldhasbeen]

A few punters are backing Joe Clark to replace Malan in the squad. His batting record suggests he's ready, anyone seen him play good spinners, and what's his fielding like?

Wouldn't be surprised to see Woakes for Stokes and Ali for Rashid at Lords. 6 to 9 batting order would be interesting.

[Andy]

A few punters are backing Joe Clark to replace Malan in the squad. His batting record suggests he's ready, anyone seen him play good spinners, and what's his fielding like?

Wouldn't be surprised to see Woakes for Stokes and Ali for Rashid at Lords. 6 to 9 batting order would be interesting.

I doubt they’ll change the top order with the number six in court and Moeen seems to be a permanent lower order bat so making a third change would be too much - assuming they do add an extra spinner.

[JasonP]

A few punters are backing Joe Clark to replace Malan in the squad. His batting record suggests he's ready, anyone seen him play good spinners, and what's his fielding like?

Wouldn't be surprised to see Woakes for Stokes and Ali for Rashid at Lords. 6 to 9 batting order would be interesting.

Ollie Pope picked, rather than Clarke.  He's scored a lot of runs this year but behind a very strong Surrey batting line up.  Coming in at 40-4 is going to be a bit different to what he's been used to.

[Oldhasbeen]

A few punters are backing Joe Clark to replace Malan in the squad. His batting record suggests he's ready, anyone seen him play good spinners, and what's his fielding like?

Wouldn't be surprised to see Woakes for Stokes and Ali for Rashid at Lords. 6 to 9 batting order would be interesting.

Ollie Pope picked, rather than Clarke.  He's scored a lot of runs this year but behind a very strong Surrey batting line up.  Coming in at 40-4 is going to be a bit different to what he's been used to.

Brave move by the selectors.

Can't see Jamie getting a look in - forecast is for dry and sunny weather, Lords will presumably be a hard quick wicket, Woakes extra pace and batting ability will see him in the final XI.  and I'll be amazed if we go for 2 spinners but could see Mo in rather than Rash to strengthen the Stokesless batting.

I'll be glued to the box come Thursday. Mrs OHB will have to do without her daytime TV

[LeedsExile]

Smith is proving that he is not afraid to make bold selections. I agree with dropping Malan but it is a bit ruthless after a win. You can guarantee that the likes of Agnew and Tufnell will never have seen Pope play yet they will be providing "expert" opinion on him. Tufnell's ignorance is really grating with me. He recently did not know that Roland-Jones is out for the summer and he is a Middlesex player. Get Vic Marks back soon. At least he watches county cricket.

[jwb]

A few punters are backing Joe Clark to replace Malan in the squad. His batting record suggests he's ready, anyone seen him play good spinners, and what's his fielding like?

Wouldn't be surprised to see Woakes for Stokes and Ali for Rashid at Lords. 6 to 9 batting order would lbe interesting.

Ollie Pope picked, rather than Clarke.  He's scored a lot of runs this year but behind a very strong Surrey batting line up.  Coming in at 40-4 is going to be a bit different to what he's been used to.

He looks class with a lot through mid wicket. They don’t seem to suffer from fear these days so let’s see. It’s about time they shook up the old regime anyway.

[IlfordEagle]

The Edgbaston proved Test cricket is still the best & should be preserved as it is, a great win for England with Sam Curran showing great character etc to get us in a winning position, slightly concerned about Ally who was out twice to similar deliveries with similar strokes, he really needs big runs soon.

[DT]

I know everyone is euphoric after the narrow win in the first test & it was an exciting game but Stokes evidently thinks it will shut people up. I think it just papers over the cracks & I can’t see any upward trajectory with this England side as far as batting & catching is concerned. I don’t know what the answer is but Bayliss’s ODI approach certainly doesn’t help.

It seems to me that this England side have some kind of culture and don’t take kindly to constructive criticism - there really was no need for Stokes to say what he did and as you say the win papers over the cracks.  This England side will be equally as bad as they are brilliant but need to respect test cricket and what is said about them, not sulk because they think they are England cricketers and that’s that!

But as Ilford Eagle says, test (and championship) cricket is still the best - how a game can ebb and flow is just fascinating!!!

[Andy]

One thing that might work is that Smith is keen to get the next generation into the team, as we seemed to get stuck with the same names going round and round at the top of the order. Of course, the big egos are still in the team, how many depending upon the result of the court case, but maybe Smith brings a willingness to take a chance on youth. Of course, whether Pope would’ve been picked had he played for Worcester instead of Slurrey...but to be fair to Alec Stewart, that club is now prepared to invest in younger players which should be welcomed.

[Valentines Park]

to be fair to Alec Stewart, that club is now prepared to invest in younger players which should be welcomed.

Surrey have always produced homegrown players.

I know it's fashionable to hate them but they're nowhere near as bad as Notts.

[Andy]

to be fair to Alec Stewart, that club is now prepared to invest in younger players which should be welcomed.

Surrey have always produced homegrown players.

I know it's fashionable to hate them but they're nowhere near as bad as Notts.

They did go through a spell of externally recruiting a bit too much. Realistically with such a large and well heeled catchment area they ought to be able to recruit well from the county.

Some things never go out of fashion...

[nat]

A point of order, can we please use their correct name ...
...
Slurry.