Ashes -2019

[Postman]

It won't happen but I would drop Ali and Bairstow based on current form and Buttler whose talents are many but don't seem to embrace the 5 day game. I would bring in Sibley and Foakes- Archer has to play to replace Anderson and I would also play Bess rather than Leach. Bess's only test match was a success and he can bat and field. After a poor season last year he has played well in all formats for Yorkshire albeit on loan. I'm afraid I would consider Northeast too to replace Denly. Michael Holding should replace Isha Guha as a commentator on Sky but that's a marginal call!

Isha Guha would have bowled better than Moeen, sad to say

[IlfordEagle]

A pathetic batting collapse again, Roy was out to a 1 day shot, one or two should have been out before they were (some close reviews), poor shots generally & few know how to play a long innings - Thanks ECB for ruining red ball cricket & not allowing Contracted players to play more than 2 FC games per season.
Aussies bowled really well (all of them, Siddle deserved better figures but did his job, very impressed with Lyon who is a real match winner, Cummins too bowled really well.
Eng need to make changes, Roy down to 4, Ali needs to be dropped to be replaced by Curran or Bess/Leach, also Archer to play if fit. Argument also for Foakes as W/K as he is a steady batsman as well.

[Bath Hammer]

We just don’t have an adequate batting line up & a collapse is always waiting to happen. It is particularly disappointing that Root is now a very average test batsman & nowhere near Smith & Kohli or probably even Dickinson as someone who can be relied upon to change the course of a game. The likes of Bairstow & Butler are far too flaky for this form of cricket & the former nowhere near lives up to his inflated ego. The trouble is that the cupboard seems fairly bare but I would be happy to see the likes of Leach & Curran given further opportunities. I don’t see how Denly got in the team in the first place.

[nat]

It takes a special type of incompetence to arrange a 3 day game for the touring side and no proper cricket for the home team before the next Test match.

[LeedsExile]

Nat all the emphasis was placed on winning the one day trophy. As far as the ECB are concerned it is job done.

[Slogger]

Nat all the emphasis was placed on winning the one day trophy. As far as the ECB are concerned it is job done.

Quite - either England v a county match or a round of championship matches played starting on Thursday rather than the 18 August round.

[IlfordEagle]

We just don’t have an adequate batting line up & a collapse is always waiting to happen. It is particularly disappointing that Root is now a very average test batsman & nowhere near Smith & Kohli or probably even Dickinson as someone who can be relied upon to change the course of a game. The likes of Bairstow & Butler are far too flaky for this form of cricket & the former nowhere near lives up to his inflated ego. The trouble is that the cupboard seems fairly bare but I would be happy to see the likes of Leach & Curran given further opportunities. I don’t see how Denly got in the team in the first place.

Sorry to be awkward but who is Dickinson?

[Bath Hammer]

Sorry to be awkward but who is Dickinson?

Sorry, Williamson (you probably guessed anyway )

[nat]

<sarcasm alert> Top shout out to Worcestershire for fielding a near 1st team against the Aussies today. We want them to be well prepared against our well prepared boys.

[Oldhasbeen]

Denley & Bairstow should consider themselves very lucky indeed to still be in the Test squad. However Burns was lucky last time .....

Some interesting speculation that Buttler might takes the gloves this time and drop to 7. It does make sense as Bairstow looks more like a "proper Test batsman" and I'm sceptical about having both Roy & Buttler in the top 6. Only problem is Bairstow's batting is pretty sh*te at the mo and lord knows where his head is.

I wondered if Dawid Malan might be picked instead of Denley - horses for courses, he's in good form, it's his home ground and he's done well against the aussies before. And he's a fighter. But Smith is, apparently, a Denley fan.Last chance saloon, Joe.

[LeedsExile]

If Buttler does not keep, I see no point in him being in the side. They should make Foakes keeper at 7 and put Bairstow at 4.

[honkytonk]

I agree LE

Buttler is not worth a place unless he keeps.  Bairstow needs to be told that he is not keeping, no matter how much he wants to.  His batting avge has gone from 50s to 30s. He needs to get himself back in the runs. 

I would have gone

Burns
Roy
Root
Bairstow/Foakes
Foakes/Bairstow
Stokes
Buttler (w)
Woakes
Archer
Broad
Leach

[Bath Hammer]

The trouble is we haven’t got a single international quality test batsman. None of them have the patience, concentration & technique to play a decent test innings on s regular basis. You can get rid of the likes of Butler but who do you bring in? The cupboard is bare!

[IlfordEagle]

There is one batsman good enough who has the game.... but he ain't doing it any more, he did his bit many times (despite what Piers Morgan the fountain of cricket knowledge says!!)

[Andy]

There is one batsman good enough who has the game.... but he ain't doing it any more, he did his bit many times (despite what Piers Morgan the fountain of cricket knowledge says!!)

Indeed.