South Africa test series

[Andy]

Well that told me.

No worries jwb2. Fried brain syndrome on my part.  I nearly wrote "the quality of referencing needs improving" Pavlov's dog, eh?

[jwb2]

Perhaps you should make them write a paper on why Ben Foakes should be the England wicketkeeper.

[Slogger]

Perhaps you should make them write a paper on why Ben Foakes should be the England wicketkeeper.

Thinking of Foakes I wonder how things would have worked out if James Foster had been lured away by Hants when they approached him a few years ago. Would Foakes have still been with us? As a county we seem to be able to produce decent keepers - I like the look of Buttelman, for example, but why oh why no spinners? Anyway I've wandered off topic so apologies for that and Foakes must surely play in Sri Lanka.

[Andy]

On reflection I think that it would have been difficult to keep Foakes. Let's face it, Wheater only came back because he did not do well and Chopra wanted to go back home. We were not a good club to be honest at the time.

[Bath Hammer]

I like Butler as an individual & would have liked him to succeed but test cricket seems alien to him. Foakes is the natural choice - a more technical w/k & a solid reliable batsman.

[bwildered]

Three thumping wins after a slow, has ever start. Getting good first innings scores, particularly at top of the order, made all the difference and backed up with some decent bowling performances.
New England coach Silverwood has his first away test series win under his belt. Will be interesting who and how the squad changes for a forthcoming series in Sri Lanka.

[IlfordEagle]

A very satisfying series win with  several newbies/youngsters doing well, interesting how well Sibley & Crawley have done well together, bet Burns will rue his football injury now. Just hope we can keep Mark Wood fit as often as possible, really cannot ever see Jamie getting picked for England especially abroad as Eng seem to want all out pace which Jamie doesn't have.

[nat]

Rose tinted specs off. SA were poor especially the batting. Can you really see this England team/squad winning against Australia or India?

The same old issues still exist. Wicketkeeper/batsman, spinners and the top 3  batsmen.

[SirChef26]

England are simply going through the motions with the spinners until who you know becomes eligible to play. I’ll be shocked if Harmer isn’t lining up in an England shirt against India.

The likes of Pope and Sibley will have a year’s extra experience by then hopefully which will see them as better players. Wicketkeepers are a problem though. All three aren’t good enough with the bat. Therefore I’d pick the best keeper by default and that is Foakes. I think there’s also a spot to be claimed in the batting order somewhere as despite not letting us down, Denly probably won’t be there long term and if he starts the summer badly, the media will be gunning for him.. A big summer ahead for the likes of Lawrence and other young county players.

[Andy]

A very satisfying series win with  several newbies/youngsters doing well, interesting how well Sibley & Crawley have done well together, bet Burns will rue his football injury now. Just hope we can keep Mark Wood fit as often as possible, really cannot ever see Jamie getting picked for England especially abroad as Eng seem to want all out pace which Jamie doesn't have.

...plus he can't bat.  Adolf Burns will probably come back in - at least there's some semblance of competition for batting places now.  Foakes should get a try out.

[nat]

A very satisfying series win with  several newbies/youngsters doing well, interesting how well Sibley & Crawley have done well together, bet Burns will rue his football injury now. Just hope we can keep Mark Wood fit as often as possible, really cannot ever see Jamie getting picked for England especially abroad as Eng seem to want all out pace which Jamie doesn't have.

...plus he can't bat.  Adolf Burns will probably come back in - at least there's some semblance of competition for batting places now.  Foakes should get a try out.

"...Adolf Burns...." yep I noted the interesting haircut.

[Andy]

...plus he can't bat.  Adolf Burns will probably come back in - at least there's some semblance of competition for batting places now.  Foakes should get a try out.

"...Adolf Burns...." yep I noted the interesting haircut.

Originally I thought George Orwell during the Spanish Civil War, but then someone else pointed out an even closer resemblance to a painter from Austria.  Of course, not inferring that invading large parts of Europe is a good thing, or that Mr Burns has any such intentions himself.