In Ashes Down Under ?

[Oldhasbeen]

Bring in Crawley and Foakes for next test please.

I'll drink to that.

You must have been on the sauce already if you think Crawley is the answer.

Nothing stronger than a cup of well-brewed Assam, I can assure you, Nat. And very good it was, too.

I just think Crawley's a better bet than Burns at the moment. Unless the latter manages to take several blinding slip catches and get a big ton in the next innings.

[Slogger]

I suspect the best English opener is sitting in the BT studio....

[Andy]

I suspect the best English opener is sitting in the BT studio....

They’ve let Sir Geoffrey out of isolation?

[Andy]

Hameed should not have been recalled and Buttler never has been either a test class batsman(not batter!) or keeper. Bring in Crawley and Foakes for next test please.

There were few alternatives to Hameed available and he was starting to get his mojo back.  Foakes is clearly a better keeper and, probably, bat.

[Oldhasbeen]

The Lions team have flown home (or are about to) with none of the players asked to remain with the main squad. So no Foakes, Parkinson, Mahmood or Crane. That leaves Wood, Lawrence, Crawley, Bairstow, Overton, Leach and Bess available to change things. Unless they get James Vince from the Sydney Sixers or Reece Topley from the Melbourne Renegades.

Maybe Lawrence, Bairstow and Crawley in for the next test- and Wood for sure, but that is shuffling deckchairs when the ship has already sunk.

I'd rather hoped Jonny B had played his last Test but he could only be an improvement on the wretched Buttler on current form. Bad, bad mistake letting Ben Foakes go home.

I'm loathe to drop Pope as he is technically better than Dan and has much better career stats. I've thought him as our best batting prospect for a while, but is something not right in between his ears at the moment?

[dazedpenguin]

I suspect the best English opener is sitting in the BT studio....

Didn't he say he'd only come back in an emergency? Well I think this qualifies. Offer to pay him double, charter a jet, whatever it takes. Even on last season's form he's the best there is.

[dazedpenguin]

I'd rather hoped Jonny B had played his last Test but he could only be an improvement on the wretched Buttler on current form. Bad, bad mistake letting Ben Foakes go home.

I'm loathe to drop Pope as he is technically better than Dan and has much better career stats. I've thought him as our best batting prospect for a while, but is something not right in between his ears at the moment?

At least Dan is a battler, particularly when he gets over his usual dodgy starts. I am not sure what has happened to Pope, maybe all the injuries have had an impact.

[Andy]

I suspect the best English opener is sitting in the BT studio....

Didn't he say he'd only come back in an emergency? Well I think this qualifies. Offer to pay him double, charter a jet, whatever it takes. Even on last season's form he's the best there is.

If you're referring to Sir Chef, forget it.  Boycott would be a better option.  Let's face it, the Aussies would have Cook on toast - that's why he retired when he did.

[bwildered]

 Just the relative amount of 467 runs runs to win the test or 134 overs to grind, after a session of insurance play by the Aussies. Kindly though they have given themselves two wobbly sessions in the twilight zone.
Let’s see who wants it in the England camp. Time to scrap.

[Andy]

Our captain gets hit in the groin whilst batting in the nets without a box.  What is going on here? Either poor preparation or a failed attempt to get a ‘Blighty’ wound and go home for Christmas.  I hope that Spoons removes all sharp objects from Root’s room.

Today Is Sunday What A Shambles.

[nat]

So 2-0 down with 3 to play. My prediction of a 4-0 loss is looking optimistic. Root has made the fatal mistake as captain of being too friendly with his teammates especially Stokes. Better to be a son of a ***** and a winner than a nice loser.

[bwildered]

 Fast becoming the, “ We Could Have Tour”. Actually with a bit of more hard earned throughout we could have got something out of the game in which we got completely out played in, and which went deep into 20 overs remaining .
Lawrence for Pope, Wood-and Overton in for the glimmer twins.

[Oldhasbeen]

Malan, Root, Stokes, Robinson, Wood & Bairstow (only because he's the sole alterative to Buttler as 'keeper) should  be the only definites for the next Test, IMHO. Maybe Dan as he's not had a chance to **** up yet.

Buttler, Burns, Anderson and, I reluctantly say,  Pope all need dropping. The Test careers of the first 2 should be over Jimmy might have 1  more Test in him.

[nat]

Malan, Root, Stokes, Robinson, Wood & Bairstow (only because he's the sole alterative to Buttler as 'keeper) should  be the only definites for the next Test, IMHO. Maybe Dan as he's not had a chance to **** up yet.

Buttler, Burns, Anderson and, I reluctantly say,  Pope all need dropping. The Test careers of the first 2 should be over Jimmy might have 1  more Test in him.

You've forgotten Broad. He's finished. Anderson has a bit left in the tank but the end is near for him.
We need some players with balls. Not sure we have enough....in this squad or elsewhere. We need a David Steele.

[LeedsExile]

I expect Buttler's efforts today will earn him a reprieve in this cosy England set up.