Superstitious anyone ?

[galboy]

Carberry was soon discarded. I think Robson will certainly be dropped if he doesn't perform in the next two tests. Get Hales in, he has proven that the big stage doesnt effect him and he has the game to succeed at Test level.

So was Taylor when he failed against Suid Afrika, Galboy. I think Carberry may have been a tad unfortunate in being selected for that ill fated tour, even so, I suspect he fared better than perhaps Robson would have done.

You appear to be reasonably knowledgeable on the game of cricket, what is your opinion of Lyth and Lees? It used to be stated back in the good ole days that when Yorks. were strong, England were strong.

Ive heard good things about both and both have impressed me on the limited times I have seen them. Lees should definitely play for England one day but I feel that Lyth might just slip through the net.

Hales is the next ship in the dock I feel and I have a feeling that he could be the new Trescothick, ive rated him for years. I called for him to be selected ahead of Root when he got called up but was probably wrong about that. It seems that in that couple of years he has come to the fore and seems to have developed his game somewhat in the longer formats. Players that play straight and hit a long ball have always impressed me hence my liking for Hales.

[bwildered]

Robson looks like a rabbit in headlights at present , think the Aussies will have him for breakfast next year.
Lyth and Hales both looked impressive down here the other year. But Chopra might be a outsider for a tour during the winter .

[IlfordEagle]

Lyth has looked good when I have seen him as well, Lees has also been spoken of well, a warning though as his predecessor Joe Sayers was also talked up & has now quit County cricket. Still on Yorks & Rashid appears to have been forgotten which is a shame, I have always been impressed by him too.

[DT]

Robson looks like a rabbit in headlights at present , think the Aussies will have him for breakfast next year.
Lyth and Hales both looked impressive down here the other year. But Chopra might be a outsider for a tour during the winter .

To be honest you wonder if Robson wasn't part Australian would he have been selected this summer to open??  I get the feeling not but one can't knock his county form which was deserving of a test call-up so I hope he is given the next test to play and the winter series before chopping and changing again - Carberry didn't do much wrong and was dropped so I guess it's possible Robson could also.

Talking about rabbit in headlights, I just don't see what England see in Chris Woakes as a test player - he looks well out of his depth with his bowling in test cricket and not taken a single wicket in 41 overs - hopefully he proves me wrong and takes some later today/tomorrow when we bowl again but I personally think we're better off with Stokes in this all-rounders position and leave Woakes to play one-day cricket where he is more than useful.  More importantly you can see the reluctance to keep playing Broad - even with his injury problems he's still a force and Jordan seems a different bowler having been stupidly dropped after the Sri Lanka tests - perhaps it's time for Onions again - never let us down??

[galboy]

England wont go back to Onions now, they have moved on from him. Very unlucky for him as in a different era he could have been a mainstay.

I have always liked Woakes as a player but you do have to ask just how much longer England are going to persevere with him. Jordan hasn't really contributed much to our cause this summer either. It appears that these two along with Stokes are vying for two places and they cant seem to nail it down. Personally I would prefer to see a firing Finn in the side and only one of these all rounders. If Ali is going to be the spinner then the batting is packed out anyway.

[Valentines Park]

Joe Sayers was also talked up

Wasn't that Boycott off the back of a mind numbing 3 hour ton?

Must have reminded him of himself in his prime. 

[galboy]

I have to agree with what Nasser said in Saturday its ridiculous to just jump a number. It would mean that every single players number after 666 would be one out.

You're 666, tough luck im afraid. It could be worse you could be working on a motorway digging up the road.

[Diatribe]

It could be worse you could be working on a motorway digging up the road.

I'd have thought that any sort of job, no matter how prestigious which warranted arising at around 7 am and braving the British winter weather to travel into work would be most unenviable, most unenviable indeed.

Not to mention that most working people are more in debt with the duration of each yr. than when they started.

[firehazard]

You're 666, tough luck im afraid. It could be worse you could be working on a motorway digging up the road.

Take that 666 shirt and own it...

[Valentines Park]

Take that 666 shirt and own it...

Indeed.

There must be some English cricketers who like Iron Maiden.

[firehazard]

...
There must be some English cricketers who like Iron Maiden.

"I have the fire, I have the force..."