Bring on the Aussies! "Interesting" times ahead?

[Oldhasbeen]

It's often said that there's  a Chinese curse that translates as "May you live in interesting times". Well, Tremor Bayliss has certainly got some "interesting" times ahead this summer.

There's been some real progress in the last few months - Ally & Big Stu returning to form; Root looking world-class; Lythe & Stokes looking the part; and a very promising debut by Mark Wood. But the the Aussies will be rubbing their hands at the obvious weaknesses e.g:

1. The fielding. Even reliable fielders like Bell & Ballance are spilling chances. One report estimated "that dropped catches had cost England 250 runs in the series and 182 in the second innings of this match alone"
2. Brittle batting, esp. the worrying lack of form from Bell & Ballance. (Has the latter's limited technique been rumbled?)
3. The inability of the bowling to keep the run rate down. (Oh, for a latter-day Derek Underwood or Tom Cartwright)
4 The lack of penetration and variety in the England attack - who will get a pile of wickets without help from the pitch, the atmosphere or suicidal batsmen?

So, I wonder what TB will do.

(a) Replace some of the players? Who, and by whom?
(b) Change some of the coaching or coaches?
(c) Shuffle the batting order / fielding positions? (Many Yorkies are saying that Lyth's a good slipper)
(d) Inspire the current lot to greater things?

Any thoughts?

[tonk]

Find the best price for an Aussie win and lump on!

[Oldhasbeen]

Find the best price for an Aussie win and lump on!

With England now at 61-4, and Bell & Balance looking like walking wickets, I think that's sound advice!

Bell, in particular,  looks mentally shot. It would be cruel to stick himin fromt of Starc & Mitchell in his current state.

About the only good thing is that there's over a month until the start of the 1st text v the Aussies - and several championship games. Time for some of Mssrs Shazhad, Rashid, Finn, Compton, Vince, Hales, Jordan and just about anyone else to make a compelling case for inclusion. To it, guys!

Only noon and the desire for a beer or six is screaming out already!

[JasonP]

Find the best price for an Aussie win and lump on!

With England now at 61-4, and Bell & Balance looking like walking wickets, I think that's sound advice!

Bell, in particular,  looks mentally shot. It would be cruel to stick himin fromt of Starc & Mitchell in his current state.

About the only good thing is that there's over a month until the start of the 1st text v the Aussies - and several championship games. Time for some of Mssrs Shazhad, Rashid, Finn, Compton, Vince, Hales, Jordan and just about anyone else to make a compelling case for inclusion. To it, guys!

Only noon and the desire for a beer or six is screaming out already!

It's very rare for everyone to be in form at all times.  As you say there is atleast a month until the first test.  Bell is a class player and was the best batsman against Australia two years ago.  They would love him not to play.  Ballance Im not so sure about.  He has a good record but against Sri Lanka, India and West Indies, all poor attacks.
As for the Aussies they havent won in England since 2001 and they are favourites for sure but im not sure they are as good as being made out.  The wickets prepared over here will not have the pace and bounce that Johnson likes, Starc has never bowled particularly well in Tests full stop and Harris is nearly 36 and coming off a serious operation.

[Oldhasbeen]

Good post, JP

I'm sure you're right about the wickets we'll prepare, and the fitness of the excellent Ryan Harris wil be a major factor. But the aussies attack is still much better than ours - Johnson, evenon soft pitches, is still capable of roughing up top batmen if his radar's working; and there are still Siddle and Lyion to consider. 

If the first test was next week, I'd leave Bell out as he seems a mental wreck. I hope he can find some real form in the next few weeks (an encouraging 90 in 20:20 is a start) and he can be in our line up, although it's worth considering dropping him to number 5, where he seems to score a lot more.

I'm more optimistic than you about Ballance. True, he hasn't faced the best attacks, but they're not all complete duffers either, and an average on 50-odd in your first 10 or so tests is impressive. And he has a very good temperament. He just needs a good long innings or 2.

It'll be interesting to se who does well in the current round of country games, particularly Yorks / Middlesex, where there as a slew of players who could figure in this summer's tests - Robson out for 41, Compton in at the moment. But where are Rashid & Plunkett? Or Jordan for Sussex?

[Oldhasbeen]

Plunkett etc - selected for England one day team. Duh!

[honkytonk]

First test I would go -

Lyth
Cook
Balance
Root
Bell
Stokes
Buttler
Rashid
Broad
Wood
Anderson

Ballance is the only one I would have doubts over but he gets the first gig.  Aussies are good but looking at their last test.  That W Indies team put out in that game was a disgrace.  Shambles of a team that quite a few county sides would beat.  Watching that game one thing did strike me about the aussies (and this could be true of them all the time) they seem very up themselves/cocky at the moment.  I think that they think they have this up coming series in the bag.  Yes they are on form the better side but I think they will get a shock.  We have some players in the team that will give a good as they get.  BRING THEM ON

[bwildered]

James Vince will be a fixture in the test  side come the end of the series . Steve Smith will show the public what a player he has already become . Unless Rashid can get into the wickets most we can hope for is a level test series .

[honkytonk]

Rashid needs to get into the team!!

[Oldhasbeen]

Rashid needs to get into the team!!

Agreed HonkyTonk. Moeen would be unlucky,but that's life.

Bell's now looking much better, but Ballance can't seem to buy a run. Trouble is that most of the obvious alternatives at number (Compton, Robson or even Moeen) aren't exactly overflowing with runs either. Unless Bayliss is willing to risk Root or Bell at 3 and bring in a new number 5 - Bairstow? Vince? - I think Ballance it'll be

Agree that Broad will start the first test but he needs to watch out. When Plunkett's fit again he'll be in the frame; ditto Woakes, later this summer; Jordan could be if he starts getting wickets for Sussex (we need his slip catching!) and it looks like the selectors are interested in slipping a left arm quickie in somewhere along the line: I don't think Toppers is ready yet, but either Footit or Willy could edge Big Stu out unless he tightens up a lot.

[IlfordEagle]

Not a fan of Broad - too much self talk & not enough deeds - he'll have 1 good Test, take a few wickets & that will be that for the Series. He always seems to be trying to prove he is a fast bowler  - which he isn't!! He should stick to fast medium & do the business a bit more often, oh & also score a few runs more often as the Aussie quicks will let him have lots of short bowling around the head etc & he doesn't handle that very well does he?

[nat]

Much as I don't like his behaviour I'm sure he will have a good series. He has got the number of several Aussie batsmen.

Plunkett is not an international bowler. The term 'Pie chucker' was invented for him.

If Broad or Anderson get injured then England are in big trouble.

[tonk]

If we win the toss I wonder if we will put them in to bat or will we take a chance on it being a two day game?

[nat]

If we win the toss I wonder if we will put them in to bat or will we take a chance on it being a two day game?

For this game I'm sure Capt Starfish has had a word with the groundsman and ordered a 'road'.

[IlfordEagle]

The Cheat won the toss for Kent v Australia & bowled when they should have batted - Reason? If Kent had batted first then the game would only have gone 3 days max, just watch Essex put them in on Weds if we win the toss.