England top order

[Oldhasbeen]

From Andrew Samson, the beeb's Test Match Special statistician:

"In their past 13 innings, England have lost their third wicket for 52 or less eight times, and for 74 or less 11 times."

England 48-4. now

Time to ring some changes, in both personnel and batting order? Moeen looks a hell of a lot better than  Ballance, Lyth & Bell, all of whom look like walking wickets. i've a bit of sympathy with Lyth, he should have been given a crack in the Windies, but he looks like he could do with some time back in the county game to work on his play outside off stump. Don't write him off, though.

[nat]

Why not? I will. Lyth has been selected on the basis of one good season. It's like the Yorkie mafia at the moment.

Lyth, Balance, Buttler and Bell should be dropped. Bairstow, Rashid,  Daryl Mitchell and ....er, .... David Steele should be selected!

[tonk]

Problem is who can you bring in Bairstow apart?
People like Darren Stevens opening the bowling in county cricket is not much of help either.

[Valentines Park]

People like Darren Stevens opening the bowling in county cricket is not much of help either.

Certainly not much help to Essex.

Although we've taken a leaf out of his book with Jesse Ryder.

[Oldhasbeen]

Problem is who can you bring in Bairstow apart?
People like Darren Stevens opening the bowling in county cricket is not much of help either.

Agreed the selectors aren't overburdened with choice, but the BBC lists 5, with their season's runs, averages, 50s & tons:

Jonny Bairstow   Yorkshire   906   100.66   5   3
James Hildreth   Somerset   853   44.89   1   5
Alex Hales           Notts           603   43.07   2   1
Nick Compton   Middlesex   769   40.47   1   5
James Taylor   Notts           599   39.93   1   4

Bringing in Bairstow is a no brainer. He's in incredible form and his boundless enthusiasm and optimism might come in handy. However, he's not a number 3 and Ballance has got to be first up in front of the firing squad, Lyth second. I'm inclined to keep Bell on his home ground, preferably dropped down the order a place or 2.

No easy options, but putting out the same XI would delight the whole Aussie team. I'd probably pick Compton for some grit.

[Valentines Park]

Hildreth was highly fancied as a contemporary of Cook.

Never made the breakthrough though.

[nat]

Hildreth was highly fancied as a contemporary of Cook.

Never made the breakthrough though.

Flat track bully.

[Valentines Park]

Hildreth was highly fancied as a contemporary of Cook.

Never made the breakthrough though.

Flat track bully.

So is Rob Key & he had a fairly lengthy England career.

[Oldhasbeen]

So, only one change - Bairstow in, Ballance out.  Yorkie exchange. Can't argue with JB being given another crack, even if he's struggled in Test cricket before.

so Lyth's still opening, with Bell at 3. Squeaky bum time?