England in India Feb 2021

[Sir Virgs and Zamora]

Originally Posted by sanskritsimon

I'm thinking:

Burns, Sibley, Root, Stokes, Pope, Buttler, Foakes, Moeen, Leach, Broad, Anderson.

However, I expect they will play Archer instead of either Broad or Anderson, and Crawley or Lawrence (rejigging the order) instead of Foakes.

I can’t see Bess missing out for moeen. It would be a bit harsh.

[Chin Music]

Originally Posted by Sir Virgs and Zamora

I can’t see Bess missing out for moeen. It would be a bit harsh.

Me neither, especially since Moeen hasn't played any cricket. Whether or not he gets some warm up time ahead of Chennai, he won't get to start. Therefore for the first test I see the top 6 as;-

Sibley
Burns
Crawley
Root
Stokes
Buttler

then for the first test
Foakes +
Bess
Archer
Leach
Anderson

[Sir Coolerking]

Originally Posted by Chin Music

Me neither, especially since Moeen hasn't played any cricket. Whether or not he gets some warm up time ahead of Chennai, he won't get to start. Therefore for the first test I see the top 6 as;-

Sibley
Burns
Crawley
Root
Stokes
Buttler

then for the first test
Foakes +
Bess
Archer
Leach
Anderson

Will they take the gloves off Buttler whilst he's available? I wonder if they might go Lawrence at 6 and bring Foakes in for the 2nd Test.

[Chin Music]

Originally Posted by Sir Coolerking

Will they take the gloves off Buttler whilst he's available? I wonder if they might go Lawrence at 6 and bring Foakes in for the 2nd Test.

Tough one that. Lawrence looked pretty horrible in the second test and if they are going to stick him down the order, there is a fair chance that spin is what he will be trying to start against. It is pretty tough to drop him after a couple of tests, I agree, but not sure playing him down the order is really the way to go though.

[Sir Virgs and Zamora]

Originally Posted by Sir Coolerking

Will they take the gloves off Buttler whilst he's available? I wonder if they might go Lawrence at 6 and bring Foakes in for the 2nd Test.

It would be epic if they picked foakes to bat 7 but buttler kept the gloves.

[Sir Coolerking]

Originally Posted by Chin Music

Tough one that. Lawrence looked pretty horrible in the second test and if they are going to stick him down the order, there is a fair chance that spin is what he will be trying to start against. It is pretty tough to drop him after a couple of tests, I agree, but not sure playing him down the order is really the way to go though.

He batted at 5 in Sri Lanka so only moving one spot further down. He looked fine against spin in the First Test, no idea what happened to him in between. Worth another chance though...

[sanskritsimon]

Originally Posted by Sir Virgs and Zamora

I can’t see Bess missing out for moeen. It would be a bit harsh.

Originally Posted by Chin Music

Me neither, especially since Moeen hasn't played any cricket. Whether or not he gets some warm up time ahead of Chennai, he won't get to start ...

This "hasn't played recently so can't play now" idea was aired repeatedly to explain Bess's continued selection over Leach last summer. But unless it only applies to spinners, it should apply to Stokes, Archer, Burns, and Foakes as well. I think that if Mo is fit and available, really the only reason to keep Bess in is if you think Bess is a better bowler or a better all-round package. I think Mo is better in both suits. Harshness doesn't come into it. We spent a long time giving Mo enough experience to develop as a bowler and it seems a bit rum to omit him now in order to do the same for another bowler instead.

[Sir Virgs and Zamora]

Originally Posted by sanskritsimon

This "hasn't played recently so can't play now" idea was aired repeatedly to explain Bess's continued selection over Leach last summer. But unless it only applies to spinners, it should apply to Stokes, Archer, Burns, and Foakes as well. I think that if Mo is fit and available, really the only reason to keep Bess in is if you think Bess is a better bowler or a better all-round package. I think Mo is better in both suits. Harshness doesn't come into it. We spent a long time giving Mo enough experience to develop as a bowler and it seems a bit rum to omit him now in order to do the same for another bowler instead.

I agree that he is better at both and would rather have moeen. But I can’t see it.

[sharky]

Originally Posted by sanskritsimon

This "hasn't played recently so can't play now" idea was aired repeatedly to explain Bess's continued selection over Leach last summer. But unless it only applies to spinners, it should apply to Stokes, Archer, Burns, and Foakes as well. I think that if Mo is fit and available, really the only reason to keep Bess in is if you think Bess is a better bowler or a better all-round package. I think Mo is better in both suits. Harshness doesn't come into it. We spent a long time giving Mo enough experience to develop as a bowler and it seems a bit rum to omit him now in order to do the same for another bowler instead.

On recent Test form I'm not sure I would rate Mo's batting above Bess and even Leach showed a better technique and grit against quick, short bowling. His batting really did fall off a cliff, I know Indian pitches probably won't be quick but their bowlers can be. I'd still probably play all 3 but if one has to miss out it should be Mo.

[Chin Music]

Originally Posted by sharky

On recent Test form I'm not sure I would rate Mo's batting above Bess and even Leach showed a better technique and grit against quick, short bowling. His batting really did fall off a cliff, I know Indian pitches probably won't be quick but their bowlers can be. I'd still probably play all 3 but if one has to miss out it should be Mo.

Not sure I would play three finger spinners even if he had some preparation. Either one or the other in terms of offies.

[Jock McTuffnel v3]

I'd go for

Sibley
Burns
Crawley (but should be a recalled WJB)
Root
Stokes
Lawrence
Buttler+
Bess
Archer
Broad
Anderson

[Ali TT]

Wow, the idea that England would drop the best spinner from this series for one who hasn't played for yonks, while retaining the worst spinner from this series...

And I'm the one accused of trolling.

[sharky]

Originally Posted by Ali TT

Wow, the idea that England would drop the best spinner from this series for one who hasn't played for yonks, while retaining the worst spinner from this series...

And I'm the one accused of trolling.

It's a strange one because I thought Bess bowled worse but got more wickets. Sadly I wouldn't rank Sri Lanka above Bangladesh at the moment so it's difficult to judge what happened here as likely to happen in India. It will depend on the pitches too, we struggle more on flat, slow pitches where you have to score 500 and are more competitive on raging Bunsens if we win the toss. Apparently the new ground in Ahmedabad has several different types of drop-in pitches outside the stadium, even made from different types of soil so it'll be interesting to see what gets served up.

[Sir Virgs and Zamora]

Originally Posted by Ali TT

Wow, the idea that England would drop the best spinner from this series for one who hasn't played for yonks, while retaining the worst spinner from this series...

And I'm the one accused of trolling.

Anyone who thinks that if Mo comes in and either Bess or leach miss out is a troll. Why in earth would we pick two off spin bowlers? If Mo comes in then who do you drop?

You are not allowed to say you wouldn’t drop one because that is a cop out!

[Ricky_Rabbit]

Any news on whether or not this will be on the TV in the UK?

Or will I have to look for some dodgy internet coverage again?

[sharky]

Originally Posted by Ricky_Rabbit

Any news on whether or not this will be on the TV in the UK?

Or will I have to look for some dodgy internet coverage again?

Aidan posted in the other thread that BT Sport and Channel 4 are interested. It would be nice to see it back on Channel 4 but I'd say that's the least likely. I'm sure eventually someone will come to an agreement with the BCCI.

[Ali TT]

Originally Posted by Sir Virgs and Zamora

Anyone who thinks that if Mo comes in and either Bess or leach miss out is a troll. Why in earth would we pick two off spin bowlers? If Mo comes in then who do you drop?

You are not allowed to say you wouldn’t drop one because that is a cop out!

I take it back, just seen the article from Cricinfo, although the article does jump from "Moeen will be available for selection" to "he'll replace Bess". I think the selectors are more conservative than we usually suspect, eg they didn't change as many between the Lanka tests as expected.

[Ali TT]

Originally Posted by sharky

Aidan posted in the other thread that BT Sport and Channel 4 are interested. It would be nice to see it back on Channel 4 but I'd say that's the least likely. I'm sure eventually someone will come to an agreement with the BCCI.

It's not the BCCI they need to argue with, is it? I think they need to buy a package from the Indian Star Sports company.

[Michelle Fivefer]

Prospect of watching the India test series is not good. Not on Sky. Seems it will be shown on channels that require other subscriptions.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/...tending-ashes/

[Michelle Fivefer]

..I’ve also seen a mention of Amazon Prime. That would suit me.