Didn't brilliantly considering we ended up a bowler down too. The one day side have been excellent for a while now its just a shame the world cup isn't this summer.
Lots of comments about Morgan’s captaincy being so good. Might do a job as test captain maybe? Imagine if Stokes was in the side instead of Ali!
Its really weird, Morgan, Hales and Buttler have all played test cricket, makes you wonder why they're not playing instead of the likes of Ali, Stoneman, Vince and even Cook. I get its a very different game in the sense of the ball, the field settings and the rules around wides, etc, but surely there's been enough evidence that Morgan and Hales to replace Cook and Stoneman is a no brainer for me.
Morgan never really showed enough to be Batsman in test cricket. He also doesn't play domestic 4 day cricket any more and i would guess is happy with how thimgs are now so it's almost certainly a non starter.
Rashid should have been in the test team he would have knocked their tail over . The Ashes away is no place for novices like Mason Crane.
It’s a disgrace that Rashid and Plunkett weren’t taken on the Test tour, especially considering our seam attacks lack of firepower with Wood injured. In terms of Rashid I heard from someone close to the Test Team that he doesn’t fit in with the squad and he’s not very well liked. If that is the case then it’s an even larger disgrace. Apparently Bairstow is next in line for a player power chop.
Rashid has been treated poorly for a long time , the last two tours he was selected for , the nearest thing he got to the middle was to carry the drinks , shocking & I totally agree , both him & Plunkett should have been included
I believe that Root is not a big fan - I understand that when Rash wouldn't play that game at the end of last season for Yorkshire because of "personal" issues it didnt go down well as we were fighting relegation. It does make sense, clearly his face doesn't fit - Crane might be good one day, but right now, clearly with the ball and bat you'd pick Rash every day ahead of him.
The last tour he was picked for was India and he finished leading wicket taker. In 2016 he was England’s leading test wicket taker. If that’s not personal then I don’t know what is. I’m pretty certain a Shane warne was a bit of a ******** in the changing rooms.
Plunkett didn't play much 4 day cricket last season and his body is built of glass. 8 balls before he did his hamstring today. He's a great bowler, but you'd not get 5 tests out of him in a series.
Rashid bowled as well as anyone in India and spun it more than the Indian spinners. Unfortunate for Plunkett to pull his hamstring but not as good in the longer game. Encouraged by Woakes and Wood hope they stay fit.
You wouldn’t try and get 5 games out of him though. Take him to play 2 or 3 at least it’s better than not having him there.
Horses for courses though mate. We didnt take anywhere near enough firepower to Oz. The reason for Plunkett not playing much for Yorkshire last year was down to YCCC going with the typical english seamers, Patto, Sidebottom, Bresnan, Coad, Brooks and Willey, rather than injury problems. For me Plunkett, is probably the best fast bowler in England suited to the decks in Australia, well he is out of the ones with any experience, taking Wood out of the equation because he was injured. The legacy that Trevor Baylis will leave behind is his fundamental issue, being a One Day specialist, hes now doing the same with the players, and the vast majority of them are pigeon holed as White Ball Specialists. I'm still confident that the one day team would beat the Test Team in a Test Match. Mainly because its got better players in it.
Horses for courses I suppose true and that’s a shame seeing as he has genuine pace. He frightens me when I’ve seen him hurling it down the track at Headingley