Whats happened to Robinson I expected him to start before Potts and not sure what Brook has to do to get a game
Would be cruel to drop Potts and for Brook to play you'd have to drop either Root, Bairstow or Stokes.
Sorry to disagree but his only reasonable innings was 43 against NZ and his average was 15/16/17 ish. He is younger than 28 so there’s ample time to have another go in a year or so but I dont think he’s up to it . Jennings and Hameed were given second chances even though, deep down, the selecters knew they’d fail again. We’ve simply no one else. I know it’s a bit controversial but Root should open
Fair arguments. But I think that this kind of puts us in agreement, in that neither of us think there is really anyone better! It's a sorry state of affairs, the CC being shunted about to make room for countless other comps is affecting it badly. I'd like to see Brook in the side, he's definitely promising, but he's not an opener, and we seem to be in with Ollie Pope despite his record being equally patchy. And I don't think Root is either, for all his talent. Root is a once in a generation world class batsman. We can't not play him in his natural position because of deficiency elsewhere. That'd be like playing Messi (or Jamal Campbell-Ryce) as a defensive midfielder because someone else (looking at you, @Stephen Dawson ,) is a bit rubbish. I think giving him time despite his poor performance is probably our best option, although I'd be happy to change my mind on that quickly if someone else half decent appeared on the scene.
Joking aside you have to give Crawley more time because it wasn't his own game v New Zealand and India. Give him this series and if he doesn't perform look elsewhere or back. If we're keeping the attacking brand you have to look at Hales and Vince again.
Let the games begin. I can't wait. I hope South Africa don't continue to have titty lip on because of the way we play. Since the great team of Steyn, Smith, ABDV etc they have struggled. Now they have another group of talented players and becoming a force again. Guys like Tristan Stubbs and Dewald Brevis will eventually have great careers for many years.
Root is a world class batsman so he would be an efficient opener. In the Ashes tour, he often came in when the ball was still shiny after 2 wickets fell quickly,so there wasn’t an awful lot of difference to opening the innings. We should have dropped Crawley, put Root as opener and pushed Brook in at 4. It’s a total injustice why Brook hasn’t played in a Test so this would get him in and get Crawley out. I think that top class technically good batters can play efficiently at 1-6
I dunno. Again, you're making a decent argument for what could be done, but it all seems to be centered around getting Brook into the side at Crawley's expense. I know Crawley has been poor, I've said so, but I've also pointed out he's still young and learning and that I think our selectors are acknowledging the fact we have a problem in the lack of talent and addressing this by backing up someone coming through and giving them time to prove themselves. I don't know if he has a great deal of that time left, let's see how he copes with SA. As for shifting the line up, again I think it's the selectors trying to work with the players. Root spoke publicly about how he did not want to bat at 3 and always viewed himself as a 4 when he was pushed up the order before Ollie Pope was given time in the side (another player whose record was iffy at best before this summer). Maybe it's a case of not wanting to piss off the best player we have by making him open when he doesn't want to, so we can fit another unproven player into the team at the expense of someone performing badly? How would it look to the rest of the team too? What if we did make the changes, Root opened for the series, Brook came in at 4 and was crap? Lyth and Ballance have always performed well as county batsmen for Yorkshire, doesn't mean they'll necessarily make the step up. Hameed is another good example, excellent for Lancashire but went to pieces in an England shirt. It's the sort of thing Keith Hill used to think he was good at, but Alex Ferguson actually was. You need to know who a player is as a person and how to handle them to get them to play well. Some react well to a bollocking, some need an arm round their shoulder. I think Root is one of the latter, and that's why he struggled as captain, or was at least restrained by captaincy. That's a waffly answer, but I think I'm trying to say is it better to have a team with Crawley and a happy Joe Root, or an unhappy Root and Brook?
Well put and you’re right. I don’t want to move Root but do want Brook to play. Unfortunately for him Bairstow, Pope, Foakes and Stokes are un droppable due to current form and Brook would comfortably fit in to any of their four places. Irritatingly, we still can’t find 2 international class openers, so that’s why I’ve suggested Root opening. I know it won’t happen but I also know that he’d be a success. Players shouldn’t be able to dictate where they play. unless they’re a captain. Anyway, c’mon England weather permitting
Too right. Just a frustrating situation having a jam packed middle order but no one who wants to (or is able to!) open. Was at Headingley for the 1 dayer, and that was frustrating as well. Think de Kock will be itching to get out and bat to make a point, so suffocate him and we might get a cheap but valuable wicket. And I think all of the Bazball nonsense has got right under their skin, I'm really enjoying the interviews so far. Could definitely backfire and end up with us getting hammered though!
Rabada, Jansen and Nortje are a very good seam attack. It's going to be interesting to see if we can carry on the way we have been at 4+ runs an over.
We seriously need 2 openers. Neither score enough or occupy the crease long enough. Crawley has had more opportunities than anyone to prove himself but fails constantly and his Kent stats this season does show he is not worthy of selection.