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Sven Roeder 12:19 Fri Aug 4
4th Test England v South Africa at Old Trafford

Unchanged England win the toss and BAT

Eerie Descent 11:28 Thu Aug 10
Re: 4th Test England v South Africa at Old Trafford

I am fucking astonished, but it badly needed to happen.

I think Woakes is a superb cricketer, think he'll suit the Aussie pitches more than our other bowlers, not to say he'll be the best but I think he has the zip, and in comparison to Wood, has the nack of taking wickets.

Sven Roeder 10:18 Thu Aug 10
Re: 4th Test England v South Africa at Old Trafford

Changes to Englands 13 man squad for the day/night Test match v the West Indies next week

In : Mark Stoneman , Mason Crane, Chris Woakes
Out: Keaton Jennings, Liam Dawson, Steven Finn

Sven Roeder 2:37 Tue Aug 8
Re: 4th Test England v South Africa at Old Trafford

Root at 3 is the key to a successful England batting line up in my opinion also.
His game is absolutely made for that position and I think it would help Cook who at the moment is being asked to babysit numbers 2 & 3.
Traditionally the captain picks the batting order and Bayliss is allowing Root to do that but has also made it clear what he would prefer.

The idea IS that a new batsman comes in at 5 or 6 and finds his feet first before taking on more responsibilities.
Which is part of the reason I wanted Rod Marsh sacked for persisting with your favourite Mitchell Marsh at 6 when he needed to go back to Sheffield Shield cricket and work on his batting.
It meant that players who should have been playing at 6 as a batsman .:. Handscomb, Head, Cartwright etc ... were kept out and delayed the team improving.

stewie griffin 10:44 Tue Aug 8
Re: 4th Test England v South Africa at Old Trafford

I think Jibbers side is correct, Sven son, but I think Root should be batting 3. If you look over the careers of the best number 3s like PUNTER, SIR IVA RICHARDS etc etc etc, they start at number 6, 5 or so and move up the order as their stature increases. Asking someone to come in to number 3 at the beginning of their career, in English conditions, when we're one down for fuck all regularly isn't the right way to go for me, and it's only trott in the last 15 years or so that's made a success of it.

Not entirely sure I'm comfortable being 100% in agreement with Bob WILLIS but I do on that

Eerie Descent 10:30 Tue Aug 8
Re: 4th Test England v South Africa at Old Trafford

You know my thoughts on the fact he is not English, Sven, but aside from that, as you alluded to, have you ever seen a luckier batsman have a shitter average? Normally, you'd say that a batsman out of Nick just needs a bit of luck, but this cunt gets dropped on between 0 - 9 every innings.

It will be a fucking disgrace if he gets another chance.

Sven Roeder 10:26 Tue Aug 8
Re: 4th Test England v South Africa at Old Trafford

Probably not far off.
Seems to me that they have had the chance to pick Stoneman and haven't so are probably waiting for Hameed to make some runs (which he did yesterday).
They could also be thinking that the tall Saffa Jennings might be suited to Australian wickets so are praying he gives them a reason to pick him.
I wouldn't be surprised if they roll him on into the Windies series against an inferior attack after he has had a BAPTISM OF FIRE v SA.

Eerie Descent 10:20 Tue Aug 8
Re: 4th Test England v South Africa at Old Trafford

I reckon injuries permitting, they'll go with

Cook
Stoneman
Westley
Root
Hales
Stokes
Bairstow
Al
Woakes
Broad
Anderson

Sven Roeder 10:14 Tue Aug 8
Re: 4th Test England v South Africa at Old Trafford

Would you like to name your preferred England team for the upcoming Windies series , stewie?
And even an early ASHES squad?

stewie griffin 9:17 Tue Aug 8
Re: 4th Test England v South Africa at Old Trafford

Whilst that's true to a large extent, particularly with BALLANCE, none have been particularly helped by England over the years. HALES is a number 5 in red ball cricket. He bats there for Notts. BALLANCE is a number 5. He bats there for Yorkshire. We had them opening and number 3 respectively. It's a little harsh.

Sven Roeder 9:15 Tue Aug 8
Re: 4th Test England v South Africa at Old Trafford

New batsmen coming in need a bit of luck to fight through their first few Tests as well.
Jennings has turned that luck into an average of 24
If he had been dismissed via the chances he has given he would be averaging 7

Alex Bunbury 9:08 Tue Aug 8
Re: 4th Test England v South Africa at Old Trafford

All of the possible players mentioned have technical deficiencies that have been exposed at test level. That doesn't mean these can't be correct but picking players like Hales and Ballance, who have scored runs in county cricket this season, means little if they turn up playing test match cricket without addressing the areas of their game that got them into trouble before.

stewie griffin 8:58 Tue Aug 8
Re: 4th Test England v South Africa at Old Trafford

Wouldn't say I've given up on anyone to be honest, different players will be needed at different times. TRJ will maybe be left out when woakes is back (although Jimmy and broad will probably be rested) but that needn't be a drama - he can slot in when needed.

Or you could shuffle everyone up the order one spot and keep him in the side. Nice to have options

Sven Roeder 8:53 Tue Aug 8
Re: 4th Test England v South Africa at Old Trafford

Given up on Jennings and Malan?

Surely Ballance will get another go vs the West Indies?
SURELY

stewie griffin 8:49 Tue Aug 8
Re: 4th Test England v South Africa at Old Trafford

HAMEED back in the runs... HALES making a run a ball 218 at 5

All starting to take shape

Sven Roeder 8:46 Tue Aug 8
Re: 4th Test England v South Africa at Old Trafford

England have the current active leading Test run scorer, the worlds leading Test batsman and two of the three active leading Test wicket takers (presuming Steyn isn't returning).

If not now then WHEN?

India are unknown if not suspect away from home, SA are seemingly in turmoil and you couldn't name a set Australian batting order at the moment.

stewie griffin 8:29 Tue Aug 8
Re: 4th Test England v South Africa at Old Trafford

A couple of spots away from an ashes winning side and then world domination?

Sven Roeder 8:15 Tue Aug 8
Re: 4th Test England v South Africa at Old Trafford

I see Philander has got a rocket from the SA management for being a lazy cunt and not being fit enough so picking up injuries.
The black Andy Carroll.
He missed one Test and spent most of another on the loo.
Averaged 44 with the bat and took 10 wickets @ 23. They needed more from him and 16 wickets @ 28 for Rabada was below what he is capable of.
They rely on DuPlessis and DeKock who averaged 28 & 23 and just couldn't cope with Anderson, Ali plus Roland-Jones when he turned up.
Root was head and shoulders above everyone averaging 57 and Englands strength of lower middle order batting with Bairstow, Stokes & Ali wasn't matched in any way by SA.

Even though it's a poor Windies side these next Tests should be interesting as it's really about making some decisions for the Ashes.
Woakes is back and Jennings and Malan will be sweating.

Northern Sold 1:59 Tue Aug 8
Re: 4th Test England v South Africa at Old Trafford

Pretty disappointed with the Saffa's... for every bit as good as their bowling attack is (and i think they bowled without a lot of luck) their batting was laughable.... the beard and |Elgar apart... they was a shambles... every pitch was a cracker... brilliant test pitches... and they simply could not get their head around the complexities of test cricket.... lets be honest Ali is a competent off break bowler... but the Saffa;s have made him look like Underwood on a bunsen... glad we got the win but overall was not much of a contest... which is a shame

Johnson 11:37 Mon Aug 7
Re: 4th Test England v South Africa at Old Trafford

You stupid little cunt Matty.

Alex G 11:36 Mon Aug 7
Re: 4th Test England v South Africa at Old Trafford

Dr Matt 10:56 Mon Aug 7

Someone was saying in 2013 that Ali was the best English spinner? Whilst he has obviously developed, many years later, into a fine spinner he was definitely not at that point better then Graeme Swann was at the time.

East Auckland Hammer 11:31 Mon Aug 7
Re: 4th Test England v South Africa at Old Trafford

It was Jonah Lomas promoting Moeen Ali Dr Matt, and don't you forget it.

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