The International Cricket Thread 2018

[hilts_coolerking]

You'd still need an opener though.  I'd drop Jennings for Rory Burns.  God knows why he wasn't picked in the first place.

[Monty]

Again, I'd experiment with an opener from the ranks already. Jos maybe, to be the attacking foil to Cook's defence.

[hilts_coolerking]

Again, I'd experiment with an opener from the ranks already. Jos maybe, to be the attacking foil to Cook's defence.

That's got 0-1 written all over it.

[Monty]

Again, I'd experiment with an opener from the ranks already. Jos maybe, to be the attacking foil to Cook's defence.

That's got 0-1 written all over it.

For sure, but to be honest I can't think of a 'specialist opener' in the country right now of whom that's not true - including Cook.

[hilts_coolerking]

For sure, but to be honest I can't think of a 'specialist opener' in the country right now of whom that's not true - including Cook.

The aforementioned Burns.  875 from 12 innings at an average of 73, with three 50s and three tons for the league leaders.  As captain.

[Monty]

Well apart from him you theory-pooper.

[Drummond]

In defence of the decision I think it's reasonable to use Curran a little sporadically for the next year or 2 because whilst he has done very well he is still very young.  Curran, Stokes and Woakes have all been excellent over the 2 tests (as has Jimmy).  Broad is the one who should be a little worried, after the first innings he had 3 for 120 in a series that should've been perfect conditions for him.  His 2nd innings at Lords will have helped him but I think it's getting to the point where those spells won't be enough if the others keep bringing this level of performance.

Why should Broad be worried? He's in the bloody squad.

Curran has played well, handled himself well and Stokes behaved like a twat. Why should Curran be dropped on current form?

I know he's in the fucking squad, but I think he should be looking over his shoulder because his place will be under threat if he carries on with hias feast or famine form from the last couple of years. This isn't a controversial opinion, almost every discussion about English Cricket for the last few months has inculded comments about Broad (and Cook) hanging on by their fingertips by putting in a good display whenever the talk of dropping them gathers pace.  If we've got Jimmy, Woakes, Stokes and Curran all in form (as is the case right now) then Broads place looks harder to justify.

As for Curran, he's very young and playing him for the entire test series probably isn't in his own best interests so if this is just a case of resting him then I don't have a problem with it. Stokes did behave like a twat, no one is denying that, but once they decided to make him available for selection the option to drop him because of it goes away and the decision is purely on performance. On that measure Stokes didn't deserve to be dropped either, and nor does Woakes. I'm not saying the decision is right or wrong but I can understand it.

Ooooh tetchy!

I'd be feeling shit if I were Curran. He's young and hungry and playing him makes sense. Leave Stokes as Number 12. Involved if that's best for him but out of the spotlight. He should know that behaving the way he did means he won't just walk straight back in to the National team.

[Chris Jameson]

To be fair to Stokes he contributed just as much as Rashid managed in the last Test but there is no way Curran should be dropped to accommodate him.

[paul_e]

As said though, if the trial hadn't been when it was Stokes wouldn't have been left out after Edgbaston and then after Lords you can't drop Woakes so any of them not playing are unlucky.

[Chris Jameson]

Only person to blame for Stokes being unavailable is Stokes.

[paul_e]

Only person to blame for Stokes being unavailable is Stokes.

He isn't unavailable though, the ECB decided to bring him back into the squad so he gets selected or not purely on sporting merit and on that basis his form makes it difficult to leave him out.

[Chris Jameson]

Perhaps I wasn’t clear enough, the only person to blame for Stokes being unavailable for the last Test was Stokes.

[Dave Cooper please]

There's another way of looking at it.
Stokes will be under enormous pressure to perform in this Test, but then so would Curran have been if Stokes had been left out, maybe the selectors went for the player they thought would handle the pressure better under the circumstances?
Curran will be back, he's got years ahead of him.

[MoetVillan]

Funny message to send out though. Man of match performance followed by a key innings. The reward, get to have a nice view of the next test

[Meanwood Villa]

What on earth is going on? India batting for an hour and haven't lost a wicket yet??