What I really like about this ODI side is that we can put out 6 frontline bowlers and still bat down to 9 or 10. That's why I'd go with Ali and Rashid instead of 1 of them and Buttler. The issue otherwise is that Root is the 6th bowler and whilst he is a very good part-time option I'm not sure he should be the only alternative if someone has a bad day/picks up an injury when we don't need to put ourselves in that position.
Quote from: paul_e on May 08, 2017, 01:36:37 PMWhat I really like about this ODI side is that we can put out 6 frontline bowlers and still bat down to 9 or 10. That's why I'd go with Ali and Rashid instead of 1 of them and Buttler. The issue otherwise is that Root is the 6th bowler and whilst he is a very good part-time option I'm not sure he should be the only alternative if someone has a bad day/picks up an injury when we don't need to put ourselves in that position.Buttler would play as a frontline batsman anyway Paul. Top six of Hales, Roy, Root, Morgan, Buttler and Stokes is pretty settled, so I would say seven might be between Billings, Bairstow and Ali. The only thing I would say about two spinners is that the ICC tournament is early next month and conditions won't be that spinner friendly. We might therefore see one of Rashid or Ali and an extra seamer (Woakes and Wood probably definites so two from Willey, Finn and Ball maybe).
To be a little controversial I would drop Morgan and bat Bairstowe at four. I would rather have Bairstowe coming in at 13/2 than Morgan Buttler or Stokes. I think Billings is suited at 7. I would play Willey come what may, he's left handed and swings the white ball regularly, something none of the right handed seamers do in a regular basis So HalesRoyRootBairstoweStokesButtlerBillings/Rashid (Rashid bats at 8 and Ali at 7) AliWoakesWiley Wood
Quote from: simboy on May 11, 2017, 09:11:15 PMTo be a little controversial I would drop Morgan and bat Bairstowe at four. I would rather have Bairstowe coming in at 13/2 than Morgan Buttler or Stokes. I think Billings is suited at 7. I would play Willey come what may, he's left handed and swings the white ball regularly, something none of the right handed seamers do in a regular basis So HalesRoyRootBairstoweStokesButtlerBillings/Rashid (Rashid bats at 8 and Ali at 7) AliWoakesWiley Wood So who is your Captain? I think Morgan is a great one day Captain and leads his team well. He has that quality that Vaughan had in that he makes things happen with intelligent field placings and sensible bowling changes. He is also one of our most reliable nurdlers. For all of your big hitters, you need a reliable batsman to score ugly runs. Particularly at 13-2.Bairstow is a great player but maybe we need to give him a rest from some Cricket, I can see the same happening with Root.
I think there is little doubt Morgan will stay for the tournament. However I don't think that he figures in our strongest line up in my view. I agree he's been instrumental in the turn around both on and off the pitch. However i just think he takes the place of a better batsman in the team. Bairstowe should be in there but as we stand at the moment he cannot be squeezed into the side if Morgan plays.