I'm a bit concerned by our play in the warm up games. We already look a little bit flaky and it doesn't seem to be being spoke about but Cook is in shocking form at the moment.
Quote from: paul_e on November 08, 2017, 08:42:23 PMBowling is where I have bigger concerns for the first test, With Stokes out and Ali looking 50/50 I think we look a bit thin. Hopefully Crane will have another decent performance and Overton or Ball can put a hand up in the next couple of days, I'll feel a lot happier if they do.Jake Ball has injured his ankle and is now also a doubt for the 1st Test
Bowling is where I have bigger concerns for the first test, With Stokes out and Ali looking 50/50 I think we look a bit thin. Hopefully Crane will have another decent performance and Overton or Ball can put a hand up in the next couple of days, I'll feel a lot happier if they do.
Quote from: UK Redsox on November 09, 2017, 08:27:56 AMQuote from: paul_e on November 08, 2017, 08:42:23 PMBowling is where I have bigger concerns for the first test, With Stokes out and Ali looking 50/50 I think we look a bit thin. Hopefully Crane will have another decent performance and Overton or Ball can put a hand up in the next couple of days, I'll feel a lot happier if they do.Jake Ball has injured his ankle and is now also a doubt for the 1st TestCan't see him featuring anyway to be totally honest. With no Stokes, I think we'll go cautious and have six batsmen with Bairstow at seven and maybe just the four bowlers. Could wee see a side of Cook, Stoneman, Vince, Root, Malan, Ballance, Bairstow, Ali, Woakes, Broad and Anderson?
Woakes is going well, Cricket Australia are 14-4 with Woakes having figures of 6-3-8-3
Quote from: tomd2103 on November 10, 2017, 12:44:55 AMQuote from: UK Redsox on November 09, 2017, 08:27:56 AMQuote from: paul_e on November 08, 2017, 08:42:23 PMBowling is where I have bigger concerns for the first test, With Stokes out and Ali looking 50/50 I think we look a bit thin. Hopefully Crane will have another decent performance and Overton or Ball can put a hand up in the next couple of days, I'll feel a lot happier if they do.Jake Ball has injured his ankle and is now also a doubt for the 1st TestCan't see him featuring anyway to be totally honest. With no Stokes, I think we'll go cautious and have six batsmen with Bairstow at seven and maybe just the four bowlers. Could wee see a side of Cook, Stoneman, Vince, Root, Malan, Ballance, Bairstow, Ali, Woakes, Broad and Anderson?I really hope that isn't the case. As much as Mo's bowling has come on, I think it is too much to expect him to be one of only 4 bowlers when Australia is usually a graveyard for visiting off spinners.
Quote from: taylorsworkrate on November 10, 2017, 02:19:03 AMQuote from: tomd2103 on November 10, 2017, 12:44:55 AMQuote from: UK Redsox on November 09, 2017, 08:27:56 AMQuote from: paul_e on November 08, 2017, 08:42:23 PMBowling is where I have bigger concerns for the first test, With Stokes out and Ali looking 50/50 I think we look a bit thin. Hopefully Crane will have another decent performance and Overton or Ball can put a hand up in the next couple of days, I'll feel a lot happier if they do.Jake Ball has injured his ankle and is now also a doubt for the 1st TestCan't see him featuring anyway to be totally honest. With no Stokes, I think we'll go cautious and have six batsmen with Bairstow at seven and maybe just the four bowlers. Could wee see a side of Cook, Stoneman, Vince, Root, Malan, Ballance, Bairstow, Ali, Woakes, Broad and Anderson?I really hope that isn't the case. As much as Mo's bowling has come on, I think it is too much to expect him to be one of only 4 bowlers when Australia is usually a graveyard for visiting off spinners.I'm just not sure there are any other real options now, unless we play a second spinner or someone like Overton plays. It just goes to show the difference that a genuine all-rounder like Stokes can make to the balanced of a side.
Really impressed with England's women's side batting out the day to draw the day night test. How many times have our men's side been in the same position and capitulated in the first session?