Wowsers - just watched the Debate on SKY and Nick Compton suggested Sam Curran batting at three.
Quote from: tomd2103 on September 09, 2018, 10:06:16 PMWowsers - just watched the Debate on SKY and Nick Compton suggested Sam Curran batting at three.Current or Ali at number 3 is a misnomer. The Test match cricket lacks credibility when a team thrashing the current number one team in the world lacks a second decent opener and no one who can own number 3 position.
I think what this series has shown is that home advantage is huge in Test cricket. I think it's hard to see much beyond that.I think Ali should be at 3 for now, lets not forget that he's a top order batsman at county level. He probably wasn't ready for England (either as a batsman or a bowler) when he got the call but the complete lack of viable spinners meant they had to go with him and that's caused him to be bounced around the order a lot more than is fair. A solid 50 in the first innings and a hard fought 20 to see off the new ball completely today is him doing the job I want from a 3 when you have an opener struggling like Jennings has.Moeen has a similar problem to Buttler for me (as a batsman) people have him down as a bit of a one day specialist and both of them came into the test side at the wrong time. I'd back Moeen to have a similar impact to Buttler (who's been our best batsman this summer) if he gets a proper run at a place where he can build a proper innings.
Everything crossed here for Cookie, he's getting close!!
I agree, Ali might not work out but I think trying him there is the right thing for him and for the team right now.I'd give him until after the ashes if I'm honest, not much point giving him Sri Lanka and then changing things up again (unless he completely bombs). As I said, sorting out the openers, working out what we do with the quicks (This one is a good problem because one is going to have to left out or we have to rotate) and making a decision on Rashid/2nd spinner are the 3 big questions that need to be answered this winter.For me, Burns and Jennings for Sri Lanka with Gubbins along as the alternative, rotate the seamers (giving Woakes a chance to open in a game or 2) and Jack Leach (career best match figures in his last game, career best innings figures in the previous home game, 22 wickets in the 2 games, in spinning conditions) back in would be my answers by the way.