The International Cricket Thread

[olaftab]

Good of Moeen to do the right thing but after the third test with Ashes wrapped up I suggest Rehan Ahmed for 4&5😆

[Dave Cooper please]

I wouldn't be surprised if England went with four seamers and used Root as the spinner. Risky but any more risky than hoping Moeen can hold up an end anymore?

[PaulWinch again]

Welcome back Mo.

[tomd2103]

If Moeen Ali plays and bats at 8 it gives us a good balance in the lower order.  The stats might not bear it out, but my perception is that he has always bowled better in England than in away tests, so hopefully he can do a job with the ball.

Not sure how I would think if I was one of the other spinners though as it doesn't really show a lot of faith in them.

[UK Redsox]

Pretty poor really that England have had to go begging Moeen to play.

Given Leach's health/injury problems, needing another spinner was always a possibility.

Moeen will have to play now. It would be a bit off to persuade him back and they just go with Root as the spinner.

[Villan For Life]

Pretty poor really that England have had to go begging Moeen to play.

Given Leach's health/injury problems, needing another spinner was always a possibility.

Moeen will have to play now. It would be a bit off to persuade him back and they just go with Root as the spinner.

We don't have a credible alternative spinner to select and at least Moeen is still playing.

Red ball domestic cricket has been marginalized and pushed to the beginning/end of the season to allow for the Blast and the Hundred. How are we ever going to produce a top class spinner on a freezing cold morning in April or in late September when the pitches are dead?

[Gareth]

Pretty poor really that England have had to go begging Moeen to play.

Given Leach's health/injury problems, needing another spinner was always a possibility.

Moeen will have to play now. It would be a bit off to persuade him back and they just go with Root as the spinner.

We don't have a credible alternative spinner to select and at least Moeen is still playing.

Red ball domestic cricket has been marginalized and pushed to the beginning/end of the season to allow for the Blast and the Hundred. How are we ever going to produce a top class spinner on a freezing cold morning in April or in late September when the pitches are dead?

Exactly that! I’m reality given the proper conditions Ahmed would have been ready but he’s probably bowled 20 overs this summer in t20 and a bunch of overs in 3 or 4 degrees dodging rain….Aussies would destroy him.  Mo is the best option

[tomd2103]

Hazlewood aside (Boland is a decent replacement to be fair!), looks like the Aussies are at pretty much full strength in the Test Championship that started today.

Think it is going to be a big ask to beat them if their bowling attack stays fit, but it's probably their batting and their 'big three' in Warner, Labuschagne and Smith that are the key. 

[olaftab]

I wouldn't be surprised if England went with four seamers and used Root as the spinner. Risky but any more risky than hoping Moeen can hold up an end anymore?

So what was the point in grovelling to Ali to return? And I am is the opinion that it’s the wrong thing.

[PaulWinch again]

Based on history 4 seamers does not work. Also it’s very dry at the moment.

[PaulWinch again]

Head played very well, but Smith looks ominous.

[olaftab]

Aussies looking vulnerable to ball seaming off the pitch this morning. Good news.

[olaftab]

Developing into a great match now. Gill perhaps not the next best thing.

[Proposition Joe]

Head played very well, but Smith looks ominous.

Oh dear. Given the injuries to our bowling attack, is this going to be one of those series where we see that twat at the crease for about a solid 12 of the 25 days?

[PaulWinch again]

If we don’t bowl well we will.