The International Cricket Thread

[UK Redsox]

The problem with playing Stokes as purely a batsman is that there are four fast bowlers (Wood, Broad, Jimmy, Jofra) who's workloads need to be managed during matches, due to age or injury concerns.

Therefore, one of the batsmen needs to be more than just a part-time bowler

[PaulWinch again]

Shame on the dickheads racially abusing Jof on social media, what a bunch of twats.

[simboy]

Stokes plays as a batsman regardless for me.

I’d bat him at 3 or 4 if he can’t bowl. I might look at batting Crawley at 5. I would have wanted Leach in for Bess, you need a spinner for Old Trafford, and a left armer would be a better bet on a turning track against right handlers.

That leaves a bowler short and Buttler not good enough to bat at six. We miss Bairstow here, who can bat at six in a test side allowing a weaker seven and eight in Curran and Woakes.

Anyway, as a bowling attack Archer, Broad or Jimmy, ( can’t play both with Stokes not fit to bowl) Bess, Woakes and Curran is how I’d go. However I would really need Buttler to come to the party.

[PaulWinch again]

Surprised by that selection. There is a lot of bowling in there.

[simboy]

Surprised by that selection. There is a lot of bowling in there.

As I said above, need Buttler to deliver.

[hilts_coolerking]

Surprised by that selection. There is a lot of bowling in there.

As I said above, need Buttler to deliver.

Woakes could do with a score too.  Since he made his ton a couple of years ago, he's only made 5 double-figure scores and no 50s (in about 15 innings).

[hilts_coolerking]

Sibley plays all round a straight one from Roach and is out LBW.  Such is life for an opener I guess.

[Rory]

Windies in trouble if Gabriel can't bowl.

[hilts_coolerking]

I'm amazed they picked him.  He was shagged out from day 1 of the last Test.

[Rory]

Agreed, he looked knackered. Dropping their youngest pace bowler was an interesting choice.

[hilts_coolerking]

This big lad's getting a fair amount of spin.

[PaulWinch again]

Bad way for Root to get out.

[PaulWinch again]

Stokes gone.

[hilts_coolerking]

Burns gone now.  Very sharp catch at slip by the man mountain.  England in the shit a bit here at 122 for 4 with Jos Buttler tip toeing to the crease.

[paul_e]

Burns gone now.  Very sharp catch at slip by the man mountain.  England in the shit a bit here at 122 for 4 with Jos Buttler tip toeing to the crease.

I dunno how poor a position this is, England have been great but we have got a few to come who can score a few runs. 250-300 is probably a decent score today from the bits I've seen, especially with the loaded bowling attack we've gone with.