It's The Ashes (again)

[SuperBob2002]

Ben Foakes will be sat at home watching Jonny Bairstow keep wicket wondering what the hell he has to do to keep a spot in the team.

Crawley out, Bairstow to open with Duckett and Foakes back asap please.

Bairstow did take a wonderful catch for Broad's second wicket, and has kept well for 90% of the innings so far. But that missed stumping and a couple of dropped catches have cost us dearly. 

Can he open the batting? I believe he's done so in ODI's, but it's a different game. 

I think you have to select a specialist wicket keeper. They're vital and get you wickets when you need them most.

I agree re a specialist keeper - provided that they are good enough to bat as high as 7, which Foakes obviously is.  A great keeper who is not good enough to bat that high is too much of a luxury. 

In Bazball yes Bairstow could open.  Not a traditional Test opener technically, but England aren’t playing traditional Test cricket!

He's certainly a better option opening than Crawley is, even taking account of his first innings knock. 

I know it doesn't fit with the ultra attacking intent of England, but I'm a fan of having an attacking opener alongside a rock, Sibley for example. Someone who can stick around and be the core of an innings. There's nothing wrong with scoring .500 or lower and batting time.

I disagree.  That would totally derail the way this England play.   Root at 4 and (hopefully) Foakes at 7 provide that ballast.

I understand that, it's just a preference if how I'd like to see a Test XI assembled.

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Bairstow a liability as keeper 

Because he's not a natural wicket keeper. He's a batsman who can keep a little bit. He's good for what he is, but you need a specialist. It's a bit like going into a Test with Root as your frontline spin option. He's decent and does a job, but he's not a game changer of a bowler.