The Ashes

[Ted Maul]

Going to be some interesting decisions made prior to the start of our home summer, as there always is following an Ashes defeat. I'd really like to see us go into the games against NZ lined up something like:

Duckett, Crawley*, Haines**, Root, Brook, Stokes ©, Smith***, Dawson****, Atkinson, Archer, Robinson*****

* Crawley gets a pass (still) depending on what happens the remainder of this series, he and Duckett have been England's best opening partnership since Cook and Strauss. 

**Haines comes into the team for Pope ready to move up to open following the inevitable run of poor scores from Crawley, I'd bring Emilio Gay in at #3 when this happens. If Bethel wants in then he needs to go and score some runs batting #3 for Warwickshire.

*** Smith with the gloves is fine (last game was his worst yet), he's clearly talented with the bat and is a prime candidate of playing the situation better. Ben Foakes (our best actual wicket keeper) and James Rew are on notice to replace him if he can't suss it out.

**** I'm having Liam Dawson for the last couple of years of his career. He bowls better spin than Bashir and bats better than Will Jacks, an absolute no brainer, vastly experienced cricketer.

***** I'm also bringing Ollie Robinson back, he's said he wants to play test cricket and he's been taking wickets for Sussex, he also averages about 22 in test cricket. I'm also not convinced he has that much baggage to warrant the treatment he received. However, looks like Matt Fisher is next cab off the rank for this spot.

Ultimately we need to place some importance back on the value of earning an England cap, the last few years have seen them handed out far, far to easily to players who are not deserving of the privilege.

[Josh1873]

No shouts for Dom Bess as a spinning option? He had a short stint with Bears and I rated him. Always seemed to have a good game against us, too.

[backsidebaggie]

Dawson is a good cricketer, but Leach is a better spinner. But Leach, Ahmed and Dawson are the three best spin options we have.

I really like Robinson, and his test record is superb, but not sure he’s what he was. I certainly wouldn’t close the door on him though.

[Ted Maul]

I'd certainly have him over Bashir, but I can't overlook someone like Dawson with the experience and record in FC cricket that he has.

I did wonder how long it would take you to mention Dom Bess.

[Gzbaggy]

No place for Redditch's finest, Josh Tongue

[Ted Maul]

No place for Redditch's finest, Josh Tongue

He's in the squad for the inevitable Archer injury I think.

[Cheshire East Baggie]

We'll certainly see an in-depth review of the Bazball experiment unless they claw it back to 2-2 or even win 3-2.

I'd start by looking at the positives. Stokes has instilled respect for the captain, which was sadly lacking in recent times. Anderson famously told Strauss to fuck off when he didn't like his bowling suggestions. Cook let Anderson and Broad call all the bowling. Joe Root was never supported by their "safety first" bowling in his later years of captaincy - Ben Stokes told them "pitch the ball up and try to take wickets". Batters have been freed up to bat without fear and to have belief, which has rarely been the case in my 60+ years of following English Test cricket.

The negatives are more numerous. Stokes isn't the best at captaining a fielding side, possibly because he isn't that interested in the psychology of thinking the opposition out. Huge contrast with, for instance, Mike Brearley. The desire to have a "settled" side has gone too far and now we have a small and closed circle of players who are "in". Which might be OK if they were performing. There have been some strange and dogmatic decisions along the way:

Zak Crawley - his dad being Rob Key's mate doesn't smell right. On a good day he's great, but stats don't lie and his aren't good enough.

We don't need a proper wicket-keeper - this stretches at least back to the last home Ashes where Jonny Bairstow played just months after suffering a triple leg fracture. Jamie Smith doesn't keep wicket for his county and he's not looking good down in Oz.

Jacob Bethell as the only spare batter. This guy has hardly played any cricket this year, especially red ball. Who knows, we might see him turn the series around.

Pace is the answer and Mark Wood/Jofra Archer will be fit enough to deliver it. So Woody's broken and Jof hasn't quite maintained his threat through both innings. The pace plan didn't work for the ODI World Cup either.

Shoab Bashir - strangest of all. Saw him on YouTube and decided he was the future. Can't bat or field - there's no room for Tuffers or Monty P type players in the modern game. He doesn't get picked for his county and now he's out of contract anyway. Will he play any part in this series?

The players can build team spirit and get fit on the golf course. Why do they need to play matches to get match fit?

Do they even face real bowlers in the nets any more, or just bowling machines and throwdowns? Cricket reduced to baseball, it's all just about hitting.

If we can't win a Test or two it will be a media bloodbath IMO.

[Tom Joad 25]

We'll certainly see an in-depth review of the Bazball experiment unless they claw it back to 2-2 or even win 3-2.

I'd start by looking at the positives. Stokes has instilled respect for the captain, which was sadly lacking in recent times. Anderson famously told Strauss to fuck off when he didn't like his bowling suggestions. Cook let Anderson and Broad call all the bowling. Joe Root was never supported by their "safety first" bowling in his later years of captaincy - Ben Stokes told them "pitch the ball up and try to take wickets". Batters have been freed up to bat without fear and to have belief, which has rarely been the case in my 60+ years of following English Test cricket.

The negatives are more numerous. Stokes isn't the best at captaining a fielding side, possibly because he isn't that interested in the psychology of thinking the opposition out. Huge contrast with, for instance, Mike Brearley. The desire to have a "settled" side has gone too far and now we have a small and closed circle of players who are "in". Which might be OK if they were performing. There have been some strange and dogmatic decisions along the way:

Zak Crawley - his dad being Rob Key's mate doesn't smell right. On a good day he's great, but stats don't lie and his aren't good enough.

We don't need a proper wicket-keeper - this stretches at least back to the last home Ashes where Jonny Bairstow played just months after suffering a triple leg fracture. Jamie Smith doesn't keep wicket for his county and he's not looking good down in Oz.

Jacob Bethell as the only spare batter. This guy has hardly played any cricket this year, especially red ball. Who knows, we might see him turn the series around.

Pace is the answer and Mark Wood/Jofra Archer will be fit enough to deliver it. So Woody's broken and Jof hasn't quite maintained his threat through both innings. The pace plan didn't work for the ODI World Cup either.

Shoab Bashir - strangest of all. Saw him on YouTube and decided he was the future. Can't bat or field - there's no room for Tuffers or Monty P type players in the modern game. He doesn't get picked for his county and now he's out of contract anyway. Will he play any part in this series?

The players can build team spirit and get fit on the golf course. Why do they need to play matches to get match fit?

Do they even face real bowlers in the nets any more, or just bowling machines and throwdowns? Cricket reduced to baseball, it's all just about hitting.

If we can't win a Test or two it will be a media bloodbath IMO.

Pretty much! Not to mention a bowling coach we never hear of.

[Josh1873]

[Ted Maul]

Well we play about 2 FC games past the end of July so that seems a bit harsh. How much FC cricket do their lads play Feb to June?