Yeah esp considering his poor away record. Though are we in South Africa and New Zealand in the winter? I think he has good records there, but are we best starting afresh?
I would like to see Curran as he is a left arm medium pacer to give us something a bit different. He has done fairly well in english conditions and can add to the lower order batting. Haven't seen much of Overton. That stayed, I think they will stick with Woakes as he has been good this summer except for the last game.
I'm not convinced by his bowling. Yes, a different angle, but he needs an extra yard of pace to really bother anyone at this level. I think his batting is his strongest suite, and Ok as 2nd/3rd change but not as next back up to Jofra/Broad. Unless he improves massively, I see him as Stokes perennial understudy. I like Woakes but think he has been really poor since the World Cup. As you say he was poor last test. But even first test without Anderson, Root seemed reluctant to bowl him, and seemed to have more faith in Stokes, even though Woakes historically was fantastic at Lords. Not sure how well Overton is bowling and he will be plucked from the middle of Somersets t20 campaign. Having watched our bowlers struggling to adjust vs Ireland, that could be a hell of a risk. I'm sure in his brief test career ion the last Aussie tour he got Smith out a couple of times, is that why selectors have gone for him? I'd read his brother was actually closer to selection.. So we're picking someone possibly not even the best bowler in his family. Overall, possibly stick with Woakes, hoping he has a lot to prove. We have coped incredibly well on the bowling front despite losing Anderson, Wood and Rashid (may have played at the Oval if weather conditions suit) for the whole series. I thought Stone was the next kid on the block... Is he injured too?
I'm sure I read that we recently created a world record of the most players beginning with one letter (8 J's?) in a team ( I'm assuming a test team?) WNile we are unpredictable as a test team, maybe this is something we can build on with some certainty (apart from Sir Benny). Mad cricket fan Sir Elton predicted this many years ago It isn't totally inconceivable that we line up with this team during the winter in NZ or SAF, maybe even captained but Sir Ben. BENNY AND THE JAY'S Josh Burns Jason Roy Joe Denly Joe Root Josh Buttler BENNY Stokes Jonny Bairstow Jamie Overton Jofra Archer Jack Leach Jimmy Anderson
Might be a minority on this but I think keeping Roy in and dropping him down the order is a good decision, with Denley opening. Why mess with a winning team, players will be on a high. The likes of Willis are way too negative in their analysis. You can see how Roy was part of the team just watching the coverage despite him not doing that well batting.
If they had an opener playing decent right now he would have been dropped ... unfortunately its white ball season in pur domestic cricket so there are no takers able to step up. I too think its sensible to stay with Roy .. he is class when he gets in but the movement of the red cherry at the top of the innings is is causing him too many headaches right now til he adapts.
Like many of the team that played in the World Cup, he just looks a bit knackered/off his game. They seem to have gone for Overton because of the bouncy wicket. Not sure he'd be in my top 20 English-qualified bowlers. Can't help but wonder if they've opted to leave Curran out because Australia look set to leave out Starc again, and we don't want anyone creating a load of nice footholds for Lyon.
"unfortunately its white ball season in domestic cricket" It's not unfortunate. It's planned. By the ECB. Had Crawley or Sibley been making the runs they'd made in May over the past few weeks, we'd have had credible alternatives.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/49543846 Why would someone from the other side of the world voluntarily identify with Grimsby Town?
I nearly asked if you were on not606, but it was very busy (it was just next to the food trucks just before you go underneath the Emerald stand), and the moment had gone. Archer was fabulous and hopefully will continue developing.
