TBH we may as well recall Buttler to the test side and have him open. It would be highly amusing to see him ramp Pat Cummins for 6 next summer.
Buttler has been the elephant in the room (in a good way) throughout this McCullum-Stokes era so far. It just feels like he could excel in such an environment. Maybe he won't - and in which case, that really would be it for him in red ball cricket - but without giving him a chance first, it will remain a "what if". But whilst things are going so well, it's totally understandable to not change it.
Broad will be so jealous in the studio right now. He was penciled in for this role throughout the summer, but the opportunity never arose.
The other question I'd have: do you lean into the absurdity and drop an established Test opener in favour of getting another of Buttler/Bairstow/Livingstone into the team? Even Crawley's swinging for the fences now, but he's not as good at it as any of those three. Hell, you could conceivably run out an absolutely demented lineup of: Bairstow/Duckett Pope Root Brook Stokes Buttler Livingstone Wood Robinson Anderson Rely on Root/Livingstone to provide the odd bit of spin and just try to bludgeon opponents into submission.
Sadly I didn’t wake up in time to see the end of the match but what an incredible, historic moment that is. Winning 3-0 in Pakistan is simply unprecedented. Obviously the true measure of this amazing England side won’t be taken until the summer, but Test cricket has been changed forever by Ben Stokes and Brendan McCullum.
Let's see what Ahmed does in NZ, if he goes and in the first half of the County Championship season. You may well be right but Leach is certainly there on mérit.at present.
Not sure he’ll be ready for the Ashes. He needs to get a lot more cricket under his belt first, including hopefully the IPL.
I'm not sure he is TBH. An average of 34.5 isn't that great for a spinner. He's been solid but he's been in there because of the lack of other options in the spin department. Leach can hold up an end, giving the seamers a break, but he isn't going to rip through a team. I accept it's very early days with Ahmed but it's hard not to get excited. His googly in particular looks really good already. Apparently the late, great Shane Warne really rated him and I think this new look England under Stokes and McCullum will not be afraid to pick him.
As a Saints fan I have had my fair share of false dawns, so I quite get the 'let's see what happens when the Aussies turn up' argument. However, as a cricket follower I am getting carried away. It is easy to forget that this team got into seriously losing positions in the last two games. The declaration 'gamble' put them under pressure as the runs flowed, and in this game at 140 odd for 5 chasing 300 we looked dodgy. Every England team I've watched since the God knows when would have capitulated. This lot didn't and more importantly got out of both situations with a calmness I've not seen before. But another reason I'm carried away is that my 14 year old cricket mad grandson who wants to be a spin bowler can see there is a future, and the fact that recently when discussing this years successes he declared that T20 was great, but nothing beats Test cricket. If this team has revived interest in Test cricket then I am in awe!
Why the IPL? I would have thought turning his arm.over for Leicestershire in the CC would be a better way to develop.his craft, particularly on unhelpful.wickets to spin. Nathan Lyon, albeit a different type of spin bowler, has certainly developed his skill set on unresponsive pitches. Likewise Warne!!
McCullum wants him to play in the IPL I think to play with world class cricketers and to bowl at them. I know it's a different format but the experience of the IPL will only help him become a better cricketer.
I can accept that logic and it did cross my mind. The downside is that he only gets 4 overs, whereas in the 4 day format he could have a spell of 8 or 10 overs unchanged. Having said that, pitches in the UK.in April.and May are not really responsive to.spin.
Well exactly. He will develop far more quickly playing on subcontinental pitches than on English ones. No county captain would give him extended spells on unresponsive pitches if he’s getting carted around, apart from anything else.
I accept your point, but if a spinner is to develop their craft, then learning how to outdo.batsmen on such pitches will be beneficial.as we have seen with the great masters of spin in the past - Emburey, Edmonds, Titmus!!! OK, Underwood, Laker, Mushtaq, Lyon, Murali, Warne, and Swann!!
