I agree with 1 and 2 so have changed my original tune and so don't agree with point three. I think drop Compton, promote Root to open and keep Bairstow.
I hope so, however some people are naturally defensive/attack minded and therefore set in their ways, just hope its not the case with Cook..
I think the boy Bairstow is a def. England player but if we have a fit and firing KP it'd be foolish not to play him. One of a very few batsmen in world cricket that can turn the game on his own, he's a game changer, Bairstow isn't in that league yet (if ever).
Again, why would making them follow on have guaranteed this not run into today? The issue is us dawdling to the declaration, not whether we made them follow on. That's a non issue really. They might have gone back into bat and managed to get a couple of big partnerships going and frustrated our bowlers. Instead, we had them out in the field, mentally and physically a bit tired while their bowlers created nice patches of rough for Swann to exploit which wouldn't have been there otherwise.
This I wouldn't have enforced the follow-on either.. but after getting to a 180 odd for 1, I'd have either up'd the scoring by promoting the likes of Prior/Swann or declared sooner, we got lucky with the weather which will/may over shadow the storm that may have brewed up had the late declaration cost us the win.
That's what I mean though, Bairstow with KP in middle order, Compton is the one who gets dropped with Root opening.
Dont agree with that.. Root got bowled when they took the ball each time. If anyone needs promoting to open i'd promote trott. he has been basically doing it anyway with the openers going early.
That's a good alternative as it goes, I've thought that he could open as he is painfully slow and more than capable of it. I think Root is too mind. Compton however looks a man in need of some decent practice and to be taken out of the firing line.
I think Vaughan said on TMS that Root is a natural opener, so this may well happen. I wish he was from Lanky
Ahh, I see... Not sure I'd open with Root, agree with old returning Sweatband, if anyone is to be put up the order, I'd promote Trott, could give us a first seven of: Cook Trott Bell KP Root Bairstow Prior Tasty!
I dont get that, He looks a prospect yes but he has been undone each time when they took the new ball.
On one of the occasions, they took the new ball just after he'd scored his maiden test century on his home ground. I think his concentration may have been a tad disturbed
It's a bit different starting with the new ball though. The new ball is faster and bouncier, so when they take it mid innings there is a natural changing of speed and height it comes through to the bat, causing the problems. If you start with the new ball you play yourself in and adjust as it slows down.
Tell me about it, played Saturday, captain lost the toss, we had to bad on a damp(ish) pitch with loads of cloud cover and a decent 10mph wind, ball was swinging all over the shop... We're all out for 112.. They bat, pitch now dry, wind drops and clear skies and we struggle to get 4 of them out... I digress..
I take your point, but still having a newbie to the test side opening the innings that MAY not play the new ball all that well could be just the same as keeping compton there.. I dont know enough about the lad as dont know if he opens the innings for his county side..
