Off Topic The Ashes.

We need to review the opening batsman, not a fan of Lyth he'll probably get selected though because he plays for the Democratic Republic of Yorkshire.

 

I mean there's an argument for Root opening, seeing as he practically is already, but who do you bring in?

I don't think we'll move Root as he seems settled, and I can't think who else would open. I think Lyth will get the series at least.

 

Who springs to mind as a direct replacement? I don't follow county cricket the closely - unless the team starts with Ess and ends in ex.
Nailed it, give Tom Westley a go

 

I'd give Alex hales a go - would mirror David Warner as an opener

 

Would be pointless moving him, Root's perfect at number 5 we've desperately missed a decent mid order batsman since Collingwood.

After the last series it's a bit disappointing we've not bothered to sort this area out especially since Strauss retired.

 

Yeah, moving Root just moves the problems elsewhere.

Looks like we'll have to bat at least 5 sessions to secure a draw, something thats only been done before in test cricket 5 times.

Rain please!

 

Changing the order can make a big difference cook hales root balance bell stokes would be my line up next test- look at Australia over the years and now - would they drop Steve smith down to five? Root's experience as an opener would make him a good number 3 and would continue to put pressure on the bowlers

As to the earlier comment about stokes- I thought he looked a proper test batsman - was pretty solid defensively and I think his judgement was sound

 

I hope Rogers is ok, I know they're the opposition and we want them out very cheaply, but this sounds serious and we don't want them to come to any physical harm!

 

Lyth out for the fourth time playing at a ball he didn't need to- ffs

 

If there's one thing the Aussies are very good at it's exploiting our batsmens weaknesses.

 

This should lighten the mood...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02xfrfr

Geoffrey Boycott aka James Bond!!

 

It absolutely does my head in when they should all know that staying in is far more important than runs right now.

 

maybe so - but he was out to pretty average deliveries- he'd hardly been worked over

 

It was a defensive shot, he wasn't playing for runs- just didn't need to play

 

And now cook has gone, playing an absolutely abysmal shot.

 

Cook's gone....

 

Hmm, after our 'crushing' victory over them last week at Cardiff, it does seem like 'normal service has been resumed'
Apart from Cook and Stokes in the first innings, none of our batsmen have really performed in this match - so they'll all be under extra pressure in this second innings

 

Absolutely despise this Mitchell Marsh kid.

 

Come on Root and Bell keep it together.

 

Not able to do the basis well this time- schoolboy errors - can't be worse at the next test is the only positive