Team for Lords

Do we stick with same 11 or bring in Bressy for Finn?

Finn really frustrates me.Such a talent,but bowls
too many 4 balls.

Bressy seems to have more control,but not
so dangerous overall.Don't know who's best option.

Batting takes care of itself.
Cook could do with a score,Root.Trott,Pieterson
and Bell all look OK.

My only concern is Bairstow.Is he really
any better than Morgan or Bopara?

 

The wickets being prepared just dont suit Finn.

If they pick Bresnan they could and should play another bowler and put Prior at 6. But they wont.

Bairstow deserves a chance but im not convinced hes better than those 2 either.

 

Cook
Compton
Trott
Pietersen
Bell
Root
Prior
Bresnan
Broad
Swann
Anderson

Should be the team in my opinion... HOWEVER, I think Broad gets in to the side too easily for my liking these days, yes he got a decent amount of runs with the bat in the first test, but he is in the side mainly as a bowler. I just feel he is "easy" to select these days. Once Tremlett is back fully fit he should be in the side. Finn is still young at 24 but needs to work on his consistency. Bairstow really doesn't convince me at this moment in time that he is a test cricketer. Morgan and Bopara should stick with ODI and t20 cricket exclusively.

Sam Robson (when he completes his residency in 2014)
Gary Ballance
James Taylor (he will get another chance)

Will get their chance with the bat soon enough I think.

 

I'd play that eleven also. They've named the same squad though. Looks like Bresnan in for Finn will be England's only change.

 

I like Bresnan but Lords is Finn's home ground so its a tricky one given the slope etc. Finn has done well there against NZ (4 wickets) and SA (8 wickets) and has a big understanding of what are unique characteristics. Broad also does particularly well there. I think the Aussies will try to tap into McGraths knowledge but I have a feeling their young bowlers may find it tough, its a funny pitch.

I'd be tempted to stick with Finn. His record from 5 tests at Lords read 9, 4, 4, 8, 4 wickets wise. Maybe his rhythm hasn't been quite what it can be but I still think that is difficult to back away from. Onions does quite well there as you'd expect from a wicket to wicket bowler, lbw is his game and its a good dismissal for Lords. I'd maybe go for him before Bresnan. Bresnan doesn't do quite so well at Lords with only wickets against Bangladesh to really show, albeit from a small sample of 3 tests. Of course his batting is handy but getting 20 wickets is always your first port of call.

 

Maybe they'll stay unchanged. I didn't like Finn's rhythm at all in the last game though. It was terrible. I expect us to win whichever one of them plays.

 

He only bowled one good spell, and was very poor. However your third bowler virtually certain to give you 4 wickets over 2 innings is difficult to knock back.

 

Bresnan in. England have lost 3 early wickets

 

Me too, just a pity that one of those top six is not an all-rounder. I think Broad brings something to the side, he was a class above Finn in the last test, him and Anderson are nailed on choices, need to find a third of their caliber.

 

Added Old Trafford to this thread.

Batters will all play if fit.
Pieterson the only doubt.
Who would you play if Pieterson is unfit?
The natural choice would be Taylor,but Strauss was rather guarded
on TV yesterday about Taylor and his selection.
Any ideas why?
Is he not popular?

Bresnan did well, and will play.

Overall we have the Aussies by the throat.

All those years of being humiliated ,now sit back
and enjoy.

 

Same team unless Pietersen is out. If he is I'd play James Taylor (and bat him at 4). Has to be Taylor. Cannot believe he hasn't had more chances already.

 

I agree that Taylor would be the best choice for long term development, including in preparation for the away ashes. Compton has probably missed his opportunity, so there is space for a third young batsman to be blooded.

There would be an argument, for this series alone, for Samit Patel. He has outscored his Notts teammate Taylor over their last two first class matches and also offers good left arm spin bowling. Seems like all the pitches will be very dry in this series, so having the option of right arm (swann) and left arm spin from either end cld be very handy (esp if Australia can make it to a fifth day!).

On balance Taylor wld probably still be my choice, simply because I don't think Patel is a viable long term project in tests.

 

Gooch seems to indicate that Pieterson will not play.

If that's the case,do we bring in a batter,or promote Bell,
Bairstowe and Prior,and play Monty.

Old Trafford will turn

 

http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013/content/current/story/654759.html

Taylor is in the Sussex side to play Australia

 

I really don't see the point in playing Taylor against Aussie 2nd string attack.

Most of first choice bowlers will probably be rested.

Aussie will only use the game as batting practice.

 

It will be Taylor. they like him as the selection against SA showed.

Ballance, Gale, Chopra would be the others to consider on weight of runs.

Clearly if Lees keeps going at the rate he has started, they'll struggle to hold him back very long. As a Durham fan it is worth noting the progress Borthwick has made with the bat since deciding to concentrate on that discipline and moving up. Young Jennings is worth keeping an eye on too although he may opt the SA route.

 

I guess they throwing him in against them and basically telling him to prove he should be selected. Although it obviously didn't work for Compton who made 81, 79, 34 and 26 against them in those 2 games before the first test (220 runs in 4 innings)

 

Taylor 39 not out so far. Rain stopped play

 

121 not out for Taylor

 

Interesting to see Monty and Tremlett in the squad.

I think they might pick Monty,to the exclusion of Pieterson/Taylor or Bairstowe.

Watched the Roses 20/20 the other night,and it will spin.