The Cricket Thread

[Skinner]

Batty is probably going for his experience as we'll be without a spin coach after the first test.

 

[Matt_]

How I think England will line up:

1) Cook
2) Hameed
3) Root
4) Bairstow
5) Buttler
6) Stokes
7) Ali
8) Rashid
9) Woakes
10) Broad
11) Anderson

I don't see much point in taking Buttler unless they're actually planning on playing him, if it were to be back up with the gloves to Bairstow then Duckett could have that covered, to me it implies he'll play. Bairstow's excellent form could easily see him move up to 4.

They would probably get away with that kind of top six in Bangladesh but, for me, they should be trying the field to kind of line up they plan to use in India.

I don't like the wicket keeper batting higher than six and I don't think Buttler is anywhere near good enough to play as a specialist batter in the top five in test cricket. I would prefer Duckett to play ahead of Buttler or, ideally, Moeen to be promoted into the top five and Ansari included lower down the order.

I would go for something like this, although I would still feel that Stokes is one too high in the order, it retains a very long batting lineup but with more bowling options.

Cook
Hameed
Root
Ali
Stokes
Bairstow
Woakes
Ansari
Rashid
Broad
Anderson

 

[lordofthepies]

Peter trego has had his say on the decision not to select leach this morning @tregs140 if anyone wants a read

Surely nobody has any interest in anything T.R.Ego has to say?

 

[hodge]

A player pretty much calling out England on their selection policy? Somerset player or not I'd be interested to see their comments and what may happen.

 

[hodge]

They would probably get away with that kind of top six in Bangladesh but, for me, they should be trying the field to kind of line up they plan to use in India.

I don't like the wicket keeper batting higher than six and I don't think Buttler is anywhere near good to play as a batter in the top six in test cricket. I would prefer Duckett to play ahead of Buttler or, ideally, Moeen to be promoted into the top six and Ansari included lower down the order.

I would go for something like this, although I would still feel that Stokes is one too high in the order, it retains a very long batting lineup but with more bowling options.

Cook
Hameed
Root
Ali
Stokes
Bairstow
Woakes
Ansari
Rashid
Broad
Anderson

Personally don't rate Ali's batting enough to see him bat in the top 4, personally have no problem with Bairstow going higher as long his keeping isn't affected and vice versa, he's the man in form. Ali at 6 maybe not such a bad option though.

 

[RavenBish]

Batty is just a bizarre pick. Ansari probably shouldn't be there on merit because he's been permanently injured for the last year but on talent/age/potential it's acceptable. Not a lot else to complain about really - good to see Duckett in both forms.

 

[hodge]

Batty is just a bizarre pick. Ansari probably shouldn't be there on merit because he's been permanently injured for the last year but on talent/age/potential it's acceptable. Not a lot else to complain about really - good to see Duckett in both forms.

Jack Leach, there has to be something for Somerset fans to complain about

 

[EricSabin]

Root also rested for the one dayers. Vince, Billings and Duckett all getting a game then. Hope Duckett goes big in all three and really gives the selectors something to think about.

Would also like to see three spinners in the Test side, and Ali pushed up the order to accommodate that.

1) Cook
2) Hameed
3) Root
4) Ballance
5) Ali
6) Stokes
7) Bairstow
8) Woakes
9) Rashid
10) Broad
11)Anderson

 

[hodge]

Don't see why Ali has to be pushed up the order to accommodate for Rashid? Ali's first class average is 37, not deserving of a #5 spot in a test side. You can justify him ahead of Stokes in 6 just about, but Bairstow should definitely be ahead of him. No reason for Bairstow not to be 5.

 

[Aber gas]

Absolutely ridiculous, fucking bottle job of a decision not to take Jack Leach. Constant soul searching and navel gazing about the dearth of English spinners and they don't take the standout spinner on the county circuit.
I'm fucking furious.

 

[Matt_]

Personally don't rate Ali's batting enough to see him bat in the top 4, personally have no problem with Bairstow going higher as long his keeping isn't affected and vice versa, he's the man in form. Ali at 6 maybe not such a bad option though.

I actually failed to notice that Ballance had been selected, I thought it looked a bit light on batters.

I agree that four is probably one place too high for Moeen. In which case I'd have Ballance at four and leave out Ansari. Bairstow at five at a push but I really don't like keepers batting that high in test cricket, there aren't many examples of where that has been successful for any sustained period.

 

[Matt_]

County Championship Division 1 averages.

Ollie Raynor, 50 wickets @ 22.0
Jack Leach. 58 wickets @ 22.6
Gareth Batty, 41 wickets @ 31.2

A bizarre decision to select Batty.

 

[hodge]

For 'experience' .... when its Bangladesh and we have 2 experienced international spinners in the side. I did see someone mention that apparently we're without a spin coach after the first test? If true maybe they're looking at Batty as a future spin coach and in this occasion someone to do the role? Don't get why they wouldn't invite him along as a coach if that's what they wanted though.

 

[hodge]

Someone made a good point on twitter in response to Craig Kieswetter (another unhappy at Leach being overlooked), Bell was considered a backwards step in terms of development because of his age, so Batty...?

 

[George Reilly's Hairpiece]

The only reason I can see for taking Batty over Leach is that neither would bowl in tour matches and it's more beneficial for Jack to get more game time on a Lions tour. Still must feel like a slap in the face though.

 

[hodge]

Being around the main squad could do more for him than playing against A sides of other countries tbh.

 

[George Reilly's Hairpiece]

I'd rather he was playing matches than just training with the first team and no cricket on tour.

That said, I think he deserved a shot at a test debut given his performances this year.

 

[hodge]

Bumble has now put on twitter he was surprised Leach hasn't been picked 'Thought he was nailed on' being the term.

 

[Aber gas]

Let's not dress it up as anything else but a weird, backwards decision. I thought this was supposed to be a progressive management set up who weren't scared of taking risks and picking form players.
It's a massive snub of county cricket that a young, exciting spinner can take 58 wickets and be ignored in favour of a 38 year old journeyman for a tour in Asia. I'm a Somerset supporter so of course I'm gutted for Jack but it goes beyond any bias I might have. I'm genuinely perplexed and angry about this ridiculous selection.
Tl/ dr ?
I'm a bit pissed off.

 

[hodge]

Tl/ dr ?
I'm pissed off.

 

[Skinner]

Ansari has been hand picked by the selectors for a while now, and Batty's inclusion is probably what has already been mentioned. It's seriously not as big a deal as everyone is making out.

Its a squad of making up numbers, we all know who's starting and who's sitting on the sideline, pointless doing it. Yeah, recognition comes into it, but Leach may be better off without that shit

 

[Skinner]

Ansari has been hand picked by the selectors for a while now, and Batty's inclusion is probably what has already been mentioned. It's seriously not as big a deal as everyone is making out.

Its a squad of making up numbers, we all know who's starting and who's sitting on the sideline, pointless doing it. Yeah, recognition comes into it, but Leach may be better off without that shit

 

[Aber gas]

Ansari has been hand picked by the selectors for a while now, and Batty's inclusion is probably what has already been mentioned. It's seriously not as big a deal as everyone is making out.

Its a squad of making up numbers, we all know who's starting and who's sitting on the sideline, pointless doing it. Yeah, recognition comes into it, but Leach may be better off without that shit

That's fine and I hope it goes well in India and Bangladesh. But I will fucking laugh if after this tour the England management are still whinging about the lack of English spinners TM.

 

[hodge]

When looking at a Somerset batsman for England 'oh but Taunton's a road' ... Even the Sky commentators use that one often. When looking at a Somerset bowler..... errrrrrrr

 

[Skinner]

You're overreacting, and I'd go as far as saying you Somerset lot are acting victimised.

The fact is, Ali and Rachid are going to be our first choice spinners, we ain't going to play three first choice and rightly so. Ansari, I would understand the commotion, as he's been injured for such a long time, but Batty offers something to the squad. Is Leach not playing going to offer anything? No, on both sides of the coin. Batty isn't going to get a game, he's there to help out the younger spinners. Ok it's a waste of a spot and we could have outright offered him a coaching role, but do we know Surrey's stance on this? He's under contract after all. England have come a long way under the new regime but we want to slam it down because Leach isn't included in a squad where he won't play anyway? Seriously.

There's a number of players that have a case of getting into this squad but they haven't, as is the case with squad announcements in all sports.

 

[lordofthepies]

If he's not going to play, it's better for him to tour with the Lions - in the same way that they sent Rashid off to play in the Big Bash instead of carrying drinks in South Africa, which was definitely the right call. Whether or not he should be in the starting XI is another question though. I've never actually seen him play so I can't answer that.

 

[Matt_]

There is every chance England will play three spinners in Bangladesh and India. It's less than 12 months since they did so in the UAE.

 

[Aber gas]

You're overreacting, and I'd go as far as saying you Somerset lot are acting victimised.

The fact is, Ali and Rachid are going to be our first choice spinners, we ain't going to play three first choice and rightly so. Ansari, I would understand the commotion, as he's been injured for such a long time, but Batty offers something to the squad. Is Leach not playing going to offer anything? No, on both sides of the coin. Batty isn't going to get a game, he's there to help out the younger spinners. Ok it's a waste of a spot and we could have outright offered him a coaching role, but do we know Surrey's stance on this? He's under contract after all. England have come a long way under the new regime but we want to slam it down because Leach isn't included in a squad where he won't play anyway? Seriously.

There's a number of players that have a case of getting into this squad but they haven't, as is the case with squad announcements in all sports.

It's not overreacting to be annoyed that we are going into an Asian tour with a batting all rounder as our first choice spin option. This was fine and pragmatic when the frontline spin options were limited with no one really making a case for inclusion but with his performances and sheer weight of wickets Leach should be in the side. I'm not quite sure what English spinners have to do because ignoring him is taking conservative pragmatism to point of stubborn folly. It's only my opinion though.

 

[Super_horns]

Bold move by Surrey to bat first - as maybe expected its not working out too well.

 

[RavenBish]

Don't worry, they've got international spinner Gareth Batty to win them the game with the ball