England's Test Match number six

Front-runners-

Morgan
Bopara

And then-

Hildreth
Taylor (leics)
Gale

Dark horse-

Bairstow

Of course, with there seeming to be so many bowlers who vbat around at the moment, they might consider going with five bowlers and having one of Bresnan, Rashid, Broad, or Woakes at seven, with Prior at six.

You didn't mention Sales, or Patel.

Is Bopara the new Slogdonki?

I don't know what all this talk of Patel losing weight and working hard to get into shape is about. Looks as fat as ever-

England don't care about Patel's fatness, they care about his fitness. To some, that may be one and the same, but I've been told that that is very much NOT the case in terms of Fatty Fat Fat. Apparently, his fitness, which can be defined as his ability to play cricket for lengthy periods, has improved to some extent. However, his first-class form is distinctly more wobbly, so it's impossible to place Patel among the contenders for a Test spot. Then again, the rest of the contenders are dog-sh!t, so what's the problem with throwing another name in? If Morgan and Bopara are the front-runners, we'd best just resign ourselves to having a crap number 6 this summer.

I'm backing James Taylor. 'Cause he's from Nottingham. And he's small. Which makes him everyone's hero. Now, what I'm really struggling to understand is how somebody who has never scored a hundred domestically can be considered a dark horse.

F*ck, I woofed Bairstow good. Out for 81. Will he EVER make his maiden century? Still averages 42 in first class cricket after 30 odd matches.

I think Bairstow is a long way down the cab rank. Morgan gets first dibs - I don't think that'll be a major surprise. Look out for Bopara if any of the other middle-order bats gets injured, but I'd have him in my ODI side like a shot.

Another thing about Bairstow - is that he'll have competion from the likes of Prior and Davies - with Buttler on the horizon.

Jon Clare

I'll see your Jon Clare and raise it by Moeen Ali.

Is there any other dark horse picks they could spring on us? Can't really think of any. I assume they've completely given up on Owais Shah these days. Unfortunately, I think he's given up as well.

Henry wrote:Is there any other dark horse picks they could spring on us? Can't really think of any. I assume they've completely given up on Owais Shah these days. Unfortunately, I think he's given up as well.

Doubt it, but I suppose moving Prior up to six so that they could play five bowlers would be a surprise.

Lara Lara Laughs wrote:Jon Clare

Bit dissapointed by that lads progress. Thought he had it all, nice action & powerful run up. Just hasn't kicked on.

Has anyone EVER kicked on at Derbyshire?

Surely needs a change of County.

If you can't stand out at Direby i'd suggest he's actually not all that.

Or more likely someone there who is incompetent has f*cked him around, and tinkered with his action. He was born in Lancashire and played his youth cricket there. I'm surprised they don't want him back.

Henry wrote:Has anyone EVER kicked on at Derbyshire?

Surely needs a change of County.

I think Dominic Cork once kicked off at Derby.

Mike Hendrick. Class bowler.

Steve Stubbings.

Kim Barnett. Top of the bowling averages in '94.

Nice side-on stance when batting, too.

Bairstow? Only a huge thunderqunt would suggest some tosser who can't even get a ton.

He's talented though, in a legside charlie kind of way. Obviously just one to watch rather than someone for the 'now'

There's a few talented batsmen around. Not sure why this lemon would get mooted.

He'd fill the Ginge quota, obviously.

He was called up to the Lions tour. He's on the radar. Just needs to make that breakthrough ton.