West Indies v England, 2nd Test, Grenada, 21-25 April, 2015

Thoughts on team selection?

Moeen for Tredwell?

Vic Marks in the Observer thinks Moeen should open the batting. I do wish he would take his meds before writing his article.

It'd be hard to drop Tredwell after the last game, but maybe Broad should make way for Moeen. Anderson and Jordan to open the bowling.

Or ... perhaps Bell to open?

Moores has given the big wraps to Tredwell and Trott overnight, so I imagine England will be unchanged.

Because they're stubborn like that.

Anyone who thinks Moeen can open in Test cricket is out of their mind. Sri Lanka and India's dobbers were able to bounce him out with an old ball, coming in at number six last summer. His defensive play is questionable to say the least.

Those who thought David Warner could open in Tests were supposedly out of their minds as well...

I'd happily accept any village green slogger they put up there, just to show they had more imagination than the block, block, block we've had at the top of the order ever since Trescothick exited the stage.

I don't remember Warner or Trescothick ever being an absolute rabbit in the headlights whenever someone banged the ball in.

Moeen made one meaningful score opening in the World Cup - against Scotland's pop-gun attack where no-one could bowl over 75mph.

He's got some strokes, but never in a million years is he equipped to play high class new-ball bowling.

Prove me wrong, Mo. Prove me wrong.

England's only likely change will be Moeen for Tredwell.

Of course, if England were HONESTLY serious about playing a more aggressive and exciting "brand" of cricket, rather than just paying it lip service, they'd pick Lyth for Trott, and Rashid for Broad. This is a test series against a poor West Indies team that England SHOULD win. If we can't take a few supposed gambles here, then when will we?

Cook(c)
Lyth
Ballance
Bell
Root
Moeen
Stokes
Buttler+
Rashid
Jordan
Anderson

Tons of batting depth, three quicks, one steady spinner, and one wicket-taking x factor spinner who may go for a few or may take a burst of wickets to win a game.

But they will NEVER do it. That's what's so frustrating. Moores and Cook can say whatever they want at press conferences. No one believes them. They are predictable and boring, and not very successful, either.

Boycott was saying they need to give Lyth a run out, or risk being in the position of having to play two untried openers in the Ashes if Cook doesn't rediscover his form.

They've backed themselves into a corner with Trott, given the situation he's had they won't mess around with him and drop him after one or two matches. Throwing him back into an unfamiliar role just didn't make sense. He should have just been kept in mind for if a middle order vacancy arose, and been judged on county runs this summer alongside KP and others.

Shit - this has come around quickly. Would be a good toss for the Windies to win and bat given the Pommy bowlers bowled for a day and a bit at the end of the last test.

Well thith ith jutht bloody ekthiting guyth.

JGK wrote:Shit - this has come around quickly.  Would be a good toss for the Windies to win and bat given the Pommy bowlers bowled for a day and a bit at the end of the last test.

Was this you in the cricinfo live feed?

"Possible swing in the heavy atmosphere or not, I think WI should bat if they win the toss. It's not that long since the England seamers bowled 100 overs plus at them, and Jimmy looked knackered by the end of it."


Loved this comment though:
Gareth Batty still doing the business at the Oval. If they are thinking of bringing back an aged 35 year old batsman, why not at 37 year old spinner?

Please do

England bowling.

Bishoo in for Benn. Nice. Gabriel in for injured Taylor. Moeen replacing Tredwell.

JGK wrote:Shit - this has come around quickly.  Would be a good toss for the Windies to win and bat given the Pommy bowlers bowled for a day and a bit at the end of the last test.

10.40am England win the toss and will bowl.


You JGKd the toss ...but the Chef has saved the day

tricycle wrote:

Bishoo in for Benn. Nice.

Aye. We be batting last, as well. Good luck, girls.

Stunning ball to Brathwaite, that.

Devon Smith does all the hard work, and gets out just one over before lunch, nicking a wide ball. Again.

...so we fluked a second wicket after bowling pretty poorly. That's including Ballance's poor drop though. He looks a dropsy candidate

Fun fact: 144 balls bowled today, 8, yes EIGHT hitting the stumps. 8 balls. Out of 144

One slipped out, and was more or less on the stumps.

My knob slipped out. It was still closer to the stumps than N Force.

Redefining Cock blocking?

Piss poor way to get out

Abominabl. So ridiculous

Young Shiv next to the crease... just realised I was about to do my GCSE's when he played his first Test. Heard the quote about there still being rest days in Tests when he started. Even more remarkably, the West Indies were quite good at cricket back then.

Just trying to work out how many others have played Test cricket in their teens, 20s, 30s and 40s. I reckon it's just him, Tendulkar and Brian Close.