Pakistan v England, 2nd Test, Dubai, 22-26 October, 2015

Changes? I'd like Taylor in for Bairstow, but that won't probably happen. I'd even take a punt on Hales opening with Moeen at 5, but that won't happen either.

I think they're quite likely to go unchanged. Especially as near back-to-back.

I'd like Taylor & perhaps Plunkett to be given a role - in Test 2 or, barring injuries/something odd meanwhile, Test 3. That would presumably be for Bairstow, and perhaps Wood (with supportive noises in their ears, if so).

Tho with Buttler still misfiring with the bat, he might soon need whatever quiet hurry-up considered most likely to work. Not much time for practice games.


Not sure what bearing any of this exactly has on the next tour. Vastly different conditions, and opponents. Hales...? Hmmm. He's presumably in the present squad with that in sight. But hmmm.


So in short, **** knows ....

Can't see any changes in line up either - but I'd like to see a change in fielding positions.

Namely Bell to be banished from the slip cordon.

Or from the field?

I hope they play Footit, he's quick, he's a leftie. Oh wait

PeterCS wrote:I think they're quite likely to go unchanged. Especially as near back-to-back.

I'd like Taylor & perhaps Plunkett to be given a role - in Test 2 or, barring injuries/something odd meanwhile, Test 3. That would presumably be for Bairstow, and perhaps Wood (with supportive noises in their ears, if so).

Tho with Buttler still misfiring with the bat, he might soon need whatever quiet hurry-up considered most likely to work. Not much time for practice games.


Not sure what bearing any of this exactly has on the next tour. Vastly different conditions, and opponents. Hales...? Hmmm. He's presumably in the present squad with that in sight. But hmmm.


So in short, **** knows ....

Yes he is peter - but that said, second time around he was in early as a gamble to chase the small(ish) total in quick time. No doubt under instructions to go after the bowling from the off, I'd think it harsh for his dismissal to be held against him.

If the next pitch is anywhere near as flat as this one though, he definitely needs to put a decent score up, else his place may well be under pressure.

Under pressure from whom? Bairstow? I don't think so. Buttler's work with the gloves has improved markedly: he's certainly a better keeper than Bairstow. And do you really want to claim that Bairstow will score more runs than Buttler?

Don't misunderstand me Bas - I'm certainly not saying Bairstow's a better keeper, but there's no question that if both play the next two tests, it's not a complete flight of fancy that Bairstow could outscore Buttler by a factor of 10 or more.

What I am saying though, is that we're not known for picking our best wicket-keeper if his batting isn't considered up to scratch. Remember Matt "iron gloves" Prior ousted Chris Read from the test squad in 2007, and wasn't half the keeper.

To answer the "under pressure from who?" question ..... I don't know of an outstanding keeper who's an obvious replacement. We asked the same question about who was a replacement for Adam Lyth a few months ago, and haven't yet answered it, since I'm not convinced Moeen is a test class opener. However, I still don't think Buttlers spot is nailed on if he doesn't get back to making more runs you see.

What are you all talking about? Yasir Shah is back. Game over

Don't worry chaps, Graeme Gooch has declared Alastair Cook the best opener in the world.

Of course, Goochie maintained radio silence during the Ashes when the best opener in the world was out-opened by Chris Rogers and that angry midget. And during that period (what was it, 18 months?) where the best opener in the world couldn't buy a hundred.

But let's not get hung up on the minor details. Goochie says his protegee is the best - and therefore his coaching must be crash hot too. Yup.

Dello wrote:Don't worry chaps, Graeme Gooch has declared Alastair Cook the best opener in the world.

Of course, Goochie maintained radio silence during the Ashes when the best opener in the world was out-opened by Chris Rogers and that angry midget. And during that period (what was it, 18 months?) where the best opener in the world couldn't buy a hundred.

But let's not get hung up on the minor details. Goochie says his protegee is the best - and therefore his coaching must be crash hot too. Yup.

GOLD post

Brass Monkey wrote:What are you all talking about? Yasir Shah is back. Game over

Game over?? What are you talking about? The Carpenters only knew the half of it ... it hasn't even begun.

How can anything be over before it's started?

That just doesn't make sense.

Not even ECB sense.


Maybe Charles Dodgson sense. But his sense is nonsense. Or mathematics.

Pakistan have added a chucker to their Test squad. Off spinner Bilal Asif was reported for a suspect action after the ODIs with Zimbabwe.

But he's not banned. Yet. He's been undergoing tests and the results apparently won't be known until after the second Test has gotten underway. Quite what'll happen if he's picked and it's then revealed on day three that his action has been ruled illegal is anyone's guess.

You'd think a professional outfit would steer clear of him until the outcome had been determined, but this is Pakistan we're talking about.

He's not that bad, more a borderline bowler. Should not play if Yasir Shah's fit, though.

PeterCS wrote:

Brass Monkey wrote:What are you all talking about? Yasir Shah is back. Game over

Game over?? What are you talking about? The Carpenters only knew the half of it ... it hasn't even begun.

How can anything be over before it's started?

That just doesn't make sense.

Not even ECB sense.


Maybe Charles Dodgson sense. But his sense is nonsense. Or mathematics.

Don't fancy us against quality spin bowling. The science not be of rocket variety. Carol's got a message for you, she's calling occupants of inter-planetary craft. Wants to take you for lunch or some shit.

Brass Monkey wrote:

PeterCS wrote:

Brass Monkey wrote:What are you all talking about? Yasir Shah is back. Game over

Game over?? What are you talking about? The Carpenters only knew the half of it ... it hasn't even begun.

How can anything be over before it's started?

That just doesn't make sense.

Not even ECB sense.


Maybe Charles Dodgson sense. But his sense is nonsense. Or mathematics.

Don't fancy us against quality spin bowling. The science not be of rocket variety. Carol's got a message for you, she's calling occupants of inter-planetary craft. Wants to take you for lunch or some shit.

carol?

Carol Carpenter. Singer. Or some shit.

Oh Karen's brother.

taipan wrote:Oh Karen's brother.

https://www.gov.uk/government/people/carol-carpenter

Brass Monkey wrote:

taipan wrote:Oh Karen's brother.

https://www.gov.uk/government/people/carol-carpenter

ah, you met her in the Scrubs.

She came to my work for some bullshit - 'technology funding' - probably some tax fiddle, because basically I work for crooks.

Blimey - that's a big advance for her from the distracting top & skirt combo fate in your place!

Have you seen her? Nyet.

The bird I'm on about looks like Brigitte Bardot - no jokes. Better arse and babylons though.

Brass Monkey wrote:Have you seen her? Nyet.

The bird I'm on about looks like Brigitte Bardot - no jokes. Better arse and babylons though.

She's 81?

She's a Bardot timewarp