England v Pakistan, 1st Test, Lord’s, 24-28 May, 2018

England squad to be named tomorrow. Did Vince’s big score today save his place? Who will open? Will Ed Smith have any surprises in store?

Looks like our first three spinners in the pecking order are all unavailable. So it’s take a punt on someone or go with an all-seam attack. In May the latter option probably makes sense. Though they will probably dredge up some 35-year-old slow bowler we had all forgotten about in the tradition of Udal, Blackwell, Batty etc.

Well, they went for the raw young spinner. Probably won’t play.

Vince gets the chop and is replaced by a T20 specialist who will bat at 7. Figure that one out.

Come on, there’s some proper cricket coming up. Where is everyone?

What's a Dom Bess?

So the England NSP has finally given up on the Moeen experiment?

skully wrote:What's a Dom Bess?

So the England NSP has finally given up on the Moeen experiment?

Moeen is slaying them in the IPL, whatever that means.

Maybe Bream Steammill will be England's next spinner.

Meanwhile, bizarre throw of the dice, as beamer indicates, to bring in a wicketkeeper - as a batsman only - at Number 7 - who hasn't played red ball cricket for months.

Maybe it's inspired madness.

Maybe Smith (Ed) is too new to this game of rational selection, and just stuck in a pin. A sort of green needle, you could say. But sounds like a bit of a brainstorm.

horace wrote:

skully wrote:What's a Dom Bess?

So the England NSP has finally given up on the Moeen experiment?

Moeen is slaying them in the IPL, whatever that means.

As opposed to NoShow, whose last 5 innings have been 6, 5, 2, 9, 5. In all he's made 147 in 11 innings @ 13.36 with a top score of 47, meanings he's made an even 100 in the other 10 innings. Shite on a stick.

Hmmm, value for money for Delhi.

PeterCS wrote:Meanwhile, bizarre throw of the dice, as beamer indicates, to bring in a wicketkeeper - as a batsman only - at Number 7 - who hasn't played red ball cricket for months.

Maybe it's inspired madness.

And I'm sure Rajasthan will be well chuffed at losing their best bat to this "inspired madness".

skully wrote:

horace wrote:

skully wrote:What's a Dom Bess?

So the England NSP has finally given up on the Moeen experiment?

Moeen is slaying them in the IPL, whatever that means.

As opposed to NoShow, whose last 5 innings have been 6, 5, 2, 9, 5. In all he's made 147 in 11 innings @ 13.36 with a top score of 47, meanings he's made an even 100 in the other 10 innings. Shite on a stick.

Hmmm, value for money for Delhi.

Golly ... that is indeed dire ... expect No Show to be arrested for fraud before he leaves Banindia.

PeterCS wrote:Maybe Bream Steammill will be England's next spinner.

Meanwhile, bizarre throw of the dice, as beamer indicates, to bring in a wicketkeeper - as a batsman only - at Number 7 - who hasn't played red ball cricket for months.

Maybe it's inspired madness.

Maybe Smith (Ed) is too new to this game of rational selection, and just stuck in a pin. A sort of green needle, you could say. But sounds like a bit of a brainstorm.

Reminiscent of Ted Dexter, who allegedly selected based on the distribution of his tea leaves.

PeterCS wrote:Maybe Bream Steammill will be England's next spinner.

Meanwhile, bizarre throw of the dice, as beamer indicates, to bring in a wicketkeeper - as a batsman only - at Number 7 - who hasn't played red ball cricket for months.

Maybe it's inspired madness.

Maybe Smith (Ed) is too new to this game of rational selection, and just stuck in a pin. A sort of green needle, you could say. But sounds like a bit of a brainstorm.

Not resting on their laurels though...

Not much interest in this?

taipan wrote:Not much interest in this?

Fox is showing it live so i'll have a look

Big Dog wrote:

taipan wrote:Not much interest in this?

Fox is showing it live so i'll have a look

I'm at work

Starting tonight at 8 pm our time?

England win toss and bat.

Will Cook get into double figures?

taipan wrote:England win toss and bat.

Will Cook get into double figures?

Not sure who else will at this rate...

Incidentally I'm a bit sad that Pakistan are only getting two tests.

I'm a bit sad that Stokes is playing ... has he been exonerated already?

It does seem just a little weird that three players are banned for a year when one of them rubs sandpaper on a ball, while Stokes' career is barely interrupted after perpetrating GBH.

No arguments from me on that, was disgraceful and it leaves a sour taste in the mouth seeing him play.

lardbucket wrote:I'm a bit sad that Stokes is playing ... has he been exonerated already?

It does seem just a little weird that three players are banned for a year when one of them rubs sandpaper on a ball, while Stokes' career is barely interrupted after perpetrating GBH.

He has been charged with affray. The trial date has been set for 6 August.

Young Cook seems to be one for the future.

lardbucket wrote:Young Cook seems to be one for the future.

I doubt I can find it and I might have made it on the C4 forum (although I think it was on here) but I remember pretty early in his career saying he'd be opening our batting for the next decade. Didn't think he'd not miss a test in that time though!

Boyks is confidently forecasting an England win!

beamer wrote:Well, they went for the raw young spinner. Probably won’t play.

Vince gets the chop and is replaced by a T20 specialist who will bat at 7. Figure that one out.

Fair play to the selectors, they've put his neck on the block.