England v Australia, 3rd Test, Headingley, 22-26 August, 2019

beamer wrote:Presumably England will name the squad today, given the short turnaround. Surely something has to give in terms of the top four, even if there are rarely wholesale changes between back-to-back Tests?

I'd put good money on no change to the squad. The only opener making any sort of impression is Sublet and I doubt the selectors will pitch an untried batsman in halfway through a series.

Basil wrote:

beamer wrote:Presumably England will name the squad today, given the short turnaround. Surely something has to give in terms of the top four, even if there are rarely wholesale changes between back-to-back Tests?

I'd put good money on no change to the squad. The only opener making any sort of impression is Sublet and I doubt the selectors will pitch an untried batsman in halfway through a series.

Sublet? Does he illegally rent out rooms in the house he rents from someone else?

I think the more likely change is Denly and Roy swapping places. Rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic, as I said before, but Roy has proved in three matches he doesn’t have the right application to open in these conditions.

Hameed Revival Watch: Averaging 28 in CC div 2 this season. Well, at least it’s double figures. And half a run better than team-mate Keaton Jennings.

beamer wrote:Presumably England will name the squad today, given the short turnaround. Surely something has to give in terms of the top four, even if there are rarely wholesale changes between back-to-back Tests?

Who could they bring in though? Vince is still the same 40 and out merchant he always was, Ballance?? Well has he bothered to fix his glaring technical flaws against high pace yet? Malan? I still rate him. Tough character. Could be captain if he establishes himself in the side. Northeast? Keeps churning out the runs, but I don’t think the selectors rate him. Same with Hildreth, who’s time has probably past. Sibley or Zak Crawley for Roy? Sibley maybe, but Crawley is probably the best long-term bet. Not sure they’ll want to blood him against Aus in an ashes series, though........

Well, needs must... we can’t find out about players until we try them. Some players have sunk without trace when thrown into the heat of an Ashes battle, but others have thrived on it and booked their places for years to come.

Is Zak Crawley related to John? The name brings back memories of flaky 90s revolving door England batting, and now we’re back there...

Surely England can’t pick Jason Roy again. He’s form with the bat and in the field is as bad as Warner’s but without 20 odd Test tons to point to.

beamer wrote:Well, needs must... we can’t find out about players until we try them. Some players have sunk without trace when thrown into the heat of an Ashes battle, but others have thrived on it and booked their places for years to come.

Is Zak Crawley related to John? The name brings back memories of flaky 90s revolving door England batting, and now we’re back there...

Nah, no relation as far as I can tell.

Max Holden is another highly rated youngster. Maybe it’s time to go back to the Fletcher approach of picking players on potential and character rather than simply weight of county runs, or in recent times, ODI form.

expecting Starc or Pattinson to come in for Siddle from the bowling POV

JGK wrote:Surely England can’t pick Jason Roy again.  He’s form with the bat and in the field is as bad as Warner’s but without 20 odd Test tons to point to.

I'm backing Roy to be top scorer in the next match

embee wrote:

JGK wrote:Surely England can’t pick Jason Roy again.  He’s form with the bat and in the field is as bad as Warner’s but without 20 odd Test tons to point to.

I'm backing Roy to be top scorer in the next match

Well even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Nath wrote:expecting Starc or Pattinson to come in for Siddle from the bowling POV

I'm backing Langer to be imaginative and not making any changes bar the forced one re: Smith.

Harris has to come in.

England unchanged. Because that's been going so well for them thus far...

Disappointing but not surprising, given the four-day turnaround. Back-to-back Tests generally only see injury-enforced changes to the squad, though the fact they didn’t confirm it last night gave me some hope they might add to the pool of options at least!

There’s potential for a bit of tinkering in the order of Roy, Root and Denly, or one of them (presumably not the captain, despite his form!) could sit it out in favour of Curran. If Woakes has a slight niggle that might make sense. But surely last chance saloon for two or three in the batting line-up.

JGK wrote:Harris has to come in.

Yes, yes he does. But he won't, because Langer is a parochial, stubborn little gerbil.

Shrapnel in for the injured Smith is the only change I see.

skully wrote:

JGK wrote:Harris has to come in.

Yes, yes he does. But he won't, because Langer is a parochial, stubborn little gerbil.

Shrapnel in for the injured Smith is the only change I see.

Shirley Starc or OP come in for Hacklewood or Sids.

Sids would be unlucky. He has bowled as well as anyone but has had more catches dropped off him than any other bowler.

beamer wrote:Disappointing but not surprising, given the four-day turnaround. Back-to-back Tests generally only see injury-enforced changes to the squad, though the fact they didn’t confirm it last night gave me some hope they might add to the pool of options at least!

There’s potential for a bit of tinkering in the order of Roy, Root and Denly, or one of them (presumably not the captain, despite his form!) could sit it out in favour of Curran. If Woakes has a slight niggle that might make sense. But surely last chance saloon for two or three in the batting line-up.

Curran took 1/90 against Hants on a flattish oval pitch. If the pitch isn’t green, and the sky isn’t grey, he’s fodder. Just like Woakes only 3-4mph slower. Weather forecast for Leeds is pretty good, and Headingley with good weather is one of the flattest pitches in England.

He’s basically being picked because he plays good cameos of 40 and 50, and nips out the odd wicket if it’s swinging whilst never likely to be a top-line fast bowler. So very Bayliss era.......

Haze's first spell on the first morning put England onto the back foot and they stayed there until Seasick Steve (literally) copped it in the neck. If a fast bowler has to go Sids is the one, esp seeing as he struggles with back to back Tests.

If Patto was rested because there was a three day gap between Tests then "logically" he must play in one of the Tests

Starc should be completely rabid being held back this long

Yeah I think the turnaround will screw Siddle. They'll go with Patto, Starc and Haze. The part timers might have to carry a larger load if it's flat.

No way 2nd will be left out of T3.

Henry wrote:

beamer wrote:Disappointing but not surprising, given the four-day turnaround. Back-to-back Tests generally only see injury-enforced changes to the squad, though the fact they didn’t confirm it last night gave me some hope they might add to the pool of options at least!

There’s potential for a bit of tinkering in the order of Roy, Root and Denly, or one of them (presumably not the captain, despite his form!) could sit it out in favour of Curran. If Woakes has a slight niggle that might make sense. But surely last chance saloon for two or three in the batting line-up.

Curran took 1/90 against Hants on a flattish oval pitch. If the pitch isn’t green, and the sky isn’t grey, he’s fodder. Just like Woakes only 3-4mph slower. Weather forecast for Leeds is pretty good, and Headingley with good weather is one of the flattest pitches in England.

He’s basically being picked because he plays good cameos of 40 and 50, and nips out the odd wicket if it’s swinging whilst never likely to be a top-line fast bowler. So very Bayliss era.......

A better like for like replacement for Woakes, assuming Jimmy is still unfit would be Roland-Jones.

I wondered what happened to Toby Lerone... missed all last season through injury I think, but seemingly back in reasonable form, albeit in D2 which I don’t think should really count as far as England selection goes.

Curran probably does need to put on a yard of pace if he’s going to really make it as a Test bowler I think - Woakes managed to do so a few years back. But he would improve the batting, even if he were to replace one of the top four!

Smith ruled out