[Cricket] The Ashes 2015 ***OFFICIAL SERIES THREAD***

[knocky1]

Now The Ashes are done and dusted time to go for the jugular. Anderson back for Wood, unfortunately for him, and a place for Rashid at The Oval.

The latter is a problem as Moheen's sublime batting makes him difficult to replace. However, with Pakistan in the UAE coming up we need to get Rashid involved. Gooch came up with a solution this morning. Replace Lyth with Moheen as opener and play Rashid, who himself just made 124 against Durham. I would happily go along with that.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Now The Ashes are done and dusted time to go for the jugular. Anderson back for Wood, unfortunately for him, and a place for Rashid at The Oval.

The latter is a problem as Moheen's sublime batting makes him difficult to replace. However, with Pakistan in the UAE coming up we need to get Rashid involved. Gooch came up with a solution this morning. Replace Lyth with Moheen as opener and play Rashid, who himself just made 124 against Durham. I would happily go along with that.

1. Why risk Anderson's long term fitness in a dead rubber? Save him for South Africa.

2. There is a much more obvious way to get Rashid in, rather than moving Moeen. Let Bairstow keep wicket, and play Rashid in place of Buttler, who has contributed nothing with the bat.

 

[knocky1]

1. Why risk Anderson's long term fitness in a dead rubber? Save him for South Africa.

Jimmy's injury is not as bad as feared,hence his return to the squad for Footit. The Oval, if he plays, is likely to be his last ever Test against Australia.

Buttler will remain behind the stumps for a little while longer. Would be different if we were losing.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Jimmy's injury is not as bad as feared,hence his return to the squad for Footit. The Oval, if he plays, is likely to be his last ever Test against Australia.

Buttler will remain behind the stumps for a little while longer. Would be different if we were losing.

If Jimmy IS fit he should play. He is a genius. If he's 95% fit he should not. There is simply no point when there are tough challenges ahead. Hopefully he IS fully fit.

Buttler is keeping reasonably well, so there is no rush to see him replaced. Getting Rashid for him though costs England nothing - Rashid bats fairly well, and could well score as heavily as Buttler. Moving Moeen is a case of 'don't fix what isn't broken' - he's added crucial runs where he is - leave him there or thereabouts (6 to 8)

 

[Guinness Boy]

I'm marginally more in favour of bringing in Rashid for Buttler. Though his keeping's been fine he looks a bit lost with the bat.

 

[Uncle Buck]

1. Why risk Anderson's long term fitness in a dead rubber? Save him for South Africa.

2. There is a much more obvious way to get Rashid in, rather than moving Moeen. Let Bairstow keep wicket, and play Rashid in place of Buttler, who has contributed nothing with the bat.

Or Ali opens with Lyth dropping out and Rashid comes in at 8.

Agnew has suggested this might be what they do in the UAE.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I'm marginally more in favour of bringing in Rashid for Buttler. Though his keeping's been fine he looks a bit lost with the bat.

The problem is, Bairstow's keeping is not at the same standard and Bairstow has had a number of iffy innings before that decent knock on Thursday.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Or Ali opens with Lyth dropping out and Rashid comes in at 8.

Agnew has suggested this might be what they do in the UAE.

Its definitely a possibilty, and Moeen has opened before. Just seems a shame to move him when he's going so well where he is.

One thing I think a lot are overlooking, mind, with the Rashid talk, is that he is a pretty decent bat himself.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Its definitely a possibilty, and Moeen has opened before. Just seems a shame to move him when he's going so well where he is.

One thing I think a lot are overlooking, mind, with the Rashid talk, is that he is a pretty decent bat himself.

I suspect with Rashid, the biggest concern the selectors have, is that his bowling is slower than what is considered the requirement for international spinners.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

I suspect with Rashid, the biggest concern the selectors have, is that his bowling is slower than what is considered the requirement for international spinners.

They could well be right. What I meant was, I hear a lot of "If you bring in Rashid for Moeen, you lose Moeen's contribution down the order" ignoring that Rashid too is a pretty useful batsman. Not at the same level, obviously, but you're not going to lose ALL of Moeen's runs - if you see what I mean?

 

[knocky1]

OK I can see the 'resting' of Buttler would enable Rashid to show what he has got.

How many chances do we give Lyth though? Moheen opening may give us a reliable opening partnership for the first time since Strauss retired. Isn't it worth a try? He bats at 3 for Worcestershire and although an exquisite, wristy shot player has also done enough sticking around in his Test career. Batting at 8 and even 9 he has obviously had to go for run scoring in this series as he runs out of partners so his series average of 38 should not be considered to low for an opener.

 

[Uncle Buck]

They could well be right. What I meant was, I hear a lot of "If you bring in Rashid for Moeen, you lose Moeen's contribution down the order" ignoring that Rashid too is a pretty useful batsman. Not at the same level, obviously, but you're not going to lose ALL of Moeen's runs - if you see what I mean?

I do understand what you are saying.

However on the basis that the Oval will be a 5 day Chief Exec's wicket, I would build our selection around the first test in the UAE and that is going to need 2 spinners playing.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

I do understand what you are saying.

However on the basis that the Oval will be a 5 day Chief Exec's wicket, I would build our selection around the first test in the UAE and that is going to need 2 spinners playing.

So would I, but my preference is Rashid for Buttler, rather than Rashid for Lyth.

 

[Uncle Buck]

So would I, but my preference is Rashid for Buttler, rather than Rashid for Lyth.

With Lyth I would be inclined not to take him to the UAE, but get him playing for the Lions and then give him the Safer tour.

Alternatively Ballance could come in for that tour, as playing deep in your crease is not going to be an issue on those bouncy pitches down there.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

With Lyth I would be inclined not to take him to the UAE, but get him playing for the Lions and then give him the Safer tour.

Alternatively Ballance could come in for that tour, as playing deep in your crease is not going to be an issue on those bouncy pitches down there.

Something to bear in mind for those offering Moeen as an opening solution.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Something to bear in mind for those offering Moeen as an opening solution.

I would think down there he will come in at 8.

However that UAE tour has to be viewed as a stand alone, selection wise, in that 2 spinners are needed and one option is to allow him to open there, as leaving Lyth at home, would not overly weaken the batting, as it stands.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

I would think down there he will come in at 8.

However that UAE tour has to be viewed as a stand alone, selection wise, in that 2 spinners are needed and one option is to allow him to open there, as leaving Lyth at home, would not overly weaken the batting, as it stands.

All fair enough, yes. IF they want to persevere with Lyth, I think his best chance of success in SA, is off the back of a few runs in the UAE.

 

[Uncle Buck]

All fair enough, yes. IF they want to persevere with Lyth, I think his best chance of success in SA, is off the back of a few runs in the UAE.

The other thing to take into account is that next year's tours, after South Africa, will be 2 tests in Bangladesh and 5 in India.

They need to certainly blood Rashid and possibly another spinner before the India series.

 

[pasty]

Bet the Aussies wish the 5th test was starting today

 

[Garry Nelson's teacher]

Does anyone else remember the bad old days when some poor sap would be selected for the Oval test as a kind of audition for selection for a Winter tour? The result was a load of 'one test wonders', including (correct me if I'm wrong) Sussex's Alan Wells.