Test Squad v Pakistan

[Pevenseagull]

Compton out, fair enough, he's had enough chances.

Replaced by:













Gary Ballance

 

[CHAPPERS]

Toby Roland-Jones is an excellent cricket name.

Surpised Borthwick wasn't called up.

 

[pasty]

Full England squad for first Test against Pakistan:

Cook (c), Hales, Root, Vince, Ballance, Bairstow (wk), Moeen, Woakes, Broad, Finn, Ball, Roland-Jones.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Glad Ballance is back - test average of 48. I would drop him down the order though

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Glad Ballance is back - test average of 48. I would drop him down the order though

They have brought Ballance to the forcst test.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Glad Ballance is back - test average of 48. I would drop him down the order though

Root is to bat at 3 in this series, Ballance will bat at 5 I guess.

 

[pasty]

Could be interesting having Root up at 3 now. If one of the openers goes in the first couple overs Root could be back "sort of" opening.

 

[ManOfSussex]

Toby Roland-Jones is an excellent cricket name.

Surpised Borthwick wasn't called up.

Tobias Skelton Roland-Jones, to give him his full name. I wonder if he went to a comprehensive.

 

[Finchley Seagull]

Could be interesting having Root up at 3 now. If one of the openers goes in the first couple overs Root could be back "sort of" opening.

But, given the way Compton was playing and getting out early, he's often been in early anyway so may not make much difference. He's also a much better player than he was when he opened, in my view.

 

[whitelion]

Toby Roland-Jones is an excellent cricket name.

Surpised Borthwick wasn't called up.

So is Ball.

 

[BensGrandad]

Didnt I read Compton was taking a break from all cricket for a while.

 

[ManOfSussex]

Didnt I read Compton was taking a break from all cricket for a while.

You did - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/36611707

 

[GT49er]

Is James Anderson injured then?

 

[Saturn]

I have to say that I believe this to be something of a missed opportunity and a bit of step backwards. Sure, on the face of it, Ballance's average for England is very good. However, his technique was giving him all sorts of troubles shortly before he was dropped last year and he was making very few runs. I've followed his progress this year at first class level and whilst his scoring has picked up a bit, someone like Sam Robson or Scotty Borthwick would have been a much more progressive choice. Borthwick has had a few games recently where he hasn't delivered, but Ballance, aside from his recent century, has rarely done anything of note this season at all. Borthwick also brings greater bowling options.

I am however glad that they have chosen not to bring Buttler back into the test fold – I strongly believe he should become the next limited overs captain whenever Morgan goes and his focus should be on continuing our growth in those formats rather than muddling him around in the test game.

The other thing I take issue with is promoting Root to number three. The higher Root bats, the fewer runs he has scored. He averages in the 70s when batting at 5 – that drops to the low when he is played at 4 50s (still good, obviously) and we all remember what happened when they tried having him opening the batting. He is most dangerous in the middle order once the openers have taken the shine off of the ball. Build your team around your strongest batsman, don’t move him around to accommodate everyone else.

 

[ManOfSussex]

Is James Anderson injured then?

He's still recovering from a shoulder injury.

 

[Mackenzie]

Shame that this has come too soon for Mark Wood.

 

[BensGrandad]

Trescothick hit a ton against them.