South Africa vs English 4th Test at Centurion, (which is near) Johannesburg

[Pavilionaire]

I respect the opinion of Geoffrey Boycott and he took Hales apart after England's 1st innings, so I agree he has to go.

I think England have no option other than to push Compton back to opener - he's averaged 30 in this series but, crucially, faced an average 81 balls per innings. Given the output of all of the other openers since Strauss you'd take that.

We need a No. 3 and there are two interesting options:

1. Bring back Bell - rested and remotivated, he gave an interview recently where he said he wanted to get back in the test side.
2. Pietersen - Michael Vaughan has this week endorsed Pietersen for the T20 World Cup in March. He is bang in form in this format of the game and has all the experience required. England have a new management team, the England test side has changed since Pietersen was last in it. IF he got picked and IF he did well then he could slot into the test No. 3 position or Taylor could be 3 and Pietersen 5.

I'm open-minded about both options because I really don't see who else has the technique to bat at 2 or 3 in the test side. The opener position really is desperate, but more to the point the prospect of an England test middle order of Root, Pietersen, Stokes, Bairstow and Ali is very exciting.

 

[Gwylan]

I respect the opinion of Geoffrey Boycott and he took Hales apart after England's 1st innings, so I agree he has to go.

I think England have no option other than to push Compton back to opener - he's averaged 30 in this series but, crucially, faced an average 81 balls per innings. Given the output of all of the other openers since Strauss you'd take that.

We need a No. 3 and there are two interesting options:

1. Bring back Bell - rested and remotivated, he gave an interview recently where he said he wanted to get back in the test side.
2. Pietersen - Michael Vaughan has this week endorsed Pietersen for the T20 World Cup in March. He is bang in form in this format of the game and has all the experience required. England have a new management team, the England test side has changed since Pietersen was last in it. IF he got picked and IF he did well then he could slot into the test No. 3 position or Taylor could be 3 and Pietersen 5.

I'm open-minded about both options because I really don't see who else has the technique to bat at 2 or 3 in the test side. The opener position really is desperate, but more to the point the prospect of an England test middle order of Root, Pietersen, Stokes, Bairstow and Ali is very exciting.

There's also the option of bringing back Ballance, who averages about 48 in test cricket, and may also be rejuvenated.

Pietersen is a non-starter in test cricket. He'd be a good choice for the T20 but he's made it clear that he's only interested in the shorter form of the game so it would be madness to shoehorn into the team. It would also completely undermine Cook.

Agree with Compton as opener though - he's virtually playing there now

 

[jakarta]

I respect the opinion of Geoffrey Boycott and he took Hales apart after England's 1st innings, so I agree he has to go.

I think England have no option other than to push Compton back to opener - he's averaged 30 in this series but, crucially, faced an average 81 balls per innings. Given the output of all of the other openers since Strauss you'd take that.

We need a No. 3 and there are two interesting options:

1. Bring back Bell - rested and remotivated, he gave an interview recently where he said he wanted to get back in the test side.
2. Pietersen - Michael Vaughan has this week endorsed Pietersen for the T20 World Cup in March. He is bang in form in this format of the game and has all the experience required. England have a new management team, the England test side has changed since Pietersen was last in it. IF he got picked and IF he did well then he could slot into the test No. 3 position or Taylor could be 3 and Pietersen 5.

I'm open-minded about both options because I really don't see who else has the technique to bat at 2 or 3 in the test side. The opener position really is desperate, but more to the point the prospect of an England test middle order of Root, Pietersen, Stokes, Bairstow and Ali is very exciting.

Sadly as we all know KP is a egotistical knob and for that reason I don't want him near any future England Team.

Having been Down Under recently and been watching a few Melbourne Stars games I would rather have Luke Wright back with the England T20 set-up.

I realise this doesn't help the England Opener problem.

By the way my Mystic Mog Prediction still stands...

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Ballance was very harshly treated, and we should have persevered. I would have moved him down the order personally, and put Taylor in at 3. I don't like Compton either... scores way too slowly, and puts pressure on others to up the scoring rate. I would give Tom Westley from Essex a go as opener - Cook obviously knows him well. There's also a case to be made for taking the gloves off Bairstow, play him as a batsman, and bring Jos back in behind the stumps, though maybe not yet

Cook
Westley
Taylor
Root
Ballance
Stokes
Bairstow
Ali
Broad
Finn
Anderson

 

[maltaseagull]

Ballance was very harshly treated, and we should have persevered. I would have moved him down the order personally, and put Taylor in at 3. I don't like Compton either... scores way too slowly, and puts pressure on others to up the scoring rate. I would give Tom Westley from Essex a go as opener - Cook obviously knows him well. There's also a case to be made for taking the gloves off Bairstow, play him as a batsman, and bring Jos back in behind the stumps, though maybe not yet

Cook
Westley
Taylor
Root
Ballance
Stokes
Bairstow
Ali
Broad
Finn
Anderson

What case? He has done quite well as wicketkeeper/batsman

 

[Publius Ovidius]

What we need is more Yorkshireman.

Roooooot, his brother, lyth, balance, bairstow, Bresnan, rashid and of course Andrew gayle.

A winning combination if the ever was one.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

What we need is more Yorkshireman.

Roooooot, his brother, lyth, balance, bairstow, Bresnan, rashid and of course Andrew gayle.

A winning combination if the ever was one.

1. Boycott (captain)
2. Boycott
3. Boycott
4. Boycott
5. Boycott
6. Boycott
7. Boycott
8. Boycott
9. Boycott
10. Boycott
11. Boycott

 

[Gwylan]

What case? He has done quite well as wicketkeeper/batsman

You haven't really been following this series have you?

 

[dazzer6666]

1. Boycott (captain)
2. Boycott (Phyllis, mum, good pinny)
3. Boycott (Wendy - mum's sister, lethal with a stick of rhubarb to the short ball)
4. Boycott (Bill - 83 but still turns it a bit)
5. Boycott (Mable - seam up and not just on her stockings)
6. Boycott (Wallace - forcing middle order batsman, false leg doesn't hinder him too much)
7. Boycott (Geoffrey junior - son of)
8. Boycott (Geoffrina - daughter of)
9. Boycott (Arkwright - grandfather of - died in 1982, but still better than Hales according to Sir G)
10. Boycott (Geoffrey Junior II - grandson - aged 4)
11. Boycott (as yet unborn great-grandson of Sir G, quite promising apparently)

Updated with more background for those not familiar with the new-look side

 

[big nuts]

[SUB][/SUB]I would pick the best gloveman in the country he can bat 9 or 10 I don't care I just want someone who takes 95% of chances rather than 75/80%.

We have enough all rounders to have a specialist keeper meaning Bairstow who has impressed with bat but not the gloves gets a chance to nail down his place as a specialist bat.

I would be tempted to pick Vince to open with Root or Taylor at 3.

 

[knocky1]

1. Boycott (captain)
2. Boycott
3. Boycott
4. Boycott
5. Boycott
6. Boycott
7. Boycott
8. Boycott
9. Boycott
10. Boycott
11. Boycott

Would not win a single game. They would all run each other out.

 

[maltaseagull]

You haven't really been following this series have you?

Clearly not as closely as you, but I did read that " Jonny Bairstow became the first England wicketkeeper to have 20 dismissals in a four-match series" plus a current batting average of 86.25 !

What have I missed?

 

[jakarta]

Day 5 starts, probably going to be a short one.

EDIT Root dropped in the second over...

 

[crabface]

Taylor gone

 

[crabface]

Root then gone straight after

 

[KZNSeagull]

58-5 already. Both Taylor and Root gone. England's 13:00 CAT tee time is looking good.

 

[jakarta]

Perhaps Mystic Mog was a little optimistic...

 

[KZNSeagull]

Bairstow out twice in 2 balls, both caught behind (first one was a no-ball). Rabada now has 10 wickets in the match - well played young man.

83-6

 

[spring hall convert]

Anyone gone large on South Africa in a dead rubber?

England's record in Test matches where they've already won the series is woeful and this has been the start of an unfocused team.

Like buying money.

 

[maltaseagull]

Will England get to 100 ? Not looking like it at the moment. Very disappointing end to a good tour.