#47

yeah absolutely. I’d like for us to be able to go in with our 4 best bowlers, (the 4 seamers we’ve used so far in India) with Rash and Mo, as the seamers have been our tidiest option. The problem is we’d then need to rely on the 2 spinners to keep it very tidy while the seamers rest from the heat and that doesn’t seem to be something the spinners can do. the question then is, how much Ansari adds? anything under 12 overs per day and well, a seamer should be able to pick up that slack.

#48

But the spinners are struggling to control the run rate, and I do wonder if Batty might be able to help there. Obviously he is a backward step and he didn’t look totally convincing in Bangladesh, but I don’t think Ansari is gaining much at the moment. He needs to play but I’d argue he needs to play county and grade cricket, not test cricket at this stage. I would be inclined to try Batty and see if he can get a better economy that then others. If he can I think that would be a significant asset to the team.

#49

well yeah, Batty was meant to control the run rate in Bangladesh but didn’t. the seamers have been much better at that, and with a 6 man attack, should never have to bowl more than 15 overs in a day, which they have been doing anyway a fair bit.

#50

The seamers we’re currently playing have been better at controlling the run rate than the spinners, but if Broad needs a rest then Woakes comes in for him. The replacement for Ansari becomes either Finn or Batty. The former might bring wickets but he’ll accelerate the game not slow it down. On balance, I’d give Batty another test ahead of Ansari or Finn.

#51

yeah, Finn’s not good for much more than getting our batters into good nick. if Broad needs a rest, which he might well after back to back tests, I’d have to stick with Ansari. India would likely take Batty to the cleaners, so unless he has a way of making them lose directions to the cleaners, and pick up wickets in the deep, I’m just a no. Should have brought that Somerset lad, really.

#52

I’d have taken Leach over Ansari and possibly Rayner over Batty, but Batty still has the best economy rate of any of the spinners in the squad. He has the best chance of getting 6 balls down without getting taken to the cleaners. I agree there’s every chance that he’d still get marmelised but I don’t think the others add enough to warrant inclusion.

#54

Yeah, I thought this, poor lad chundered all over the outfield! I think he’s been OK, needs development, but when it’s a turning pitch, i just don’t think you can rely on Moeen and adil, picking three improves your chances of two being good in a particular test. Plus leftie to India’s righties

#55

I’d be very happy to see him make a success of this but I just think that the development that he needs is quite extensive and at the moment he’s too erratic to fulfill the role that’s missing from the side, which is that of someone who can tie up an end. He’s beginning to make it as a bowler for Surrey and he’s had opportunities because his batting ensures that he gets game time, but I still don’t think he’s got the control to slow the run rate or the variety to keep batsmen honest.

Full disclosure, I might be saying all this because subconsciously I want another three years of him at Surrey before he goes to England properly.

#56

Hahaha, fair enough! But it’s not too dissimilar to Woakes - he went away, picked up another 5mph whilst still being reliable, and now he’s much better, proper test standard player. Just think they have to be careful not to jettison a player mid tour - for Ansari’s development, as long as he’s not smashed out of the park, then it’d be good for him to play imo, get used to the big stage. Main question should be what’s right for the team, and I think he has a role to play over the next 3 tests

#57

After the next 3 matches, it’s not unfeasible to suggest he won’t get another test match until October 2018 in Sri Lanka after which it’d be West Indies in April 2019. that is unless we re-jiggle to fit Mo and him as spinning all-rounders or he masters the art and takes over the role of main spinner. not really thought this through, but I’d like to see him given the whole tour and take it from there. Unless he’s in the limited overs teams, he’ll be back playing country cricket for the first 3 months of the season.

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#59

Loved that declaration, and loved du Plessis getting an absolutely key ton after the utter nonsense of the last week. Calling the game for Oz though :frowning:

(WRONG THREAD)

#60

Enjoyed the aussie commentators praising the brave new world of debutants, rehashes and desperation calls, as though the selectors have had their hand forced by these incredible performances coming through. Not running around with their hands in the air shouting “Fire! Fire!” and flinging the nearest player with an average over 30 at the team.

(WRONG THREAD)

#61

Batty’s test: 0-65, 1 run scored, not really what the doctor ordered. Presumably back to Ansari now, or perhaps Broad if he’s fit, but that’s got to be it for GazBats.

#62

God I hope Ansari is healthy (what is it? illness? back? its-not-form-its-an-injury-honest-itis?), Batty just offers nothing. Big fan of him at county level, but he just offers nothing at test level beyond a modicum of control at one end, which just doesn’t cut it. Probably vaguely capable of a decent 50 every now and again (like once a series), but he doesn’t even offer anything for the future. The experience for Ansari would be great (assuming he doesn’t pull a Kerrigan, poor lad)

#63

I stand by everything I said before the test about our bowlers. It’d be worth giving Ansari the games for his career progression, although our strongest team, even in India, has 4 seamers, especially now Rashid seems to have found a bit more control/confidence.

#64

Hmmm, I’d still want that slow bowling safety blanket in case Rashid loses a bit of control/form mid game. Ali is just a bit too susceptible to four balls, to my mind anyway, and 4 seamers… idk. Maybe, especially with Woakes and Stokes. I suppose Stokes was already bowling too many.

Would love to have Wood available and in form for this series.

#65

coulda, woulda, shoulda! yeah, Wood would be useful in short bursts in two of the games. I bet that Hameed chap does something with the ball. The rest of his game seems more mature than most of our jokers.

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#67

Sounds like they’re going to call at least someone up, with Gubbins and Jennings apparently being in with a chance, according to auntie Beeb.

#68

On Duckett, was anyone else listening to the second test in Bangldesh, when we were 100-0 at tea, having just had Duckett bosh it around for a session? there was a panel, all singing his praises, claiming it had all come good for him and HE was the missing piece of the puzzle. Next ball he was out and then he was dropped two games later. Wonderful stuff all round.

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#69

Seriously though - when was Finn ever going to play? How bad would things have to have to have gone?