creeeeeeeekeeeeeet

[Worthy4England]

Don't forget Brook is currently averaging mid-70's I think...

[BWFC_Insane]

Don't forget Brook is currently averaging mid-70's I think...

Jesus. Its gonna be hard to pick an 11....

[Worthy4England]

It's been hard to pick an XI for about 4 years!

Crawley - still quite situational to me - He's still only averaging 30 in 2022. Got 5 scores over 50 out of 27 innings. Had a mare v NZ, but at least one decent score against 4 of the test teams we've played - Jury's out for me, but I'm not seeing a load of replacements just waiting in the wings

Duckett - promising start (after earlier goes a lifetime ago) - Lees has struggled for me, after an ok start - at the minute would retain Duckett.

Pope - averaged over 30, in last 4 series. Leave him at 3.

Root - no question, number 4

Tricky at 5 - Bairstow averaging 66 over 2022 vs Brook - I think experience wins - dependent on form (as with all of them)

6 - Stokes

7 - Robinson?

8 - Wood?

9 - Broad?

10 - Leach - 69 wickets in his last 21 games (compared to Anderson's 75 and Broad's 43).

11- Anderson

Dunno TBF. Think there are probably 6 nailed on (certainly to start with)

Crawley, Pope, Root, Stokes, Leach, Anderson. I suspect Bairstow would be 7th if not injured...That leaves 4 places for 1 opener and 3 bowlers (assuming Pope keeps) - For opener, I'd be going with the guy in the position currently, Duckett.

Strangely enough, I had more problem with the bowling than the batting...I'd probably have Archer for Wood if he's anything like 100% fit, and go with Robinson and Broad...

[BWFC_Insane]

Interesting. I see Agnew in his summation basically saying the same thing I am - Leach isn't really good enough to be your main spinner. I do think its an area of weakness. Whether someone like Ahmed comes through in time or not...I feel Aussies would love Leach and if there is any opportunity to find even a mystery spin option it would be good.

Broad I'm not sure on. I do feel that picking him would be based heavily on history. Robinson is nailed on I think. He's absolutely superb. Anderson if still fit similarly. Wood I'd say too IF he's fully fit. Jofra probably won't be fit. If he was then I think he's a situational pick. You have him when there is that pace and bounce. Otherwise Wood is probably your quick option as he can be more skiddy on English wickets and bowls probably faster than Jofra in short spells.

You've also got Stone who nags away in England....And we're assuming Foakes won't play yet seems England really rate him....and then there is Brook who I suspect will play somehow....you could go three seamers in Anderson, Robinson and Wood and use Stokes as a 4th? Maybe...risky...get an extra batter in....trouble is that would generally be Livingstone for some spin too...

[Worthy4England]

The Leach thing. When Agnew can show us a better spinner, then all well and good. I don't know enough about Ahmed to understand if he's better or worse (not seen him)

This is going to be completely laughable, I know, but if I compare Leach to Warne. Warne averaged 25.41, Econ 2.65, SR 57.4. Leach averages 34.52, Econ 2.97, SR 69.7 - so clearly Warne, much better spinner (not that it needed stats). But what about Kumble? Ave 29.65, Econ 2.69, SR 65.9 - his strike rate isn't much better than Leach and he spent half if life bowling on Indian wickets.

If I compare Leach to say King of Spain - average 40.6, Econ 2.86, strike rate 85.1 he stands up pretty well. And against others we've had, too- Moeen - average 36.6, Econ 3.61, SR 60.7

Dunno what we're expecting TBH.

[BWFC_Insane]

The Leach thing. When Agnew can show us a better spinner, then all well and good. I don't know enough about Ahmed to understand if he's better or worse (not seen him)

This is going to be completely laughable, I know, but if I compare Leach to Warne. Warne averaged 25.41, Econ 2.65, SR 57.4. Leach averages 34.52, Econ 2.97, SR 69.7 - so clearly Warne, much better spinner (not that it needed stats). But what about Kumble? Ave 29.65, Econ 2.69, SR 65.9 - his strike rate isn't much better than Leach and he spent half if life bowling on Indian wickets.

If I compare Leach to say King of Spain - average 40.6, Econ 2.86, strike rate 85.1 he stands up pretty well. And against others we've had, too- Moeen - average 36.6, Econ 3.61, SR 60.7

Dunno what we're expecting TBH.

I think the issue is whether we can find a better option absolutely and that's unlikely but I'd like to see Ahmed play third test to see what he can do.

Compare Leach to Swann Econ 2.98 Ave 30.0 SR 60.2 or Nathan Lyon Econ 2.94 Ave 31.8 SR 64.8

Better average and SR in both cases. Ashes winning spinners who aren't Warne.

Moeen is a good comparison. Leaked runs. But he's taking 10 less balls per wicket. It's quite significant - in that Moeen much more likely to get a wicket than Leach.

There are two types of spinner - the 'bring them on to break a partnership' or 'bowl them one end for a long spell to build pressure and restrict'. Some like Swann can do a bit of either. Moeen deffo the wicket option. Not sure Leach does either brilliantly.

Giles is a fair comparison in that neither are really good enough and we went into 2005 with making the best of Giles and he had a relatively inspired series, and maybe Leach will do the same. My fundamental problem is I don't see him ever having much of a better strike rate and he's been around long enough to be stopping the 'too short' stuff but seems unable to find that consistency.

His record is very similar to Monty's and I'd draw similar comparisons....

[Worthy4England]

I'll always have a better option. Lyon is a bit better on those stats, not chalk and cheese better. Just saying it's not like Leach is that bad.

He's not had a great year in 2022 so we should be looking and with the series won, I'd deffo give the young lad a chuck...over the last few years we seem to have had a few with "promise" who've not amounted to much...

[Prufrock]

I wouldn't at all be surprised to see us go for four seamers plus Stokes. Especially if one of Wood, Archer or Jamie Overton are fit. You're not going to win in Oz with that team, but you've a good chance here.

[BWFC_Insane]

I wouldn't at all be surprised to see us go for four seamers plus Stokes. Especially if one of Wood, Archer or Jamie Overton are fit. You're not going to win in Oz with that team, but you've a good chance here.

Depends what the pitches and balls are like. The soft balls of last summer with dry pitches? Not fancying that too much…

[jimbo]

Ahmed confirmed as starting in the next test. Instinctively feel a bit anxious about this given past experiences of throwing a young spinner in in the last test of a series. Hopefully the current set up is a bit more supportive and we’re also not 4-0 in Australia so he’s half a chance. Still though, big step up for someone so inexperienced. I’m sure Pakistan will try and target him.

[jimbo]

I’ve realised that sounds overly negative. I’m excited too to see what he can do. Hope he goes well and enjoys it.

[Worthy4England]

I think if we're bringing people in, especially spinners, it's more important to bring them in on a wicket where it has some chance of doing a bit, than test series won/lost so let's give them a chuck. I doubt batsmen will be more/less likely to target them because it's third out of three and series is wrapped up, they'll try and get after a noob whenever they start...

[Worthy4England]

Oh. And they can fcuk right off with this bollocks...

"He will not be the youngest person to play a Test for England - left-arm spinner Holly Colvin was 15 years and 336 days when she played for the women's team against Australia in 2005."

Bored of comparing women's and men's "sporting records" in ostensibly different games...

[Worthy4England]

Don't forget Brook is currently averaging mid-70's I think...

Jesus. Its gonna be hard to pick an 11....

Might have just got a little harder - another ton for Brook...

[jimbo]

Don't forget Brook is currently averaging mid-70's I think...

Jesus. Its gonna be hard to pick an 11....

Might have just got a little harder - another ton for Brook...

I can see that Root lad at number 4 failed again. He’s a had a poor series so maybe bin him off when Bairstow is fit?

[Worthy4England]

Aye, averaged under 70 in the summer poor show

[TANGODANCER]

Intriguing stage were at, but that's what makes good cricket. We need to keep an even-steven situation before our second innings. Good on the Brooke lad.

[TANGODANCER]

Attaboy...Rehan Ahmed gets Babar Azam...156-4...

[jimbo]

All set for another thrilling end to the test. 200 will be a good chase on here.

[jimbo]

Looks like we may not be needing 200. Great effort again here.