creeeeeeeekeeeeeet

[Worthy4England]

I’m not for one minute suggesting Ballance is a player or the future, more a pragmatic approach for now in the hope he can dig in a little. The fact I’m even considering him an option shows how far we’ve fallen.

I did see a good statistics based analysis on Stokes and whether he could do well batting at 3 which made many good arguments. He’s probably technically our best after root, and stats show him doing better when coming in earlier in the innings.

I think he will become a number 3 if his batting continues to progress. I would be tempted to try him there this summer to be honest if the first test doesn't go well especially.

He's got the mentality now I'm just not sure whether technique is quite ready for potentially facing Starc and Cummins with the new ball in over 3 at Lords....

I've not seen the stats, but there's not much in Stokes (who I think is a great cricketer) that screams number 3, to me. If we had Cook & Strauss opening and Trott still on the scene, it wouldn't even merit discussion, so it feels like we're trying to jury rig an answer due to the paucity of top 3 batsmen.

Root still averages 40 as a number 3 and is probably a better bet (watch him crash and burn this series now I've jinxed him)

[jimbo]

There’s no doubt Root CAN bat at 3. He’s opened in the past, and has a technique that’s good against the new ball. His issue is that he’s never wanted to bat there in the past.

This is the stokes article https://www.wisden.com/stories/stats-an ... es-cricviz

I don’t think he’d be the perfect number 3 either, but reality is there’s no decent candidates so it’s all about trying to find the best fit possible. A good argument for it is it may let us fit more of our middle order all rounders in and help the overall balance of the side (or trying to fit our imperfect parts together in the most effective combination) eg.

Roy
Burns
Stokes
Root
Buttler
Bairstow
Woakes
Ali
Curran/Archer
Broad
Anderson

[Worthy4England]

Good article - not sure what I'm seeing in the first "infographic."

And I guess we have potentially the same issue with Stokes as Root - I'm not sure he'd want to bat there either...

[Worthy4England]

Australia win toss and bat.

[Prufrock]

Here we go!

Half an hour on Warner's edge.

Reckon he'll love the boos, century, Bancroft will crumble and Smith will look even edgier than usual yet somehow dig out 70odd.

[Prufrock]

And this names and numbers business is hideous.

[Bruce Rioja]

Just looked at the Edgbaston weather and it's pretty changeable.

[Prufrock]

Heard that live! Ffs. Warner knicked first ball not given no review.

[Burnden Paddock]

Heard that live! Ffs. Warner knicked first ball not given no review.

Definitely looked and sounded out. Feck knows why nobody other than Bairstow appealed and it wasn’t reviewed. Could prove costly!

[Burnden Paddock]

Heard that live! Ffs. Warner knicked first ball not given no review.

Definitely looked and sounded out. Feck knows why nobody other than Bairstow appealed and it wasn’t reviewed. Could prove costly!

Maybe not! Gone for 2. LBW Broad!

[Prufrock]

Shocking, shocking review from Broad, then absolutely plumb. BOOOOOOO. Time to go hahaha

[Worthy4England]

Always good to see him heading back to hut... Electricity off here as they replace meter. Thank fcuk for 4G.

[Burnden Paddock]

Shocking, shocking review from Broad, then absolutely plumb. BOOOOOOO. Time to go hahaha

Replay shows it was missing leg stump!

[Prufrock]

And that one was going down leg. Lovely stuff. Evened out in the end, as long as we don't lose by 2.

[Bruce Rioja]

Serves the c*nt right

[Prufrock]

Double boos now!

[Worthy4England]

Grand.

[Prufrock]

Waving sandpaper at him as he goes

[Bruce Rioja]

Sooooooooo pissed of I'm not watching this.

[Worthy4England]

3 down