It’s definitely a new ball pitch once the ball softens you can play your shots easily so England have 6 overs before new ball so try get close to their score then try and get a lead up close to 100 or so which will be great .. as for the bears signing Latham it’s a great signing and will add top quality at the top of the batting order and experience which is much needed a top bowler next please .
yeah, all the crap Pope gets (and he has been underwhelming mostly), he's been thrown under the bus just like Bethell batting at 3. He's a number 5/6, but Root, Brook, Stokes even Smith have all been protected from that.
He ain't a number 3 so it's no surprise he fails regularly against a moving ball.
batting where he should he gets 77, it's not a surprise.
Three is quite a specialised position, and nobody fancies doing it.
Trott was by far the best I can ever remember for England. Gatting had a couple of years in the eighties where he looked genuinely test level at three as well.
Since Trott - Ballance had a great start but he ended up a walking wicket and was only going to get worse because his technique was crap. If you stand in front of all three and try to play round your pads off the back foot - good bowlers will soon see to you.
Pope's a weird one. He will have a run of low scores, pop up and get a biggie - then go back to low scores again. He's a bit frenetic though. like he's batting on hot coals barefooted.
I think with Pope it's because he's talented, but susceptible to the moving ball - hence why 3 isn't great for him. I do think he's a good player though.
Really it's where Root should be but I can see why they're reticent as he's the best 4 going.
Maybe Stokes should bat there.
He is about twentieth in England's leading wicket takers and only five players above him have a better strike rate. Look back on his career and he's very underrated.
Edit underappreciated rather than underrated.
At home absolutely. He’s taken 127 wickets in 32 home tests against just 36 in 20 abroad.
And he’s a DvB.
CharcyIt's been a great little cameo from Carse.
Him and Atkinson are fantastic batters for 9 and 10. Might see them both get the nod for Australia that. No need for woakes there anyway , but if they’re 8 and 9 and archer 10, that will help their case.
Can’t even remember who there is to come in bowling wise other than archer and wood. Who will
Probably rotate over there. Potts? Seqib mahmood maybe.
Dan Worrall is one they may fancy once he’s qualified at the start of next summer
A maiden 50* to secure the win. Some lovely shots.
Has he condemned Ollie Robinson to the role of drinks carrier for the second Test? Excellent debut, looking very much at home.
OldhamCharcyIt's been a great little cameo from Carse.
Him and Atkinson are fantastic batters for 9 and 10. Might see them both get the nod for Australia that. No need for woakes there anyway , but if they’re 8 and 9 and archer 10, that will help their case.
Can’t even remember who there is to come in bowling wise other than archer and wood. Who will
Probably rotate over there. Potts? Seqib mahmood maybe.
McCullum has said Archer might not be selected for Australia.I think he's getting pissed off with all the franchise Cricket he's playing.He said Archer has other things going on.
One RileyHas he condemned Ollie Robinson to the role of drinks carrier for the second Test? Excellent debut, looking very much at home.
I reckon so, would be harsh to drop him or Pope now, can’t recall Pope getting much wrong with the gloves this week either.
How good was Brydon Carse by the way. A player that would have been well known to Ben Stokes. It makes you wonder where he's been all this time.
He reminded me of Andrew Flintoff a bit. 90mph awkward lengths and bounce. Can bat as well.
Will be perfect on Australian pitches.