SHA Small Heath Alliance

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Surprised not to see Rehan in there, he can feel hard done by

Will Jacks is a very odd choice. Not good enough as either a batter or a bowler at test match level

Especially when you consider the options of Rehan Ahmed or Liam Dawson. Both of whom are better than Bashir.

I assume Ahmed will be in the Lions team.

Yeah you would imagine so.

I think the theory is that 'taller' finger spinners are most effective in Australia.

I like the pace attack, though, as long as we can get them through the series in terms of fitness.

Yeah I've read that theory, but what confuses me is:

- that's based on bouncy pitches and using that to your advantage. Aussie pitches aren't really like that now are they?
- Nathan Lyon is incredibly successful and is 5 foot 10.
- You still have to be quite good

Oldham

Yeah I've read that theory, but what confuses me is:

- that's based on bouncy pitches and using that to your advantage. Aussie pitches aren't really like that now are they?
- Nathan Lyon is incredibly successful and is 5 foot 10.
- You still have to be quite good

Yep, I don't get what's happened with Rehan.

He's young - looked bloody good when he first came in, can bat a bit - but seems to have been completely bombed.

And you have got to be a hell of a good off-spinner to be more threatening than a decent leg-spinner in pretty much any conditions. Lyon is a top class alternative, Bashir isn't (at this stage).

There's the caveat of it being Division 2 cricket but Ahmed has transformed himself with the bat this year as well, he'd be a very handy number 8.

Exactly. He's a better bowler, a MUCH better batter, and a better fielder.

I think they are thinking Jacks to cover stokes

Stokes injuried- drop bashir and play jacks and four quicks

Still odd to me

It will be that, but again, just use Liam Dawson or Rehan Ahmed for that as they're better.

If he was 27 I'd agree with you re: being bombed out.

But he's 21, and he's still been in an around the squads especially for ODI and T20 cricket. He's still developing and improving, and has had the benefit of playing a lot this year - far more than if he'd been in the test squad like Bethell.

I think he'll play a lot in the next 5 years for us. I don't think it's a bomb squad as much as it's wanting him to develop at his own pace without risking being smacked out the team against the Aussies. And I say this as someone who rates him and wants him in the squad

The strange thing is that they were happy to pick him when he had very little cricket/pedigree behind him, now he's improved and built on that he's struggling to get a look in.

Yeah agree, they clearly liked him for India and Pakistani pitches. And TBF he did well, albeit without control as leg spinners often go

Id like to see them give him a go at home next summer. Stokes, Rehan and Smith at 6,7, and 8 would give us tremendous batting depth, especially given both Atkinson, and Carse can bat too. And both Archer and Wood can hit a mean ball too