Lord Rother wrote:borofan wrote:Lord Rother wrote:I wouldn't mind seeing Rory Burns opening - he's a grafter. Drop Jennings to 3.
Samit Patel for Liam Dawson. (But they won't bin Dawson yet, they'll wait until he's proved beyond doubt, what everyone else can see, dragging the team's performance down as he goes, that he has nothing much to offer at this level.
Not sure that Patel does either, but at least he is in banging form right now.
I like Wood a lot - if he's not injured (and Woakes isn't fit yet) then I'd leave him in. If neither are fit, what about a Curran or Overton? We do need to be looking at the next generation quicks.
Burns? If you must pick an opener from the brown hatters, it has to be Stoneman. Agree on Samit - I've been saying that for weeks (if we must have a non-spinning slow left arm dobber). Personally, I'd bring in another specialist batsman to bat at 5, and shuffle Bairstow, Stokes and Moeen down a place. Who that batsman would be, I really don't have a clue.
Why does it have to be Stoneman?
He is 30 with a 1st class average of 34, Burns is 26 with an average of 42.
Why quote career averages and ages? Not slightly relevant to current form. Point is, Stoneman has been in the form of his life this season, and was almost as good last (and IMHO, is a better player). As it turns out, they've gone for Westley (who I don't think I've ever seen play), and Malan. Hope they both play and Dawson is left out, so making the team more balanced. I'd always play 5 specialist batsmen, as we've got 3 all-rounders to bat 6,7, and 8 (and 9 when Woakes is fit).