England Team Discussion

[grkrama]

What do people think about Moeen Ali opening in test cricket

i dont think he has the technique to open or play newball in test cricket

 

[bigred]

i dont think he has the technique to open or play newball in test cricket

Yes, but is there more value in letting Ali bat at 6(where he's best), or Trott at 4(where he's at his best)?

 

[_Sam_]

Ali just isn't a test opener to me, there's already shouts of moving him down the order in limited overs cricket anyway.

 

[bigred]

That's still not answering my question. I already know Ali wouldn't be the best opener we could pick.

 

[grkrama]

Yes, but is there more value in letting Ali bat at 6(where he's best), or Trott at 4(where he's at his best)?

if trott is actually back in form and fit, then he will be more value at 4 than mo, it does push MO down the order than up if trott has to fit in.

 

[bigred]

if trott is actually back in form and fit, then he will be more value at 4 than mo, it does push MO down the order than up if trott has to fit in.

The choice won't be between Trott and Ali at 4. It will be A. Ali bats at 6 and Trott opens with Cook or B. Ali opens with Cook and Trott bats at 4, probably pushing Bell down to 6(where he has been most successful).

 

[bigred]

Thought I'd add some List A batting research to my recent bowling one. Here is a ranking list once average and strike rate are combined. Probably proves the people right who are asking for the exciting one day specialists to be brought in.

1. Buttler 163
2. Billings 157
3. Roy 140
4. Davies 137
4. Ballance 137
6. Taylor 134
7. Hales 133
8. Ali 132
9. Bairstow 130
10. Vince 129
11. Stokes 128
12. Wright 126
13. Ansari 125
14. Morgan 123
15. Trott 122
15. Bopara 122
15. T Smith 122
18. Bell 120
19. Lees 119
20. Carberry 118
20. Lumb 118
22. Cook 117
22. Chopra 117
22. Malan 117
22. Root 117
22. Patel 117

I don't think Root's stats should put anyone off picking him. He's awesome. Probably also proves that Ballance could be a long term one day number 3/4. I'd give him a break for while so he can concentrate on tests, but I'd bring him back after the ashes.

 

[blockerdave]

What do people think about Moeen Ali opening in test cricket, to allow Trott to bat at 3 or 4, where he'd probably be more effective? Might also take a bit of pressure off Cook if Ali gets away quickly.

Great idea unless we're playing any opposition with decent fast bowlers...

 

[blockerdave]

also proves that Ballance could be a long term one day number 3/4. I'd give him a break for while so he can concentrate on tests, but I'd bring him back after the ashes.

Ballance should be in our one day side, probably at 5.

-----

Re the test side, bringing back Trott is on my opinion a mistake. I think Robson should be given more of a run or we see if Hales can become our Warner (possibly a long shit , that one.)

Regarding the middle order we should be working out how to get Stokes back in at 6, where he made the best 100 any England Test batsman has made in the last 2 years. Probably I'd jettison Bell and push Ali up one...

Cook
Robson
Ballance
Root
Ali
Stokes
Buttler

You've got a good top 6 there, with a decent spinner and seamer already covered...

 

[bigred]

I really don't think Robson is good enough. Bell is still one if our best test players. If we're to get Stokes in, Robson has to go for me.

 

[blockerdave]

I really don't think Robson is good enough. Bell is still one if our best test players. If we're to get Stokes in, Robson has to go for me.

But with Ali to open? Not good enough to open particularly thinking of the seam attacks we will face this summer.

Bell has gone through a significant decline since the home 2013 ashes - very few test runs of any significance since; last summer it was Ballance, Root and Ali scoring our runs.

 

[bigred]

But with Ali to open? Not good enough to open particularly thinking of the seam attacks we will face this summer.

Bell has gone through a significant decline since the home 2013 ashes - very few test runs of any significance since; last summer it was Ballance, Root and Ali scoring our runs.

Bell is allowed a bad summer. He's quality. I expect him to score big in the ashes. If Ali doesn't open then I think Trott should. Think he'd be more productive at 3 or 4, but he's more than capable of scoring hundreds from 2.

 

[blockerdave]

Bell is allowed a bad summer. He's quality. I expect him to score big in the ashes. If Ali doesn't open then I think Trott should. Think he'd be more productive at 3 or 4, but he's more than capable of scoring hundreds from 2.

It's not just a bad summer though is it? It's a shocking winter (Ashes 2013/2014), poor summer (last year), highly unconvincing winter (albeit in ODI)... Over 18 months to 2 years his graph is only going down. Moreover, last summer was his time as the senior player to an under fire captain to stand up and be counted: not for the first time he bottled it.

As for Trott, who are you going to drop in the middle order to get him I'm? Ballance Root and Ali all did much better than Bell last summer. Don't forget Trott's troubles started against Johnson, who is coming up this summer. At best Trott comes back for a couple of years but to get him in you drop player's who can be the spine of our team in multiple formats for years. Make's no sense.

I accept Robson has been unconvincing so far, but I think he'll come good and can only be damaged by being messed around.

 

[_Sam_]

I don't think you can go in with Stokes being practically your 6th bowler personally. With Ali in the side he's either got to bring his bowling on enough to be one of your 4 or he's fighting for Alis spot. Don't think he's good enough to take a spot in the batting order when he's barely going to bowl.

 

[bigred]

Yeah Stokes isn't one of the best 6 bats in the country. He has to bowl well.