Aislabie
Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Defends with very low hands - would be a poor match-up with Kyle Jamieson (I'm sure that will age well)
Seemingly out of the door with England and in with CSK
England Team Discussion
- Thread starter MattW
- Start date
Watching him against Essex seems to have made this age like milk. 12-0-87-1, 4 and 25.
Aislabie
Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Yep, that single game just cost him a Test debut I think. Shame really as most leg-spinners have a bad spell in them from time to time, but for some it just happens at the worst time. Arguably better then than when Bryce McGain's struck though.
I was also thinking that I wouldn't mind Darren Stevens being given a one-off Test cap, maybe against India at the end of the summer or something, to recognise his performances. I know there's the saying of there being "no room for sentiment in sport", but that saying isn't worth the time it takes to type/say it
Aislabie
Test Cricket is Best Cricket
So you may be aware that I have previously done an "All the spinners in England currently" post in which I look at every player in the county game and suggest that England pretty much are picking the best available bowlers and that the only quick fix would be to get Simon Harmer a British passport. It is quoted below:
Now, as before I am going to try to identify batsmen who are "sensible" suggestions. Sensible suggestions will be those who meet the following criteria, and will be denoted by that sexy green check mark (
). Players with Test caps will be marked by a 
for openers, for top-order players (3-4) and for middle-order players (5-6). If you're batting below that for your county then tough, you're not being included.
Derbyshire
Matt Critchley (24) - 2,907 runs @ 31.59 (4 centuries, best 137*) in 61 matches
Billy Godleman (32) - 9,265 runs @ 31.94 (21 centuries, best 227) in 169 matches
Luis Reece (30) - 3,969 runs @ 32.00 (7 centuries, best 184) in 73 matches
Durham
Scott Borthwick (31) - 9,573 runs @ 35.06 (20 centuries, best 216) in 177 matches
Jack Burnham (24) - 2,015 runs @ 25.83 (2 centuries, best 135) in 50 matches
Sean Dickson (29) - 3,833 runs @ 33.04 (10 centuries, best 318) in 74 matches
Alex Lees (28) - 6,971 runs @ 35.38 (17 centuries, best 275*) in 123 matches
Ben Stokes (30) - 8,424 runs @ 35.39 (18 centuries, best 258) in 147 matches
Essex
Nick Browne (30) - 6,027 runs @ 37.66 (15 centuries, best 255) in 104 matches
Dan Lawrence (23) - 4,772 runs @ 38.48 (11 centuries, best 161) in 88 matches
Michael Pepper (22) - 169 runs @ 18.77 (best 92) in 5 matches
Paul Walter (27) - 895 runs @ 34.42 (best 77) in 24 matches
Tom Westley (32) - 10,791 runs @ 35.85 (24 centuries, best 254) in 195 matches
Glamorgan
Joe Cooke (24) - 170 runs @ 13.07 (best 38) in 11 matches
David Lloyd (28) - 3,478 runs @ 29.47 (4 centuries, best 117) in 77 matches
Billy Root (28) - 2,095 runs @ 32.73 (6 centuries, best 229) in 41 matches
Kiran Carlson (23) - 2,082 runs @ 30.61 (6 centuries, best 191) in 42 matches
Gloucestershire
James Bracey (24) - 2,583 runs @ 35.38 (6 centuries, best 156) in 46 matches
Ian Cockbain (34) - 2,684 runs @ 29.82 (5 centuries, best 151*) in 57 matches
Chris Dent (30) - 9,537 runs @ 37.54 (18 centuries, best 268) in 155 matches
Miles Hammond (25) - 1,211 runs @ 25.76 (2 centuries, best 123*) in 30 matches
Ryan Higgins (26) - 2,030 runs @ 32.22 (5 centuries, best 199) in 46 matches
Hampshire
Tom Alsop (25) - 2,401 runs @ 27.28 (4 centuries, best 150) in 57 matches
Liam Dawson (31) - 7,686 runs @ 33.41 (10 centuries, best 169) in 160 matches (primarily as bowler)
Sam Northeast (31) - 10,723 runs @ 38.57 (25 centuries, best 191) in 178 matches
James Vince (30) - 10,165 runs @ 39.09 (26 centuries, best 240) in 170 matches
Joe Weatherley (24) - 1,595 runs @ 24.16 (1 century, best 126*) in 44 matches
Ed Smith Country
Dan Bell-Drummond (27) - 6,261 runs @ 31.78 (11 centuries, best 206*) in 125 matches
Jordan Cox (20) - 829 runs @ 39.47 (1 century, best 238*) in 15 matches
Zak Crawley (23) - 3,113 runs @ 31.13 (5 centuries, best 267) in 59 matches
Joe Denly (35) - 12,633 runs @ 36.09 (29 centuries, best 227) in 218 matches
Jack Leaning (27) - 3,598 runs @ 31.28 (6 centuries, best 220*) in 81 matches
Ollie Robinson, not that one (22) - 1,517 runs @ 32.97 (3 centuries, best 143) in 31 matches (a better keeping option than Bracey)
Lancashire
Josh Bohannon (24) - 1,455 runs @ 44.09 (2 centuries, best 174) in 29 matches
Jos Buttler (30) - 5,709 runs @ 33.38 (7 centuries, best 152) in 115 matches
Alex Davies (26) - 4551 runs @ 36.11 (5 centuries, best 147) in 88 matches
Keaton Jennings (28) - 7,932 runs @ 33.75 (19 centuries, best 221*) in 146 matches
Liam Livingstone (27) - 3,057 runs @ 38.69 (7 centuries, best 224) in 61 matches
Luke Wells (30) - 7,997 runs @ 35.07 (18 centuries, best 258) in 147 matches
Leicestershire
Hassan Azad (27) - 2,120 runs @ 40.00 (5 centuries, best 144*) in 37 matches
Harry Dearden (24) - 1,629 runs @ 21.43 (best 87) in 45 matches
Sam Evans (23) - 885 runs @ 30.51 (4 centuries, best 138) in 19 matches
Lewis Hill (30) - 2,058 runs @ 27.81 (2 centuries, best 126) in 49 matches
Harry Swindells (22) - 712 runs @ 27.38 (1 century, best 103) in 20 matches
Middlesex
Nick Gubbins (27) - 5,048 runs @ 33.65 (9 centuries, best 201*) in 85 matches
Max Holden (23) - 2,164 runs @ 26.07 (3 centuries, best 153) in 48 matches
Sam Robson (31) - 10,429 runs @ 36.98 (24 centuries, best 231) in 170 matches
Robbie White (25) - 837 runs @ 20.92 (best 99) in 27 matches
Northamptonshire
Emilio Gay (21) - 242 runs @ 24.20 (1 century, best 101) in 8 matches
Rob Keogh (29) - 4,196 runs @ 30.40 (11 centuries, best 221) in 91 matches
Luke Procter (32) - 4,632 runs @ 31.29 (4 centuries, best 137) in 105 matches
Adam Rossington (28) - 4,445 runs @ 36.13 (7 centuries, best 138*) in 87 matches
Saif Zaib (23) - 932 runs @ 26.62 (1 century, best 135) in 27 matches
Nottinghamshire
Joe Clarke (25) - 5,282 runs @ 37.72 (17 centuries, best 194) in 88 matches (but tainted by Hepburn case)
Ben Duckett (26) - 6,546 runs @ 38.96 (19 centuries, best 282*) in 103 matches
Haseeb Hameed (24) - 3,694 runs @ 32.69 (7 centuries, best 122) in 75 matches
Lyndon James (22) - 417 runs @32.07 (best 79*) in 10 matches
Steven Mullaney (34) - 8,190 runs @ 33.56 (16 centuries, best 179) in 151 matches
Ben Slater (29) - 5,576 runs @ 33.59 (9 centuries, best 172) in 96 matches
Somerset
Tom Abell (27) - 4,876 runs @ 34.33 (8 centuries, best 135) in 89 matches
George Bartlett (23) - 1,683 runs @ 29.01 (5 centuries, best 137) in 37 matches
Steven Davies (34) - 13,806 runs @ 38.67 (25 centuries, best 200*) in 238 matches
Lewis Goldsworthy (20) - 149 runs @ 29.80 (best 41*) in 5 matches
Tom Lammonby (21) - 567 runs @ 31.50 (3 centuries, best 116) in 13 matches
Surrey
Rory Burns (30) - 10,468 runs @ 42.72 (21 centuries, best 219*) in 150 matches
Laurie Evans (33) - 3,480 runs @ 29.74 (6 centuries, best 213*) in 72 matches
Ben Foakes (28) - 6,076 runs @ 37.97 (11 centuries, best 141*) in 121 matches
Will Jacks (22) - 1,020 runs @ 28.33 (1 century, best 120) in 26 matches
Ryan Patel (23) - 988 runs @ 25.33 (1 century, best 100*) in 27 matches
Ollie Pope (23) - 3,764 runs @ 50.86 (11 centuries, best 251) in 56 matches
Jamie Smith (20) - 1,046 runs @ 32.68 (2 centuries, best 127) in 22 matches
Mark Stoneman (33) - 11,683 @ 34.16 (24 centuries, best 197) in 202 matches
Sussex
Ben Brown (32) - 8,135 runs @ 39.11 (19 centuries, best 163) in 153 matches (WHY PICK BRACEY?)
Tom Haines (22) - 1,480 runs @ 30.20 (4 centuries, best 155) in 29 matches
Phil Salt (24) - 1,967 runs @ 30.73 (4 centuries, best 148) in 38 matches
Aaron Thomason (23) - 613 runs @ 22.70 (best 90) in 15 matches
Warwickshire
Michael Burgess (26) - 2,217 runs @ 35.19 (3 centuries, best 146) in 46 matches
Sam Hain (25) - 4,517 runs @ 35.84 (10 centuries, best 208) in 88 matches
Matthew Lamb (24) - 1,107 runs @ 27.00 (1 century, best 173) in 26 matches
Will Rhodes (26) - 3,450 runs @ 35.20 (6 centuries, best 207) in 63 matches
Dominic Sibley (25) - 5,389 runs @ 39.05 (15 centuries, best 244) in 91 matches
Rob Yates (21) - 1,093 runs @ 27.32 (3 centuries, best 141) in 25 matches
Worcestershire
Moeen Ali (33) - 11,251 runs @ 36.64 (20 centuries, best 250) in 195 matches
Brett D'Oliveira (29) - 3,485 runs @ 29.78 (8 centuries, best 202*) in 73 matches
Tom Fell (27) - 4,437 runs @ 29.58 (6 centuries, best 171) in 93 matches
Jake Libby (28) - 3,848 runs @ 34.66 (9 centuries, best 184) in 69 matches
Ross Whiteley (32) - 3,577 runs @ 27.09 (3 centuries, best 130*) in 89 matches
Yorkshire
Jonny Bairstow (31) - 11,845 runs @ 42.91 (24 centuries, best 246) in 187 matches
Gary Ballance (31) - 11,547 runs @ 47.24 (40 centuries, best 210) in 165 matches
Harry Brook (22) - 1,741 runs @ 26.78 (2 centuries, best 124) in 41 matches
Tom Kohler-Cadmore (26) - 3,653 runs @ 32.32 (9 centuries, best 176) in 74 matches (also tainted by Hepburn case)
Adam Lyth (33) - 11,523 runs @ 38.28 (26 centuries, best 251) in 189 matches
Dawid Malan (33) - 11,760 runs @ 38.43 (27 centuries, best 219) in 192 matches
Joe Root (30) - 13,093 runs @ 48.13 (31 centuries, best 254) in 170 matches
That's the list. That's every England-qualified top-six batsman currently getting into a county first XI, under the age of 36. So let's look a little more carefully at a list of every player who is either deemed a "sensible" selection, or has been capped by England regardless:
Opening Batsmen
Nick Browne (30) - 6,027 runs @ 37.66 (15 centuries, best 255) in 104 matches
Rory Burns (30) - 10,468 runs @ 42.72 (21 centuries, best 219*) in 150 matches
Alex Davies (26) - 4551 runs @ 36.11 (5 centuries, best 147) in 88 matches
Steven Davies (34) - 13,806 runs @ 38.67 (25 centuries, best 200*) in 238 matches
Chris Dent (30) - 9,537 runs @ 37.54 (18 centuries, best 268) in 155 matches
Haseeb Hameed (24) - 3,694 runs @ 32.69 (7 centuries, best 122) in 75 matches
Keaton Jennings (28) - 7,932 runs @ 33.75 (19 centuries, best 221*) in 146 matches
Alex Lees (28) - 6,971 runs @ 35.38 (17 centuries, best 275*) in 123 matches
Adam Lyth (33) - 11,523 runs @ 38.28 (26 centuries, best 251) in 189 matches
Will Rhodes (26) - 3,450 runs @ 35.20 (6 centuries, best 207) in 63 matches
Sam Robson (31) - 10,429 runs @ 36.98 (24 centuries, best 231) in 170 matches
Dominic Sibley (25) - 5,389 runs @ 39.05 (15 centuries, best 244) in 91 matches
Mark Stoneman (33) - 11,683 @ 34.16 (24 centuries, best 197) in 202 matches
Top-Order Batsmen
Moeen Ali (33) - 11,251 runs @ 36.64 (20 centuries, best 250) in 195 matches
Gary Ballance (31) - 11,547 runs @ 47.24 (40 centuries, best 210) in 165 matches
Scott Borthwick (31) - 9,573 runs @ 35.06 (20 centuries, best 216) in 177 matches
James Bracey (24) - 2,583 runs @ 35.38 (6 centuries, best 156) in 46 matches
Joe Clarke (25) - 5,282 runs @ 37.72 (17 centuries, best 194) in 88 matches (but tainted by Hepburn case)
Zak Crawley (23) - 3,113 runs @ 31.13 (5 centuries, best 267) in 59 matches
Joe Denly (35) - 12,633 runs @ 36.09 (29 centuries, best 227) in 218 matches
Ben Duckett (26) - 6,546 runs @ 38.96 (19 centuries, best 282*) in 103 matches
Sam Hain (25) - 4,517 runs @ 35.84 (10 centuries, best 208) in 88 matches
Dan Lawrence (23) - 4,772 runs @ 38.48 (11 centuries, best 161) in 88 matches
Dawid Malan (33) - 11,760 runs @ 38.43 (27 centuries, best 219) in 192 matches
Sam Northeast (31) - 10,723 runs @ 38.57 (25 centuries, best 191) in 178 matches
Joe Root (30) - 13,093 runs @ 48.13 (31 centuries, best 254) in 170 matches
James Vince (30) - 10,165 runs @ 39.09 (26 centuries, best 240) in 170 matches
Tom Westley (32) - 10,791 runs @ 35.85 (24 centuries, best 254) in 195 matches
Luke Wells (30) - 7,997 runs @ 35.07 (18 centuries, best 258) in 147 matches
Middle-Order Batsmen
Jonny Bairstow (31) - 11,845 runs @ 42.91 (24 centuries, best 246) in 187 matches
Ben Brown (32) - 8,135 runs @ 39.11 (19 centuries, best 163) in 153 matches
Jos Buttler (30) - 5,709 runs @ 33.38 (7 centuries, best 152) in 115 matches
Ben Foakes (28) - 6,076 runs @ 37.97 (11 centuries, best 141*) in 121 matches
Liam Livingstone (27) - 3,057 runs @ 38.69 (7 centuries, best 224) in 61 matches
Ollie Pope (23) - 3,764 runs @ 50.86 (11 centuries, best 251) in 56 matches
Adam Rossington (28) - 4,445 runs @ 36.13 (7 centuries, best 138*) in 87 matches
Ben Stokes (30) - 8,424 runs @ 35.39 (18 centuries, best 258) in 147 matches
One thing that should be immediately obvious is how very few options remain untried by England: out of ten opening batsmen who could be defined as "sensible", England have tried four, as well as a further three more with sub-35 averages (Jennings, Hameed and Stoneman - though Hameed was a dominant player at the time of his selection). A similar pattern exists in the top-order selections, while the middle-order specialists are somewhat more fluid given how very unusual it would be for a middle-order county player not to be moved into the county top-four before international honours came their way.
However, we are now at the point of players being picked for England despite first-class batting averages that linger below the Chilton Line - a mark that I would consider to be the absolute baseline for a specialist batsman to justify continued selection in their county first-eleven, and absolutely not a mark that should ever be associated with international honours.
So, with that wider angle on who is available? Who perhaps should be considered for the England squad? Well, Rory Burns and Dominic Sibley are clearly the best two opening batsmen in county cricket; behind them, Nick Browne, Chris Dent and Adam Lyth all form a cluster of possible reserve options. My personal preference would be for Dent to be the reserve opener, as he appears to have the most organised technique from the county footage I have seen. In terms of openers under the age of 30, the only other vague options are Haseeb Hameed (averaging below the Chilton line), Keaton Jennings (tried and tested at Test level; did not swim) and Alex Davies (doesn't make big scores very often at all).
The top order is also a problem area. Joe Root is obviously inked in, but who else is there? The obvious stand-outs based on county form are Gary Ballance, Dawid Malan and James Vince. Both Ballance and Vince have reputations of being failures at Test level that isn't entirely backed up by the data: Gary Ballance would have the second-highest average in the England team were he to be picked, while James Vince's CricViz metrics suggested that he was unusually unfortunate compared to other batsmen. In terms of young players, there is also a small selection to choose from: James Bracey, Zak Crawley, Sam Hain and Dan Lawrence. Of those, Bracey looked horribly out-of-sorts in his recent maiden Test series, and a promotion to a more difficult batting position won't fix that. Zak Crawley averages below the Chilton Line, and without his ridiculous outlier of an innings against Pakistan, averages 19 in Tests and 29 in first-class cricket (#rootmaths). Lawrence is a current incumbent in the middle order, and Sam Hain appears to have wronged the England selectors in some sort of an extreme way.
The middle-order is a little easier to fix: Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler come back at five and six, with Foakes taking the gloves at number seven when he's fit again. Until then, Ben Brown may be a sensible back-up keeper. Beyond that, the candidates are Liam Livingstone (a very intelligent player), Ollie Pope (currently struggling desperately with his technique) and Jonny Bairstow (who probably shouldn't play Test cricket again). Also Dan Lawrence may fit here better than he fits at number three.
So, my picks for the English batting roster:
1. Rory Burns (30)
2. Dominic Sibley (25)
R. Chris Dent (30)
R. Haseeb Hameed (24)
3. Gary Ballance (31)
4. Joe Root (30)
R. James Vince (30)
R. Sam Hain (25)
5. Ben Stokes (30)
6. Jos Buttler (30)
R. Dan Lawrence (23)
R. Ollie Pope (23)
R. Liam Livingstone (27)
7. Ben Foakes (28)
R. Ben Brown (32)
The bowling at least picks itself, spinners aside:
sm. Stuart Broad (34)
R. Ollie Robinson (27)
sw. Jimmy Anderson (38)
R. Chris Woakes (32)
ex. Mark Wood (31)
R. Ollie Stone (27)
sp. Jack Leach (29)
R. Matt Parkinson (24), in my opinion
All the spinners in England currently
Derbyshire
Durham
Essex
Glamorgan
Gloucestershire
Hampshire
Kent
Lancashire
Leicestershire
Middlesex
Northamptonshire
Nottinghamshire
Somerset
Surrey
Sussex
Warwickshire
Worcestershire
Yorkshire
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Statistically Sensible Suggestions
To be considered a "sensible" selection, a player must have:
The sensible selections are:
- EITHER
- OR
- AND
However there's one more name I'd like to add to the list:
- Moeen Ali (Worcestershire)
- Dom Bess (Yorkshire)
Scott Borthwick (Durham) - Has for the last few years been a specialist batsman and part-time leggie)- Danny Briggs (Warwickshire)
- Liam Dawson (Hampshire)
- Simon Harmer (Essex) - Not sure about whether he is England qualified yet or not
Simon Kerrigan (Northamptonshire) - Literally needed years away from the professional game after his last Test match- Jack Leach (Somerset)
- Matt Parkinson (Yorkshire)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire) - Has made himself unavailable for Test cricket- Amar Virdi (Surrey)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- Dan Moriarty (Surrey)
So that's England's entire spin stock. I think if Simon Harmer qualifies to play for England, he should walk into the side for India; he's been outstanding ever since he arrived at Essex, and has expressed an interest in representing England. If he's not available, however, then you have the issue of there being only seven sensible spinners, plus one punt. Of those seven, five are in Sri Lanka already, one is injured but would otherwise be there too, and one is Danny Briggs.
Now, as before I am going to try to identify batsmen who are "sensible" suggestions. Sensible suggestions will be those who meet the following criteria, and will be denoted by that sexy green check mark (
). Players with Test caps will be marked by a - English qualified to the best of my knowledge
- EITHER 50 or more matches at an average of over 35 (I can't believe I'm setting the bar this low)
- OR 30 or more matches at an average of over 45
- AND be under the age of 36 (previously the "Gareth Batty" rule)
for openers, for top-order players (3-4) and for middle-order players (5-6). If you're batting below that for your county then tough, you're not being included.Derbyshire
Matt Critchley (24) - 2,907 runs @ 31.59 (4 centuries, best 137*) in 61 matches Billy Godleman (32) - 9,265 runs @ 31.94 (21 centuries, best 227) in 169 matches Luis Reece (30) - 3,969 runs @ 32.00 (7 centuries, best 184) in 73 matchesDurham
Scott Borthwick (31) - 9,573 runs @ 35.06 (20 centuries, best 216) in 177 matches Jack Burnham (24) - 2,015 runs @ 25.83 (2 centuries, best 135) in 50 matches Sean Dickson (29) - 3,833 runs @ 33.04 (10 centuries, best 318) in 74 matches Alex Lees (28) - 6,971 runs @ 35.38 (17 centuries, best 275*) in 123 matches Ben Stokes (30) - 8,424 runs @ 35.39 (18 centuries, best 258) in 147 matches Essex
Nick Browne (30) - 6,027 runs @ 37.66 (15 centuries, best 255) in 104 matches Dan Lawrence (23) - 4,772 runs @ 38.48 (11 centuries, best 161) in 88 matches Michael Pepper (22) - 169 runs @ 18.77 (best 92) in 5 matches Paul Walter (27) - 895 runs @ 34.42 (best 77) in 24 matches Tom Westley (32) - 10,791 runs @ 35.85 (24 centuries, best 254) in 195 matches Glamorgan
Joe Cooke (24) - 170 runs @ 13.07 (best 38) in 11 matches David Lloyd (28) - 3,478 runs @ 29.47 (4 centuries, best 117) in 77 matches Billy Root (28) - 2,095 runs @ 32.73 (6 centuries, best 229) in 41 matches Kiran Carlson (23) - 2,082 runs @ 30.61 (6 centuries, best 191) in 42 matchesGloucestershire
James Bracey (24) - 2,583 runs @ 35.38 (6 centuries, best 156) in 46 matches Ian Cockbain (34) - 2,684 runs @ 29.82 (5 centuries, best 151*) in 57 matches Chris Dent (30) - 9,537 runs @ 37.54 (18 centuries, best 268) in 155 matches Miles Hammond (25) - 1,211 runs @ 25.76 (2 centuries, best 123*) in 30 matches Ryan Higgins (26) - 2,030 runs @ 32.22 (5 centuries, best 199) in 46 matchesHampshire
Tom Alsop (25) - 2,401 runs @ 27.28 (4 centuries, best 150) in 57 matches Liam Dawson (31) - 7,686 runs @ 33.41 (10 centuries, best 169) in 160 matches (primarily as bowler) Sam Northeast (31) - 10,723 runs @ 38.57 (25 centuries, best 191) in 178 matches James Vince (30) - 10,165 runs @ 39.09 (26 centuries, best 240) in 170 matches Joe Weatherley (24) - 1,595 runs @ 24.16 (1 century, best 126*) in 44 matchesEd Smith Country
Dan Bell-Drummond (27) - 6,261 runs @ 31.78 (11 centuries, best 206*) in 125 matches Jordan Cox (20) - 829 runs @ 39.47 (1 century, best 238*) in 15 matches Zak Crawley (23) - 3,113 runs @ 31.13 (5 centuries, best 267) in 59 matches Joe Denly (35) - 12,633 runs @ 36.09 (29 centuries, best 227) in 218 matches Jack Leaning (27) - 3,598 runs @ 31.28 (6 centuries, best 220*) in 81 matches Ollie Robinson, not that one (22) - 1,517 runs @ 32.97 (3 centuries, best 143) in 31 matches (a better keeping option than Bracey)Lancashire
Josh Bohannon (24) - 1,455 runs @ 44.09 (2 centuries, best 174) in 29 matches Jos Buttler (30) - 5,709 runs @ 33.38 (7 centuries, best 152) in 115 matches Alex Davies (26) - 4551 runs @ 36.11 (5 centuries, best 147) in 88 matches Keaton Jennings (28) - 7,932 runs @ 33.75 (19 centuries, best 221*) in 146 matches Liam Livingstone (27) - 3,057 runs @ 38.69 (7 centuries, best 224) in 61 matches Luke Wells (30) - 7,997 runs @ 35.07 (18 centuries, best 258) in 147 matches Leicestershire
Hassan Azad (27) - 2,120 runs @ 40.00 (5 centuries, best 144*) in 37 matches Harry Dearden (24) - 1,629 runs @ 21.43 (best 87) in 45 matches Sam Evans (23) - 885 runs @ 30.51 (4 centuries, best 138) in 19 matches Lewis Hill (30) - 2,058 runs @ 27.81 (2 centuries, best 126) in 49 matches Harry Swindells (22) - 712 runs @ 27.38 (1 century, best 103) in 20 matchesMiddlesex
Nick Gubbins (27) - 5,048 runs @ 33.65 (9 centuries, best 201*) in 85 matches Max Holden (23) - 2,164 runs @ 26.07 (3 centuries, best 153) in 48 matches Sam Robson (31) - 10,429 runs @ 36.98 (24 centuries, best 231) in 170 matches Robbie White (25) - 837 runs @ 20.92 (best 99) in 27 matchesNorthamptonshire
Emilio Gay (21) - 242 runs @ 24.20 (1 century, best 101) in 8 matches Rob Keogh (29) - 4,196 runs @ 30.40 (11 centuries, best 221) in 91 matches Luke Procter (32) - 4,632 runs @ 31.29 (4 centuries, best 137) in 105 matches Adam Rossington (28) - 4,445 runs @ 36.13 (7 centuries, best 138*) in 87 matches Saif Zaib (23) - 932 runs @ 26.62 (1 century, best 135) in 27 matchesNottinghamshire
Joe Clarke (25) - 5,282 runs @ 37.72 (17 centuries, best 194) in 88 matches (but tainted by Hepburn case) Ben Duckett (26) - 6,546 runs @ 38.96 (19 centuries, best 282*) in 103 matches Haseeb Hameed (24) - 3,694 runs @ 32.69 (7 centuries, best 122) in 75 matches Lyndon James (22) - 417 runs @32.07 (best 79*) in 10 matches Steven Mullaney (34) - 8,190 runs @ 33.56 (16 centuries, best 179) in 151 matches Ben Slater (29) - 5,576 runs @ 33.59 (9 centuries, best 172) in 96 matchesSomerset
Tom Abell (27) - 4,876 runs @ 34.33 (8 centuries, best 135) in 89 matches George Bartlett (23) - 1,683 runs @ 29.01 (5 centuries, best 137) in 37 matches Steven Davies (34) - 13,806 runs @ 38.67 (25 centuries, best 200*) in 238 matches Lewis Goldsworthy (20) - 149 runs @ 29.80 (best 41*) in 5 matches Tom Lammonby (21) - 567 runs @ 31.50 (3 centuries, best 116) in 13 matchesSurrey
Rory Burns (30) - 10,468 runs @ 42.72 (21 centuries, best 219*) in 150 matches Laurie Evans (33) - 3,480 runs @ 29.74 (6 centuries, best 213*) in 72 matches Ben Foakes (28) - 6,076 runs @ 37.97 (11 centuries, best 141*) in 121 matches Will Jacks (22) - 1,020 runs @ 28.33 (1 century, best 120) in 26 matches Ryan Patel (23) - 988 runs @ 25.33 (1 century, best 100*) in 27 matches Ollie Pope (23) - 3,764 runs @ 50.86 (11 centuries, best 251) in 56 matches Jamie Smith (20) - 1,046 runs @ 32.68 (2 centuries, best 127) in 22 matches Mark Stoneman (33) - 11,683 @ 34.16 (24 centuries, best 197) in 202 matches Sussex
Ben Brown (32) - 8,135 runs @ 39.11 (19 centuries, best 163) in 153 matches (WHY PICK BRACEY?) Tom Haines (22) - 1,480 runs @ 30.20 (4 centuries, best 155) in 29 matches Phil Salt (24) - 1,967 runs @ 30.73 (4 centuries, best 148) in 38 matches Aaron Thomason (23) - 613 runs @ 22.70 (best 90) in 15 matchesWarwickshire
Michael Burgess (26) - 2,217 runs @ 35.19 (3 centuries, best 146) in 46 matches Sam Hain (25) - 4,517 runs @ 35.84 (10 centuries, best 208) in 88 matches Matthew Lamb (24) - 1,107 runs @ 27.00 (1 century, best 173) in 26 matches Will Rhodes (26) - 3,450 runs @ 35.20 (6 centuries, best 207) in 63 matches Dominic Sibley (25) - 5,389 runs @ 39.05 (15 centuries, best 244) in 91 matches Rob Yates (21) - 1,093 runs @ 27.32 (3 centuries, best 141) in 25 matchesWorcestershire
Moeen Ali (33) - 11,251 runs @ 36.64 (20 centuries, best 250) in 195 matches Brett D'Oliveira (29) - 3,485 runs @ 29.78 (8 centuries, best 202*) in 73 matches Tom Fell (27) - 4,437 runs @ 29.58 (6 centuries, best 171) in 93 matches Jake Libby (28) - 3,848 runs @ 34.66 (9 centuries, best 184) in 69 matches Ross Whiteley (32) - 3,577 runs @ 27.09 (3 centuries, best 130*) in 89 matchesYorkshire
Jonny Bairstow (31) - 11,845 runs @ 42.91 (24 centuries, best 246) in 187 matches Gary Ballance (31) - 11,547 runs @ 47.24 (40 centuries, best 210) in 165 matches Harry Brook (22) - 1,741 runs @ 26.78 (2 centuries, best 124) in 41 matches Tom Kohler-Cadmore (26) - 3,653 runs @ 32.32 (9 centuries, best 176) in 74 matches (also tainted by Hepburn case) Adam Lyth (33) - 11,523 runs @ 38.28 (26 centuries, best 251) in 189 matches Dawid Malan (33) - 11,760 runs @ 38.43 (27 centuries, best 219) in 192 matches Joe Root (30) - 13,093 runs @ 48.13 (31 centuries, best 254) in 170 matches That's the list. That's every England-qualified top-six batsman currently getting into a county first XI, under the age of 36. So let's look a little more carefully at a list of every player who is either deemed a "sensible" selection, or has been capped by England regardless:
Opening Batsmen
Nick Browne (30) - 6,027 runs @ 37.66 (15 centuries, best 255) in 104 matches Rory Burns (30) - 10,468 runs @ 42.72 (21 centuries, best 219*) in 150 matches Alex Davies (26) - 4551 runs @ 36.11 (5 centuries, best 147) in 88 matches Steven Davies (34) - 13,806 runs @ 38.67 (25 centuries, best 200*) in 238 matches Chris Dent (30) - 9,537 runs @ 37.54 (18 centuries, best 268) in 155 matches Haseeb Hameed (24) - 3,694 runs @ 32.69 (7 centuries, best 122) in 75 matches Keaton Jennings (28) - 7,932 runs @ 33.75 (19 centuries, best 221*) in 146 matches Alex Lees (28) - 6,971 runs @ 35.38 (17 centuries, best 275*) in 123 matches Adam Lyth (33) - 11,523 runs @ 38.28 (26 centuries, best 251) in 189 matches Will Rhodes (26) - 3,450 runs @ 35.20 (6 centuries, best 207) in 63 matches Sam Robson (31) - 10,429 runs @ 36.98 (24 centuries, best 231) in 170 matches Dominic Sibley (25) - 5,389 runs @ 39.05 (15 centuries, best 244) in 91 matches Mark Stoneman (33) - 11,683 @ 34.16 (24 centuries, best 197) in 202 matches Top-Order Batsmen
Moeen Ali (33) - 11,251 runs @ 36.64 (20 centuries, best 250) in 195 matches Gary Ballance (31) - 11,547 runs @ 47.24 (40 centuries, best 210) in 165 matches Scott Borthwick (31) - 9,573 runs @ 35.06 (20 centuries, best 216) in 177 matches James Bracey (24) - 2,583 runs @ 35.38 (6 centuries, best 156) in 46 matches Joe Clarke (25) - 5,282 runs @ 37.72 (17 centuries, best 194) in 88 matches (but tainted by Hepburn case) Zak Crawley (23) - 3,113 runs @ 31.13 (5 centuries, best 267) in 59 matches Joe Denly (35) - 12,633 runs @ 36.09 (29 centuries, best 227) in 218 matches Ben Duckett (26) - 6,546 runs @ 38.96 (19 centuries, best 282*) in 103 matches Sam Hain (25) - 4,517 runs @ 35.84 (10 centuries, best 208) in 88 matches Dan Lawrence (23) - 4,772 runs @ 38.48 (11 centuries, best 161) in 88 matches Dawid Malan (33) - 11,760 runs @ 38.43 (27 centuries, best 219) in 192 matches Sam Northeast (31) - 10,723 runs @ 38.57 (25 centuries, best 191) in 178 matches Joe Root (30) - 13,093 runs @ 48.13 (31 centuries, best 254) in 170 matches James Vince (30) - 10,165 runs @ 39.09 (26 centuries, best 240) in 170 matches Tom Westley (32) - 10,791 runs @ 35.85 (24 centuries, best 254) in 195 matches Luke Wells (30) - 7,997 runs @ 35.07 (18 centuries, best 258) in 147 matches Middle-Order Batsmen
Jonny Bairstow (31) - 11,845 runs @ 42.91 (24 centuries, best 246) in 187 matches Ben Brown (32) - 8,135 runs @ 39.11 (19 centuries, best 163) in 153 matches Jos Buttler (30) - 5,709 runs @ 33.38 (7 centuries, best 152) in 115 matches Ben Foakes (28) - 6,076 runs @ 37.97 (11 centuries, best 141*) in 121 matches Liam Livingstone (27) - 3,057 runs @ 38.69 (7 centuries, best 224) in 61 matches Ollie Pope (23) - 3,764 runs @ 50.86 (11 centuries, best 251) in 56 matches Adam Rossington (28) - 4,445 runs @ 36.13 (7 centuries, best 138*) in 87 matches Ben Stokes (30) - 8,424 runs @ 35.39 (18 centuries, best 258) in 147 matches One thing that should be immediately obvious is how very few options remain untried by England: out of ten opening batsmen who could be defined as "sensible", England have tried four, as well as a further three more with sub-35 averages (Jennings, Hameed and Stoneman - though Hameed was a dominant player at the time of his selection). A similar pattern exists in the top-order selections, while the middle-order specialists are somewhat more fluid given how very unusual it would be for a middle-order county player not to be moved into the county top-four before international honours came their way.
However, we are now at the point of players being picked for England despite first-class batting averages that linger below the Chilton Line - a mark that I would consider to be the absolute baseline for a specialist batsman to justify continued selection in their county first-eleven, and absolutely not a mark that should ever be associated with international honours.
So, with that wider angle on who is available? Who perhaps should be considered for the England squad? Well, Rory Burns and Dominic Sibley are clearly the best two opening batsmen in county cricket; behind them, Nick Browne, Chris Dent and Adam Lyth all form a cluster of possible reserve options. My personal preference would be for Dent to be the reserve opener, as he appears to have the most organised technique from the county footage I have seen. In terms of openers under the age of 30, the only other vague options are Haseeb Hameed (averaging below the Chilton line), Keaton Jennings (tried and tested at Test level; did not swim) and Alex Davies (doesn't make big scores very often at all).
The top order is also a problem area. Joe Root is obviously inked in, but who else is there? The obvious stand-outs based on county form are Gary Ballance, Dawid Malan and James Vince. Both Ballance and Vince have reputations of being failures at Test level that isn't entirely backed up by the data: Gary Ballance would have the second-highest average in the England team were he to be picked, while James Vince's CricViz metrics suggested that he was unusually unfortunate compared to other batsmen. In terms of young players, there is also a small selection to choose from: James Bracey, Zak Crawley, Sam Hain and Dan Lawrence. Of those, Bracey looked horribly out-of-sorts in his recent maiden Test series, and a promotion to a more difficult batting position won't fix that. Zak Crawley averages below the Chilton Line, and without his ridiculous outlier of an innings against Pakistan, averages 19 in Tests and 29 in first-class cricket (#rootmaths). Lawrence is a current incumbent in the middle order, and Sam Hain appears to have wronged the England selectors in some sort of an extreme way.
The middle-order is a little easier to fix: Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler come back at five and six, with Foakes taking the gloves at number seven when he's fit again. Until then, Ben Brown may be a sensible back-up keeper. Beyond that, the candidates are Liam Livingstone (a very intelligent player), Ollie Pope (currently struggling desperately with his technique) and Jonny Bairstow (who probably shouldn't play Test cricket again). Also Dan Lawrence may fit here better than he fits at number three.
So, my picks for the English batting roster:
1.
Rory Burns (30)2.
Dominic Sibley (25)R.
Chris Dent (30)R.
Haseeb Hameed (24)3.
Gary Ballance (31)4.
Joe Root (30)R.
James Vince (30)R.
Sam Hain (25)5.
Ben Stokes (30)6.
Jos Buttler (30)R.
Dan Lawrence (23)R.
Ollie Pope (23)R.
Liam Livingstone (27)7.
Ben Foakes (28)R.
Ben Brown (32)The bowling at least picks itself, spinners aside:
sm.
Stuart Broad (34)R.
Ollie Robinson (27)sw.
Jimmy Anderson (38)R.
Chris Woakes (32)ex.
Mark Wood (31)R.
Ollie Stone (27)sp.
Jack Leach (29)R.
Matt Parkinson (24), in my opinion
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Ed Smith
Gaffer
Does Dom Sibley actually average less than 35? Or is his current for just too forgetful to even mention in your list? 
Aislabie
Test Cricket is Best Cricket
It accidentally posted before I'd put in the England players in or finished the analysis - tried to finish it asap but you beat me to itDoes Dom Sibley actually average less than 35? Or is his current for just too forgetful to even mention in your list?
wasteyouryouth
Verified
@Aislabie I had a look at some of these players and I have some feedback. 
This isn't a take down, I was generally interested to have a deeper dive, see what is out there and I had nothing to do until I need to go shopping. I've attached my work.
I looked at domestic records over the last four years and the last two years (although for some it's not particularly deep as a lot of players seemed to take Pandemic: Year 1 off).
Openers
Burns and Sibley the only two in my list to average above 50 over the four years. In the last two, Burns is up there at 64.45 while Sibley only played two domestic matches. Sibley comes in top for 100s among the openers and joint second overall. Burns, second.
One metric I like to look at is how many innings per 100. Sibbo gets one every 5.4 innings, Burns every 7.3.
In the last two years is Jake Libby (who I believe is an opener) averages a pretty health 60.67, with 4 centuries. I don't know if he's on the England radar but, like Sibley, if he keeps scoring runs they will have to take notice of that form.
Chris Dent averages 26.48 in 22 innings with 0 centuries in that time. Hameed is 43.72 and 2 centuries in 19 innings.
Hameed has got a couple of centuries this year, it's good to see him back in contention but he had a torrid 2018, 2019. I'd hate to see him rushed back in a panic. If he continues doing well, and there simply has to be a change of opener after the India series, then why not throw him into the fire of an away Ashes.
Zak Crawley who falls in to this and the top order, he's fairly average. Over 4 years he averages 33.63 with 4 centuries in 67 innings. He clearly has some ability but maybe he's just going to need some time.
Top Order
Ballance is the top order Daddy, with a century every 4.9 innings and the most in the last four years at 11. His average is lower than David Malan, who might also be considered at 3, but only a fraction. Malan does average 88.5 in the last two years, but that's from 6 innings.
James Vince is neck and neck with them, slightly lower average and a very slightly lower innings per 100 than Malan (both less than 8).
Tom Abell is probably the next best - certainly of those who haven't had a chance and been discarded. 40.3 over 4 years, rising to 51.05 in the last two (23 innings). He has 3 centuries in that time which is closer to the 7 innings per 100 of Malan and Vince (he's at 14.8 over 4 years).
Sam Hain, like his ODI record, seems to be the Joe Root understudy no one needs. He passes 50 runs more often than Dom Sibley (every 3.2 innings). But he has two centuries in his last 58 innings and 0 in the last two seasons, when he also averages 29.52.
Middle Order
No one comes close to Ollie Pope over 4 years. He averages 75.9 with 9 centuries in county cricket. And gets his hundreds every 3.9 innings. It'd hard to ignore those numbers.
Dan Lawrence is an interesting one. He looked by far and away the most competent of the young guns at Edgbaston but he has also got out player some awful shots. Over the last four years he gets a century every 20.7 innings, that's the most by anyone capped for England barring Ben Foakes. Even Zak Crawley gets one every 16.8. His average over the last two season is good at 45.64 but he only has 1 century in those 16 innings.
Liam Livingstone should stick to one day cricket. In the last four years his average is 29.63 with a 100 every 38 innings. He's averaging 12.75 in the last two seasons, but only in 8 innings.
A few more to watch could be a recalled Ben Duckett, Sam Evans, Tom Lammonby and Ben Slater. Basically anyone called Ben, Tom/Dom, Sam or Ollie stands a chance of getting picked for England, regardless of form.
--
So assuming Root, Stokes and Buttler (the latter two nearly never show up in First Class cricket) are bankers. I stick with Burns and Sibley for the India series - unless it hits crisis point.
I can't, in good conscience, pick Gary Ballance. So I'll go with Malan at 3. 4-5 are locked in.
The number 6 and 7 spots are up for grabs for me and I think it will be Pope or Lawrence with Buttler at 7. Buttler is probably sound enough to be considered a batsman in his own right and has performed well recently, so I wouldn't be against him at 6 with Foakes at 7 but I just don't think England would go for that. Ben Brown is definitely a good shout as a wicket keeper batsman (I don't know his prowess with the gloves but his batting record is decent). Should the need for another keeper arise though I expect he'd be behind the Buttler, Foakes, Bairstow, Billings, Bracey, Ollie Robinson).
1 Burns
2 Sibley
3 Malan
4 Root
5 Stokes
6 Buttler
7 Foakes
There is also Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow. I still think Bairstow could play a part in this team, at 6 or 7, he's had a torrid time since Ed Smith arrived and I honestly don't think there are players out in county cricket (or the current England team) that will do much better.
Of course I will always back 'England's Number 7' at number 7 for England. Mr Chris Woakes.
This isn't a take down, I was generally interested to have a deeper dive, see what is out there and I had nothing to do until I need to go shopping. I've attached my work.I looked at domestic records over the last four years and the last two years (although for some it's not particularly deep as a lot of players seemed to take Pandemic: Year 1 off).
Openers
Burns and Sibley the only two in my list to average above 50 over the four years. In the last two, Burns is up there at 64.45 while Sibley only played two domestic matches. Sibley comes in top for 100s among the openers and joint second overall. Burns, second.
One metric I like to look at is how many innings per 100. Sibbo gets one every 5.4 innings, Burns every 7.3.
In the last two years is Jake Libby (who I believe is an opener) averages a pretty health 60.67, with 4 centuries. I don't know if he's on the England radar but, like Sibley, if he keeps scoring runs they will have to take notice of that form.
Chris Dent averages 26.48 in 22 innings with 0 centuries in that time. Hameed is 43.72 and 2 centuries in 19 innings.
Hameed has got a couple of centuries this year, it's good to see him back in contention but he had a torrid 2018, 2019. I'd hate to see him rushed back in a panic. If he continues doing well, and there simply has to be a change of opener after the India series, then why not throw him into the fire of an away Ashes.
Zak Crawley who falls in to this and the top order, he's fairly average. Over 4 years he averages 33.63 with 4 centuries in 67 innings. He clearly has some ability but maybe he's just going to need some time.
Top Order
Ballance is the top order Daddy, with a century every 4.9 innings and the most in the last four years at 11. His average is lower than David Malan, who might also be considered at 3, but only a fraction. Malan does average 88.5 in the last two years, but that's from 6 innings.
James Vince is neck and neck with them, slightly lower average and a very slightly lower innings per 100 than Malan (both less than 8).
Tom Abell is probably the next best - certainly of those who haven't had a chance and been discarded. 40.3 over 4 years, rising to 51.05 in the last two (23 innings). He has 3 centuries in that time which is closer to the 7 innings per 100 of Malan and Vince (he's at 14.8 over 4 years).
Sam Hain, like his ODI record, seems to be the Joe Root understudy no one needs. He passes 50 runs more often than Dom Sibley (every 3.2 innings). But he has two centuries in his last 58 innings and 0 in the last two seasons, when he also averages 29.52.
Middle Order
No one comes close to Ollie Pope over 4 years. He averages 75.9 with 9 centuries in county cricket. And gets his hundreds every 3.9 innings. It'd hard to ignore those numbers.
Dan Lawrence is an interesting one. He looked by far and away the most competent of the young guns at Edgbaston but he has also got out player some awful shots. Over the last four years he gets a century every 20.7 innings, that's the most by anyone capped for England barring Ben Foakes. Even Zak Crawley gets one every 16.8. His average over the last two season is good at 45.64 but he only has 1 century in those 16 innings.
Liam Livingstone should stick to one day cricket. In the last four years his average is 29.63 with a 100 every 38 innings. He's averaging 12.75 in the last two seasons, but only in 8 innings.
A few more to watch could be a recalled Ben Duckett, Sam Evans, Tom Lammonby and Ben Slater. Basically anyone called Ben, Tom/Dom, Sam or Ollie stands a chance of getting picked for England, regardless of form.
--
So assuming Root, Stokes and Buttler (the latter two nearly never show up in First Class cricket) are bankers. I stick with Burns and Sibley for the India series - unless it hits crisis point.
I can't, in good conscience, pick Gary Ballance. So I'll go with Malan at 3. 4-5 are locked in.
The number 6 and 7 spots are up for grabs for me and I think it will be Pope or Lawrence with Buttler at 7. Buttler is probably sound enough to be considered a batsman in his own right and has performed well recently, so I wouldn't be against him at 6 with Foakes at 7 but I just don't think England would go for that. Ben Brown is definitely a good shout as a wicket keeper batsman (I don't know his prowess with the gloves but his batting record is decent). Should the need for another keeper arise though I expect he'd be behind the Buttler, Foakes, Bairstow, Billings, Bracey, Ollie Robinson).
1 Burns
2 Sibley
3 Malan
4 Root
5 Stokes
6 Buttler
7 Foakes
There is also Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow. I still think Bairstow could play a part in this team, at 6 or 7, he's had a torrid time since Ed Smith arrived and I honestly don't think there are players out in county cricket (or the current England team) that will do much better.
Of course I will always back 'England's Number 7' at number 7 for England. Mr Chris Woakes.
Attachments
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Aislabie
Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Thank you for the extra effort!@Aislabie I had a look at some of these players and I have some feedback.
I looked at domestic records over the last four years and the last two years (although for some it's not particularly deep as a lot of players seemed to take Pandemic: Year 1 off).
Openers
Burns and Sibley the only two in my list to average above 50 over the four years. In the last two, Burns is up there at 64.45 while Sibley only played two domestic matches. Sibley comes in top for 100s among the openers and joint second overall. Burns, second.
One metric I like to look at is how many innings per 100. Sibbo gets one every 5.4 innings, Burns every 7.3.
In the last two years is Jake Libby (who I believe is an opener) averages a pretty health 60.67, with 4 centuries. I don't know if he's on the England radar but, like Sibley, if he keeps scoring runs they will have to take notice of that form.
Chris Dent averages 26.48 in 22 innings with 0 centuries in that time. Hameed is 43.72 and 2 centuries in 19 innings.
Hameed has got a couple of centuries this year, it's good to see him back in contention but he had a torrid 2018, 2019. I'd hate to see him rushed back in a panic. If he continues doing well, and there simply has to be a change of opener after the India series, then why not throw him into the fire of an away Ashes.
Zak Crawley who falls in to this and the top order, he's fairly average. Over 4 years he averages 33.63 with 4 centuries in 67 innings. He clearly has some ability but maybe he's just going to need some time.
Top Order
Ballance is the top order Daddy, with a century every 4.9 innings and the most in the last four years at 11. His average is lower than David Malan, who might also be considered at 3, but only a fraction. Malan does average 88.5 in the last two years, but that's from 6 innings.
James Vince is neck and neck with them, slightly lower average and a very slightly lower innings per 100 than Malan (both less than 8).
Tom Abell is probably the next best - certainly of those who haven't had a chance and been discarded. 40.3 over 4 years, rising to 51.05 in the last two (23 innings). He has 3 centuries in that time which is closer to the 7 innings per 100 of Malan and Vince (he's at 14.8 over 4 years).
Sam Hain, like his ODI record, seems to be the Joe Root understudy no one needs. He passes 50 runs more often than Dom Sibley (every 3.2 innings). But he has two centuries in his last 58 innings and 0 in the last two seasons, when he also averages 29.52.
Middle Order
No one comes close to Ollie Pope over 4 years. He averages 75.9 with 9 centuries in county cricket. And gets his hundreds every 3.9 innings. It'd hard to ignore those numbers.
Dan Lawrence is an interesting one. He looked by far and away the most competent of the young guns at Edgbaston but he has also got out player some awful shots. Over the last four years he gets a century every 20.7 innings, that's the most by anyone capped for England barring Ben Foakes. Even Zak Crawley gets one every 16.8. His average over the last two season is good at 45.64 but he only has 1 century in those 16 innings.
Liam Livingstone should stick to one day cricket. In the last four years his average is 29.63 with a 100 every 38 innings. He's averaging 12.75 in the last two seasons, but only in 8 innings.
A few more to watch could be a recalled Ben Duckett, Sam Evans, Tom Lammonby and Ben Slater. Basically anyone called Ben, Tom/Dom, Sam or Ollie stands a chance of getting picked for England, regardless of form.
--
So assuming Root, Stokes and Buttler (the latter two nearly never show up in First Class cricket) are bankers. I stick with Burns and Sibley for the India series - unless it hits crisis point.
I can't, in good conscience, pick Gary Ballance. So I'll go with Malan at 3. 4-5 are locked in.
The number 6 and 7 spots are up for grabs for me and I think it will be Pope or Lawrence with Buttler at 7. Buttler is probably sound enough to be considered a batsman in his own right and has performed well recently, so I wouldn't be against him at 6 with Foakes at 7 but I just don't think England would go for that. Ben Brown is definitely a good shout as a wicket keeper batsman (I don't know his prowess with the gloves but his batting record is decent). Should the need for another keeper arise though I expect he'd be behind the Buttler, Foakes, Bairstow, Billings, Bracey, Ollie Robinson).
1 Burns
2 Sibley
3 Malan
4 Root
5 Stokes
6 Buttler
7 Foakes
There is also Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow. I still think Bairstow could play a part in this team, at 6 or 7, he's had a torrid time since Ed Smith arrived and I honestly don't think there are players out in county cricket (or the current England team) that will do much better.
Of course I will always back 'England's Number 7' at number 7 for England. Mr Chris Woakes.
I was very keen to narrow down to a shortlist but I didn't have the data to hand to properly go digging as you have, so hugely appreciate the additional information.
Concerningly, we have more or less the same team:
- Rory Burns
- Dom Sibley
- ???
- Joe Root
- Ben Stokes
- Jos Buttler
- Ben Foakes
- No other openers
- Dawid Malan
- Gary Ballance
- James Vince
- Ollie Pope
- Dan Lawrence
Unfortunately, this really does point us towards the conclusion that there is nobody else and that the players who are there had better start working really damn hard if they're going to start making Test runs.
blockerdave
ICC Chairman
Get Gary Ballance and James Hildreth in.
I mean that would improve the team Ballance...
Ed Smith
Gaffer
This, to be perfectly honest looks like it's the crux of the issue, most of them play as if its going to be easy, aside from Sibley who almost looks like he's making it too hard
Aislabie
Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Yeah, it's an interesting balance.
Burns and Sibley are definitely survival-oriented, Root and Stokes are definitely scoring-oriented (even when they start slowly, they're still always looking for opportunities). That's fine - both approaches work in the right situation. The issue comes when someone like Ollie Pope comes in with all the talent in the world, and lasts for 20 balls when his team has two and a half days to find a way not to lose the Test series. And from pretty much his first shot, the entirety of that innings felt predictable.
I personally find that harder to forgive than Dan Lawrence going in and getting a first-baller by nicking off a defensive shot.
Ed Smith
Gaffer
Aye it's Pope that drives me insane, bats like the game owes him runs. Plays with extreme arrogance that his stats do not allow for
Aislabie
Test Cricket is Best Cricket
Weirdest thing is he plays like that but only scores at three an over
Ed Smith
Gaffer
Because his test match play is all mouth and no trousers
