The Reintegration Thread

Well, he's not really competing with Ali though, is he? We look set to name someone who can bowl a bit at 6, so if KP is to return, he has to slot in somewhere between 3 and 5. So that's Ballance, Bell and Root. Bearing in mind KP has always refused to bat at 3 in the Test side, you're looking at 4 or 5. So, who deserves to be dropped out of those 3?
 
Those writing him off should take note of the fact that the next best score this innings was 36, and his team was in a rather tricky situation at 5/160-odd. So for him to score a triple century in the company of the tail is something special. The fact remains that he's still superior to Moeen Ali and the like.

Further point however being though that the number 6 spot is now purely reserved for an all rounder of some sort (whether it be Ali or Stokes) given with the lack of a quality spinner such as Swann at the moment we are unable to go in with a 4 man attack. Maybe he should open... ;).
 
Lyth in for Trott, KP in for Bell,
Well, he's not really competing with Ali though, is he? We look set to name someone who can bowl a bit at 6, so if KP is to return, he has to slot in somewhere between 3 and 5. So that's Ballance, Bell and Root. Bearing in mind KP has always refused to bat at 3 in the Test side, you're looking at 4 or 5. So, who deserves to be dropped out of those 3?

Bell, without a shadow of a doubt.
 
Do you really think the team is better off with Bell at 4 than him?

Spoiler alert - it's not.
If Pietersen comes back it should be in a team alongside Ian Bell, not instead of him. Cook, Ballance, Bell and Root are all world class batsman and should not be taken out of the team for Pietersen.
 
If Pietersen comes back it should be in a team alongside Ian Bell, not instead of him. Cook, Ballance, Bell and Root are all world class batsman and should not be taken out of the team for Pietersen.
Ha ha ha... Good one. Bell is a busted flush, one good (lucky) innings in 18 months followed by nothing else in the series. Bye bye.
 
I'm as anti-Ian Bell as (almost) anyone on this board, yet even I think he deserves to keep his place.

Hopefully Strauss is asking KP's opinion on if he's willing to open the innings or not. Because that's the only gap we have. But then that would be harsh on the players racking runs up domestically in that position, like Lyth.
 
Last time we asked a South African born middle-order batsman who appeared to be coming to the end of his career prior to it to open the innings it didn't go too well :lol.
 
It may be a necessary evil in order to solve the problem of all the media attention demanding his return to the side.
 
I'm as anti-Ian Bell as (almost) anyone on this board

very good use of "almost"!!

for me, we have a slot at 2 and 6 certainly* with neither of which is right for KP and for which I'd play Lyth and Taylor (Hales unlucky to miss out) - that's starting with the current team. (and that's why i wrote only the other day that for me KP's time has gone).

*Trott gone and Stokes to miss out with Ali dropping to 7 or even 8 below Buttler

but if i'm looking at KP, and looking at Bell, and looking at our batting order - well sorry, it's KP every time. the fact of the matter is Bell has done absolutely nothing between the 2013 Summer Ashes and his hundred in the Windies, and followed that up with nothing. A fit KP, which he now appears to be, would have produced more than that, I'm certain of it.
 
very good use of "almost"!!

for me, we have a slot at 2 and 6 certainly, neither of which is right for KP and for which I'd play Lyth and Taylor (Hales unlucky to miss out) - that's starting with the current team. (and that's why i wrote only the other day that for me KP's time has gone).

but if i'm looking at KP, and looking at Bell, and looking at our batting order - well sorry, it's KP every time. the fact of the matter is Bell has done absolutely nothing between the 2013 Summer Ashes and his hundred in the Windies, and followed that up with nothing. A fit KP, which he now appears to be, would have produced more than that, I'm certain of it.

You'd seriously go into the summer with only a 4 man attack?
 
i think yeah - if the summer is dry you have Ali & Root / Rashid & Root; if the summer is less so I'd pick 4 seamers with Root to pick up the overs.

Personally consider to be a bit too risky for my liking without having an established spinner in the side like we used to have with Swann.
 
A four man attack is a ridiculous idea, particularly as one of those four would be Ali.
 
if to have a 5 man attack there is even less place for Bell in the side because i will eat my hat, Paddy Ashdown-style, if he averages over 35 this summer.
 
That or Alex Hales 250 odd against one of the best county bowling lineups around the other day in division 1...?

KP is already proven winner 8000+ runs 23 centuries... he was asked to show if he still has that touch and whatever division a triple without batsman to partner around is pretty much his best score in FC shows he has still got it. When your best batmsan is hungry and still got it, i think he should atleast be selectable in the squad.
 

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