Who to open for England?

[sifter132]

None of them at a guess. Although opening ability to play spin is a bit less important.

I can't think of any England batsman especially adept at playing spin, apart from Bell. But I'm not overly worried about Indian's spinners. I'm not sure if Harbhajan will be playing and with the retirement of Kumble, there is no one truly special.

Well ask NZ if the Indian spinners were a factor or not... Ojha opened the bowling and at least 2/3rd of the overs bowled were spin. And I think Dhoni had the gumption to say that the wickets seamed and swung a bit more than expected I think it's safe to say that India want revenge on England, they've seen England struggle vs spin against Pakistan. Consequently, they will be preparing turning pitches and bowling plenty of overs of spin. The new guy will sink like a stone if his play vs spin is poor.

 

[Owzat]

Given it's a tour of India, I'd be picking the guy who can play spin the best I imagine...as someone who has watched almost nothing of any of these guys, who might that be??

You mean like Morgan supposedly could/can................?

I'd pick the batsman with the most fight/grit/determination, the batsman who might not necessarily have flair or play spin well, but makes most of his ability and doesn't throw his wicket away very often.



Might be simplest just to promote Trott, but then who'd come in to bat three? It shows a great lack of planning by England, they should have decided who was going to replace Strauss and got him in the one day side sharpish - or maybe they have. I'd not want an opener making their debut on tour, especially not arguably THE toughest tour given the conditions. Carberry played a Test against Bangladesh away, only made a modest couple of 30s and was not picked again - in ANY format


I'd not pick Carberry, modest season record and too old really. Might as well risk a kid as 30 year old who has no real experience or proven record at international level. 64 runs in one innings against Bangladesh don't prove much, let alone across two innings

 

[cricket_icon]

Well ask NZ if the Indian spinners were a factor or not... Ojha opened the bowling and at least 2/3rd of the overs bowled were spin. And I think Dhoni had the gumption to say that the wickets seamed and swung a bit more than expected I think it's safe to say that India want revenge on England, they've seen England struggle vs spin against Pakistan. Consequently, they will be preparing turning pitches and bowling plenty of overs of spin. The new guy will sink like a stone if his play vs spin is poor.

England's batting is miles better than NZs and Pakistan's spinners are in a league of their own at the moment. Having said that, this will be a tough series of England, they're gone have to put on some of the best batting displays in recent years to get a win over there.

 

[vorgaphe]

When you looked at England a year ago or so the team was almost automatically selected but now we've got Bopara, Morgan, Taylor, Bairstow, Bresnan, KP, Root all hanging about the team without being automatic selection.

 

[MUFC1987]

We have years of struggling to find a decent batsman to go in at 3, now we finally find one and people want him to open? Crazy. Trott is brilliant, leave him where he is. Plus, he'll probably have some variation of Bairstow, Bopara, Bell and Taylor behind him, which could go down like a pack of cards.

Compton is naturally an opener, ask him, he says it himself. He should be picked (as long as he's fit obviously), because he showed at the start of this County season that he can survive and grind out scores.

The two closest guys to Compton in terms of Division One runs are Rogers, who has 50 more in 12 more innings and Prince, who has 20 odd less in 7 more innings. Tells it's own story, with two quality Overseas players.

He won't get picked though, because he doesn't play for the right County. I'd expect Root to get picked. Which I think is a shame, because a tour to India and two back to back Ashes could destroy his career before it even gets going.

 

[barmyarmy]

Was discussing this with some people tonight and they were all leaning towards Chopra.

 

[War]

We have years of struggling to find a decent batsman to go in at 3, now we finally find one and people want him to open? Crazy. Trott is brilliant, leave him where he is. Plus, he'll probably have some variation of Bairstow, Bopara, Bell and Taylor behind him, which could go down like a pack of cards.

Compton is naturally an opener, ask him, he says it himself. He should be picked (as long as he's fit obviously), because he showed at the start of this County season that he can survive and grind out scores.

The two closest guys to Compton in terms of Division One runs are Rogers, who has 50 more in 12 more innings and Prince, who has 20 odd less in 7 more innings. Tells it's own story, with two quality Overseas players.

He won't get picked though, because he doesn't play for the right County. I'd expect Root to get picked. Which I think is a shame, because a tour to India and two back to back Ashes could destroy his career before it even gets going.

Agreed, suggestions to move Trott to open, even while ignoring whether KP will be part of the future of the middle-order is way over the top.

 

[Collingwood50]

Make it a Poll!

Root for me - he will be our opener one day so might as well give him some experience in what is, relatively an easy place to open - especially with NZ being the next tour.

KP absolutely not allowed back in the squad in my eyes

so

 

[Mad Snake]

Was discussing this with some people tonight and they were all leaning towards Chopra.

I went down and watched parts of his 195 last week, was brilliant to be fair, looked completely in control the whole time. Wouldn't be the worst call they've made to pick him. Only 25 too.

 

[Owzat]

While some might be keener to rush an opener in and submit him to a baptism of fire, didn't England used to blood some openers down the order? If we were playing New Zealand, West Indies or Bangladesh then send them in, but the toughest tour locale on the calendar has to be considered much more carefully.

I wouldn't want to move Trott from three, but then if Root, Chopra or whoever is out for a combined score of less than 10 then that doesn't do them or the side any favours. Theories they'll face seamers up the order are only true to some extent, if they show any comfort facing seamers and hang around for 10-20 runs then the spinners will be on soon enough.

Tough call, Trott opening and one of the new guys in at three might work equally well. We've employed a three openers approach before, can be quite effective. But if our batsmen don't apply themselves better than in UAE then it doesn't matter who opens or if Trott bats three

UAE

Strauss - 150 runs @ 25.00
Cook - 159 runs @ 26.50
Trott - 161 runs @ 26.83
Pietersen - 67 runs @ 11.17
Bell - 51 runs @ 8.50
Morgan - 82 runs @ 13.67

Our supposed strong top three registering 470 runs @ 26.11 between them. Fair enough both Cook and Trott made runs in Sri Lanka, but Sri Lanka are a pale imitation of themselves without Murali.

 

[MUFC1987]

Well, Compton has come back from Injury to play today and bagged himself another ton. Becoming a no-brainer of a decision, but I'm not sure he plays for a popular enough County.

 

[barmyarmy]

I can't see him not being in the squad. I reckon no harm in taking Chopra, Root and Compton (and Taylor for that matter!).
Personally I'd like to see this for the first test:
Root/Chopra
Cook
Trott
Bell
Compton
Bairstow
Prior

 

[sifter132]

Another factor I heard raised today was slips catching: no Strauss at first slip anymore.

 

[Collingwood50]

It shows a great lack of planning by England, they should have decided who was going to replace Strauss and got him in the one day side sharpish - or maybe they have.

Perhaps they have indeed and Bell will open - either way, Trott will face the second ball of the innings

 

[MUFC1987]

I can't see Bell lasting too much longer. All these players leaving the side means that he's being moved up, which will expose his weaknesses.