CricketWIMB

[PSRB]

1st XI for The Ashes (assuming everyone is fit) for the 1st Test

Crawley
Duckett/Bairstow
Pope
Root
Bairstow/Leach
Stokes
Foakes
Wood
Archer
Broad
Anderson

[Luis Anaconda]

1st XI for The Ashes (assuming everyone is fit) for the 1st Test

Crawley
Duckett/Bairstow
Pope
Root
Bairstow/Leach
Stokes
Foakes
Wood
Archer
Broad
Anderson

Depends on Bairstow on how he responds on return from injury. Tough to just to pick up where he left off. Definitely would be keeping Foakes. Robinson and Brooke have to play as well. Archer and Stokes would be a risk as both are under injury clouds (of course Stokes plays regardless of whether he can bowl). Broad and Anderson to rotate, I reckon. Not too fussed if Leach plays or not.

[Rich]

Depends on Bairstow on how he responds on return from injury. Tough to just to pick up where he left off. Definitely would be keeping Foakes. Robinson and Brooke have to play as well. Archer and Stokes would be a risk as both are under injury clouds (of course Stokes plays regardless of whether he can bowl). Broad and Anderson to rotate, I reckon. Not too fussed if Leach plays or not.

Keep your eye on a young chap called Finlay Bean this summer, LA. Opener. Left-handed. All the shots.

[PSRB]

Depends on Bairstow on how he responds on return from injury. Tough to just to pick up where he left off. Definitely would be keeping Foakes. Robinson and Brooke have to play as well. Archer and Stokes would be a risk as both are under injury clouds (of course Stokes plays regardless of whether he can bowl). Broad and Anderson to rotate, I reckon. Not too fussed if Leach plays or not.

I totally forgot about Brook, oh yes bin Leach in that case

[Rich]

I totally forgot about Brook, oh yes bin Leach in that case

Be very wary of not having a specialist spinner. Especially on flatter tracks like The Oval.

[Luis Anaconda]

Keep your eye on a young chap called Finlay Bean this summer, LA. Opener. Left-handed. All the shots.

I have read about him - didn't he get some ridiculous in the seconds last year. Yorkshire do produce some decent batsmen

[Luis Anaconda]

Be very wary of not having a specialist spinner. Especially on flatter tracks like The Oval.

I'd be surprised if he didn't play tbh

[Rich]

I have read about him - didn't he get some ridiculous in the seconds last year. Yorkshire do produce some decent batsmen

Yes; I believe it was 441 that he got for Yorkshire 2nds. And then a wonderful ton on debut for the 1st XI this season. Just looks to have a wonderful technique. Think we'll hear a lot of his name in the next 15 years.

[PSRB]

I'd be surprised if he didn't play tbh

I'd rather we tried to persuade Rashid to have one last red ball hurrah.

Am I right in thinking we're using that bloody Kookaburra ball for the series?

[Rich]

I'd rather we tried to persuade Rashid to have one last red ball hurrah.

Am I right in thinking we're using that bloody Kookaburra ball for the series?

Not going to happen. Think he burnt his bridges with Stokes et al.

Wasn't Leach the leading wicket taker (Tests) in the world for 2022?

[Luis Anaconda]

Not going to happen. Think he burnt his bridges with Stokes et al.

Wasn't Leach the leading wicket taker (Tests) in the world for 2022?

He was never that good in Tests anyway. Would rather have Moeen

Leach was third in the world last year (but at an average of almost 40). Rabada and (more worryingly) Lyon were above him

[Luis Anaconda]

I'd rather we tried to persuade Rashid to have one last red ball hurrah.

Am I right in thinking we're using that bloody Kookaburra ball for the series?

No - still Dukes. Have been using the Kookaburra in some rounds of the CC I believe (or plan to)

[PSRB]

No - still Dukes. Have been using the Kookaburra in some rounds of the CC I believe (or plan to)

Ah that's it, why? Just to get County players used to both balls in case of England call up for Overseas trips?

[Rich]

He was never that good in Tests anyway. Would rather have Moeen

Leach was third in the world last year (but at an average of almost 40). Rabada and (more worryingly) Lyon were above him

Agree he's not a top class spinner but is, unfortunately; the best we have.

Not sure there is many promising young wons coming through either.

[Luis Anaconda]

Ah that's it, why? Just to get County players used to both balls in case of England call up for Overseas trips?

Think so. Dukes didn't win many friends last summer though (and Aussies also used it in some Sheffield Shield matches)

[Rich]

He was never that good in Tests anyway. Would rather have Moeen

Leach was third in the world last year (but at an average of almost 40). Rabada and (more worryingly) Lyon were above him

Surely we can find Rashid Kahn a long-lost English Grandmother?

Or failing that pay him to live here for a few years.

[Luis Anaconda]

Agree he's not a top class spinner but is, unfortunately; the best we have.

Not sure there is many promising young wons coming through either.

Yeah. Ahmed looks useful but think he will be more of a batsmen

[Rich]

Yeah. Ahmed looks useful but think he will be more of a batsmen

Forgot about him. I have it on reasonably good authority that he only got his debut last season in light of the Azeem Rafiq stuff. Though he did quite well... was a little bit of a 'your face fits' situation.

But hope he continues his development. Hard to wrist-spinners in England to get enough overs under their belt. Should send him to India to play some 1st class cricket.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

1st XI for The Ashes (assuming everyone is fit) for the 1st Test

Crawley
Duckett/Bairstow
Pope
Root
Bairstow/Leach
Stokes
Foakes
Wood
Archer
Broad
Anderson

It won't happen, obv, but the ideal solution would be to have Root opening like he used to. Didn't he score 180 opening with Cook that first Ashes when we dropped Compton? Think he got out playing a scoop shot or something.

He opened in CC, has proved he can open in tests against the Aussies with a new Dukes ball. Has got the defence and can build an innings while also being able to score at Bazball rates when he's in without simply slogging.

Brooke and YJB at 4 and 5. Stokes and Foakes. That's a decent team. Need Stokes to be able to bowl, though. And are crying out for a Swann who is a top drawer spinner who can bat at 8.

But apparently Brooke pre-call up had been talking to YCCC about opening as he thought that would give him the best chance of breaking into the England XI. Pity it didn't happen cos he says his fave shot is the forward defensive that sees the ball dribble to point.

If we could replace Zak with the opener Root was before we moved him to no. 4 we'd be sorted.

But I worry that if Stokes doesn't bowl and we pick Leach when it's not turning, then it's too much for 3 seamers. JA, Ollie and Archer?