England V India Test Match Series 2021

Should you not be asking which England players shouldn't be in the team?

(06-09-2021 15:59 )Charlemagne Wrote:  I always believed that a test batsman should seldom be bowled.
If they get through the 1st line of defence then it should hit the pad.

Come back Ben Stokes

Up to a point, I have to agree, but there were extenuating circumstances today, they got the ball to reverse swing, 3 of their bowlers are capable of bowling high 80's & in the case of Bumrah 90 mph. I'll defend Bairstow, because the media are always on his case. Ultimately it's about how many runs you make before you get out, & not how you get out, the one exception would be to get run out in Test Match Cricket. A batsman has to strike a balance between nicking-off or lbw & bowled, dependent on the bowler & conditions. Buttler has been out on more than one occasion without offering a shot, which is a much worse misjudgement. Also what guard a batsman takes will allow him access to the ball, ideally on both sides of the wicket, in order to score runs, which is the whole point. The inability to do this with any success resulted in Sibley being dropped, at times he could survive, for long periods, but was shotless. Consider the fatigue after England spent almost 150 overs in the field, that has to be a contributing factor.
there is not shame in getting well beat by a far superior side. I've been pleasantly surprised that we have manage to compete with India, at times. I thought that India had a chance of winning the series 5-0 or 4-1 depending on fair weather. A 3-1 India win would be a fair reflection from what I've seen so far. India are getting stronger, England will have a job recovering to put up any fight at Old Trafford.

Root got it right in his post match interviews. The dropped catches & the wasted opportunity to take a much greater first innings lead, were more to blame for the result than what happened on the final day.

On this showing I just wonder how much the Aussies swill be relishing the Ashes series Down Under (if it happens)

I wouldn't think the Aussies will be quaking in their boots about England especially the 10 places in the team after Joe Root. The middle order are all decent one day players but could have done with practice of playing more 4day games.
If Buttler is available for Friday him for Pope for r More could be the only change unless they decide to give Mahmood a game for Overton or Anderson.
As for long term Sibley, Lawrence and Curran might have to wait for another chance.

Jos Buttler & Jack Leach have been added to the squad for the 5th Test at Old Trafford on Friday. Sam Billings has been released. Mahmood has picked up a side injury playing for Lancashire, otherwise you would've assumed he'd be at least in the squad.

Would think Buttler for either Moeen or Pope would be the only change, unless it's going to take spin then Leach could play with a seemer missing out. They could always make a straight swap Buttler for Bairstow.
Would go with Burns,Hameed,Malan,Root, Bairstow,Buttler,Woakes, Robinson, Overton,Leach and Anderson

I can't see why England would include Buttler in the squad & not play him, he was Root's Vice-captain, but really deserved to be dropped before he missed the last Test on paternity leave. He's average 14 in the series, the same as Sibley who was doing a tough job opening, batting 6 should produce a greater output. Wood must play & Overton has been the least effective bowler. Leach also has to play, despite his lack of cricket, his left-arm spin should be a better option than Ali, whose form is on & off, Root will have to bowl more. my concern would be the overs than Anderson & Robinson have got through in the series, & Woakes bowled a lot of overs after a year away from red-ball cricket. England only have the option of bring back Sam Curran, if any of the other 3 are unfit. I'm surprised that they couldn't come up with another fresh bowling option, but that suggests that they were banking on Mahmood, before he got injured.

^^ As expected Root today confirmed that Buttler will reclaim the gloves for the 5th Test. He also indicted that Moeen is the No.1 spinner, & that Leach would only play if the pitch indicted that 2 spinners would be required. So it looks like Bairstow will be dumped again, as it would be hard to leave out Pope who played well for his 81.

England's 4 quick bowlers all look the same. We could do with a quality left arm over quickie.