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From what I can see, it was the batting that was sub-standard. The number of loose shots from the England batsmen, including Root himself, was far too high.
The team that bats the best will win the Ashes, because both sets of bowlers are superb. I think it will be similar to the India series last summer, sessions swinging either way, but a closer overall scoreline. 3-2 England. Can't see there being any draws!
Delighted we won the WC but now I hope the ECB will put the same effort/resources into rebuilding the test team as they did with the OD team. I was dead proud of the England test team from 2010 to 2015. Hard to blame Bayliss as he was bought in to develop the OD team but the test team has been poor for 4 years now.
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Roy
Burns
Denly
Root
Stoke
Bairstow
Curran
Woakes
Broad
Archer
Leach
I assume Anderson still not fit - If he is I can see them leaving out Curran - Personally I'd leave out Woakes - maybe tough on him after the WC and yesterday's 6 for 17
Don't think any of us are convinced by Burns + Denly
Coming out and saying he has no doubts about the batting and blaming it all on the pitch is fucking laughable when your number 11 has nearly cracked a ton.
To be fair I'd hate to be an England selector this week. Too many options for the bowling, not enough for the batting making it very difficult to pick an 11.
1) Roy
2)
3)
4) Root
5)
6)
7)
8) Curran/Ali
9) Woakes/Archer
10) Broad
11) Anderson
Fill in the gaps! I don't think Archer will play first test, we'll see.
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England squad for first Ashes Test: Joe Root (capt), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.
The series in Sri Lanka also shows that. Leach was very much treated as the number 1 spinner. He bowled more overs than Ali in 5 of the 6 innings.
Leach also has the capability of bowling dry, and keeping an end tight while the quicks rotate. Ali isn't that kind of bowler.
One bad spell doesn't suddenly make him a bad bowler.
Therefore how will this pan out ?
Roy to open with Denly or Burns
Root at 3
4/5/6 - I assume Stokes, Bairstow and probably Buttler - Bairstow to get the gloves
7 - Curran
8 - Ali
9/10/11 - Broad, Anderson, Archer - If Anderson not fit then Woakes
Certainly not convinced with Ali in the side, but as the only spinner in the squad then pretty certain he plays
Assume both Bairstow and Butler in the squad as both will bat - probably Bairstow with the gloves
Not convinced it is a well balanced side and the batting line up will get pundits talking before a ball is bowled
I'm not convinced either, but he's not quite played badly enough to get dropped yet.
The frustrating thing with both him and Bairstow is that they have the talent, but don't have the technique and/or temperament for test cricket.
Given the lack of other batting options, I can see why the selectors persist with them, but our batting looks far too dependent on Root and Stokes.