The English Test Summer

Andrew Samson



BBC Test Match Special statistician

Sums it up really.

It was geared up to be at least close, Ireland to win by maybe 3 wkts I thought only chasing 182.

There were three 2 ball ducks and only one score over 10, Woakes 6 wkts and Broad 4.

A big anti-climax, a 4 day test over in 3, we need to improve our batting v Australia.

Michael Vaughan summed it up as he thinks we don't know what style or way we need to play.

Lots to sort out for the ashes, this was in the end a training exercise.

I don't really understand why Bairstow played either.Should have been rested after World Cup.He must be close to burnout.

I agree Root's comments lack credibility.Made it sound like they were on a snakepit as opposed to a slow track with a bit of grass on it which any English batsmen should be able to recognise and adjust to.This is hardly some aberration either-the lack of resilience of our batting when facing adversity has been a worrying feature of his whole tenure thus far.So yes you do hope that more honest conversations are taking place in the dressing room.Also if I was Jimmy Anderson I'd brain Root because that's exactly the kind of wicket we should be wanting to play the Aussies on.Better than the dead flat snorefest wickets Lords has been preparing for the last 10 years!


Not sure what we learn re;Ashes.I think Burns may have played himself out of a starting spot although he will benefit from it being T20 season so no obvious in form replacement.Roy's obviously in now but I think he was anyway.Its clear we've dropped the Bairstow at 3 experiment so the whole top 3 is up in the air which is hardly ideal.Given lack of obvious candidates I'd be tempted to gamble with Stokes at 3.He's matured into a player who could do that role I think.Then you pick Roy and AN Other.I'd drop Moen who looked woefully out of form in both departments.But on the whole it's the same as ever.Bowling options look excellent, batting looks fragile.I like Australia's side more than ours I'm afraid but home advantage might still give us the edge I hope.Please!

Bancroft was badly treated compared to Smith and Warner. What I like about Bancroft was he put himself back into contention by choosing to play for one of our worst current counties, he had the added pressure of being captain and he played in April, May and June when he had more to lose than he had to gain. I’m glad in a way that he’s fought his way back into the squad. He’s also there because he’s Western Australian and Justin Langer has always been his mentor and supporter. He doesn’t seem to come with Smith’s or Warner’s sense of entitlement. I hope he does well, just not too well!
Bairstow is a bit of a problem. I think he’s built himself up and has developed a touch of arrogance whereas before he was resilient and gritty. Why was he in the team? He needed a rest but with Foakes injured both him and Buttler needed not to play but in the end he had to keep wicket. Some great catches but he’s not in the best place at the moment. It almost seems that he’s making the team decisions more than Root regarding himself. I know they are both Yorkshiremen but I’m not sure that the decisions made were for the team or for Bairstow. I’ll wait for his next spat with Michael Vaughan. I hope he won’t sound quite as ridiculous as he did before.
What the selectors need to do is decide for the conditions what is the best team. Rory Burns though not a unanimous choice needs to be given a run of matches. And yes jack I agree with you Root needs to stop moaning about the wicket, get your head down, don’t chase outside the off stump and you could have got to 300+ as we did second time round.
And that is going to be a great pub quiz question in years to come: Which England cricketer scored the highest innings of 92, was made MOM, was the reason England won a match and yet was then dropped from the next match? (With little likelihood of getting another test this summer!) And, despite being a Somerset member, I agree with the decision at Edgbaston. Unlikely to help the spinners so Moeen can use up some overs to rest the quicks but Archer needs to play.

Who's everyone going with for the first test?

Burns, Roy, Root, Bairstow, Buttler, Stokes, Woakes, Ali, Broad, Archer & Anderson

Same team as both chewie and Irish but a different batting line up to both. 3. Root 4. Stokes 5. Buttler 6. Bairstow 7. Woakes 8. Moeen.

If we play 6 bowlers then stokes won't have to bowl much so I think 4 is doable. I wouldn't mind him having a go at 3 though.

If Anderson isn't fit then I'd play Curran. Decent bowler given the likely conditions and we'll probably need his batting.

It sounds like a top 4 of Roy, Burns, Root and Denley which I think is bizarre. Picking Denley to bat at 3 given that we have a shortage of top order batsmen is understandable but surely we have better options for the middle order? I would be more supportive of Roy and Denley opening with Root at 3 and Roy at 4. I do think Ed Smith's Kent connections are the primary reason that Denley has been around the England side.

I think the Australian's have some big decisions to make too. I think they will pick Bancroft, but I think Burns is a better batsman. I would also pick Pattinson, Cummins, Siddle and Lyon as their 4 bowlers. I suspect they will go with Starc over Siddle, but the latter is a fabulous bowler in English conditions and is a bit of a point of difference. He could offer the captain some control and I think he finds a fuller length more naturally than Hazelwood.

Well we have well and truly given up the initiative there. Either Anderson has picked up a niggle, or he wasn't fit enough for selection, or Root has had a terrible morning and has completely failed to see that the game was up for grabs with Australia 35/3 and Smith under all kinds of pressure.

It's not unsalvageable but who knows what was possible if Jimmy had bowled 7 overs in that session.