Ashes …last one at last

The only issue I have with that is Morgan is 35 - so it's a short term fix at best. Maybe it could work whilst we find the right long term candidate, but I just think it's kicking the problem further down the road.

He's a brilliant captain though - and has completely changed the white ball side during his term.

 

Joe Root has to take his share of the blame too. I agree with all your points regarding the difficulties the team has faced last year, but he and Silverwood have made a complete mess of the selection policy and tactics in this series and over the past 12 months. A few examples:
- not picking Broad at the Gabba or MCG on spicy pitches
- not picking Anderson at the Gabba
- picking Woakes at the Gabba, a bloke who now averages 54 in away tests from 17 matches
- the debacle of India selections, Bairstow going home after 2 games, Buttler going home after a game, Ali getting recalled then going home the day after the game with Bess being dropped and then brought back once Ali was on the next flight home
- picking 4 seamers on the bunsen in Ahmedabad when Root got his 5fer
- not playing Leach at all this summer so he barely bowled a ball in anger, then chucking him in on a green top at the Gabba
- not attempting the chase against NZ at Lord’s
- the complete clusterfuck tactics to Shami and Bumrah that cost us the game at Lord’s when they put nearly 100 on

That’s just last year. I’m sure there will be loads more examples that people can pick out.

 

He was rewarded by losing his place. Barstow scores our only century of the series and gets dropped. You couldn't make it up.

 

Bairstow’s thumb is knackered to be fair.

 

Going back to Vince. Somebody who regularly gets out in the 30's and 40's still has to be a big improvement on players who get out in the 0's and 10's. It's a shame about Hales discipline too because he is in the same ilk scoring wise. If every top order batsman got 50 we'd post totals 300 or above.