Yes and Ballance will be gone too unless he does the business this innings, Lyth a definite for being replaced
I hope not. The ECB need to hang their heads in shame for making him carry water bottles in the Windies whilst the famous Trott experiment well and truly backfired. He's international class but the step up takes time to adjust to. I'd stick with him for the whole of the Ashes personally. I worry more about Ian Bell and Gary Ballance.
Whenever I catch myself thinking that a player should be dropped after a succession of bad innings, I just remember the first time I noticed the numbers on the front of their shirts, and specifically how high England's were. If I remember correctly England are up to almost 670 now, while Australia are at about 440. At some point we have to learn that dropping players and trying somebody new every year is not the way forward. We should identify the players who we think are going to be up to the standard carefully, and then give them a fair crack of the whip once they've been selected. Cricket isn't like football - the step up to international level is a big one, and needs handling with more care. Besides, if anybody's dropped it should be Bell!
I think he'll get one more at least. He's the best available option at the moment and I don't see anyone putting in the performances (as an opener) to take his place. Lees is having an average season for Yorkshire and Sam Robson seems to being going backwards. Carberry and Compton would be backward steps and the only other option is Alex Hayes who would be a big risk at the moment.
Agree about the trott experiment. Very poor from the ecb. I hope they stick with him but not sure they will.
the problem we have at opener is there is no one to replace him. the county averages don't make pretty reading, give him the whole summer and hope he learns quickly at test level Moeen might be the next up as sacrificial lamb in the openers role if not. as for Ian Bell his time is up, however the selectors are known for making it harder than rocket science to get dropped when you've played 100 tests so no doubt we will see him make 5 runs and drop 2 catches every test. Ballance needs a blow to recover some form and confidence and will be replaced by Bairstow imo in the next test, hes so far back in his crease he isnt actually looking at the ball when its full and under his feet. As for the bowlers they might rest wood and pick Finn, Rashid cried off this week it seems, he was told he was playing on Tuesday and came in injured on Wednesday..... hes now fit for yorkshire today, make of that what you will, the line up might be something like this Cook Lyth Root Bell Bairstow Stokes Buttler Moeen Broad Anderson Finn
Fookin Cook given his wicket away now with a waft at a ball he should have left in these circumstances.
