O/T England's Batting Line-Up...

I don't know if you saw a documentary that was on last year some time. Called The Edge. We'd recorded it and not realised it was about the England cricket team that won the Ashes under Flower and then subsequently unwound.

A very revealing insight into the pressure and intensity the players were under and how so many during that period suffered mental health problems.

 

Almost my selection but I would play 2 spinners

Burns
Sibley
Crawley
Root
Stokes
Buttler
Bess
Leach
Archer
Broad
Anderson

 

Im trying to reason why we’d need 4 seamers in India, but if those 4 are more likely to take wickets etc.

maybe Bess will bat at 8 and it’s a choice between Anderson and Broad in my 11.

Im discounting moeen and even though I can see Bess playing the Indians won’t be too scared

 

I didn't see it. I saw a series about the pressures though they spoke to a bowler who had a shocking over full of wides which ended his career.

It was a shame about Trescothick though. One of best batsmen i've seen.

 

Effectively there are 7 bonwlers in that line up.

4 seamers and 3 spinners if you include Root. And on long hot days in India you only want to give your seamers bursts of 3 or 4 overs at a time.

Bess and Leach must try to bowl.more maidens albeit against a much tougher batting line up than Sri Lanka that means bowling a more consistent line and length.

And with regards to Stokes he is by far a better batsman than bowler however he can still get a wicket or 2 in any conditions.

 

It's common knowledge that rest and recuperation within the current pandemic is paramount to the coaching staff and players mental health, although Jonny has said he'd be happy to travel and play in India . Stop chuffin point scoring .

 

India have some great fast bowlers at the moment therefore the pitches might reflect this. It might not be the spin fest that we are used to. We could go Anderson, Archer, Broad.

 

I'd stick with the right handers in India - Ashwin is their main man. Hopefully our top order can play him better than they played the left armer in the recent Sri Lanka series.

The Edge was fascinating - seeing how that set up still affects Trott even 6 or 7 years later is tough to watch. It's a difficult balance to strike - win at all costs?

And Scott Boswell was the bloke who melted down in that Lords final. He took 4 wickets in the semi final and just crippled himself with nerves that day. Sad to see. Think he was released just after and barely plays at club level. Reminded me of when I got smashed for 26 in an over the other year - that was a grim day.

 

I agree with Nasser ( and you) Go with Broad and Anderson for the first test at least, then take it from there.