Jos Buttler will open the batting tonight.


Buttler (wkt), Roy, Vince, Morgan, Bairstow, Billings, Dawson, Plunkett, Rashid, Jordan,
Mills.

So that's no Willey or Malan.

Sri Lanka have won the toss and will bat

Spreads calling Sri Lanka runs at 161 - 167

Think they may get 180+....

Sri Lanka not going well, 82-5. 3 wickets for Dawson.

really good performance in the field

was kinda hoping we would have a bigger score to chase just in case buttler gets going as opener

I like the idea of Buttler opening and maybe Bairstow/Billings as the finisher

Sri Lanka look like they have had a long tour....

as a long time england fan its hard to get my head around whats happening atm as we probably have 5 guys who i would be happy with opening in this format

we maybe dont have anyone who is truly world class in this format but we have a good few who are pretty close

had a bit of luck at the start but a cracking innings from buttler as opener and a very comfortable win

Surely buttler is world class and root would probably be world class if he played more of the format.

Are you up for some pedantry award ?

Current stats

Butler has 2 hundreds and 9 fifties in 75 games at an average of 37.22.

Root has 8 hundreds and 14 fifties in 73 games at an average of 44.96

no , i could never hope to compete with you

1 - we are talking about t20 which is what they were playing today and root has 0 centuries in that format

2 - buttler has 4 centuries in the format that root has 8 in not 2, despite batting much lower in the order, and 3 of those 100s are the three fastest ever by an england player

so not exactly alot going for that post in terms of accuracy

suppose it depends on what your definition of world class is

mines is would someone without question get a spot in a world XI in the format

Brilliant series win against Sri Lanka

Switching to the England vs Pakistan series my team would be
Cook
Hales
Root or Vince
Vince or Root
Stokes
Bairstow
Butler
Ali
Woakes
Broad
Anderson

not sure anderson is expected to be fit for the first game, but the rest is what i would go with

If he isn't I don't know what bowler I would pick id probably go with Finn but not sure

Maybe another Phil DeFreitas comeback is due?

I would go with that too, just the order i would change. Vince 3, Root 4, Bairstow 5, Stokes 6, Buttler 7. If Jimmeh isn't fit then yes Finn in instead.

big surprise to see ballance recalled into the squad considering he hasn't exactly had a great season, averaging only 33 in FC cricket this year, supposedly going to bat at #5 as well with root moving to #3 and vince at #4

quite happy to see roland-jones get a chance with anderson not being available but would think ball will get the spot given he was ahead of roland-jones in the pecking order for sri lanka

Its disappointing to hear that Anderson is injured I thought bowlers of his importance would be kept in cotton wool until the test started. Also I was hoping Stokes would be fit now and ready for this match but he isn't.

This is Ballance's big chance if he fails here then I don't see much of a future for him in test cricket. Ball and Toby Jones I don't know much about so it will be interesting as one of them will be playing their first Lord's test next week.

Yeah, I'm surprised that Ballance was recalled. I like him but he's not been pulling up many trees this season.

Pity Jimmy is out but at least it gives a new guy a chance. I've seen a little bit of Jake Ball and I'd be happy for him to be given a go.

I think it's a backward step, personally, and I think other people have done more to deserve a shot this season.

Let's not forget that this is test cricket and not a county match. Balance averages 48 in tests for England. Any player would be happy with that. Pleased to see him back.

would you be saying that if he wasn't a yorkie ?

Ahem. Of course. *cough*