Originally Posted by seansnotmyname@:
“MimiUK is right we clearly need another accumulator just to get through the overs. Despite all the talk about Rashid being our better spinner, his record still isn't as good as Moeen's. or particalarly close, he goes at 5.89an over, Ali goes at 4.91. Also average of 38 to 44.
Anyway for the T20 World Cup we clearly need as much spin as possible, so not bothered with this line-up for that. Without Broad obviously. Going on in ODI's I'd rather Ali opened with Hales, Tough on Roy, but it's tougher on Taylor not to be picked, perhaps even Bairstow..”
I wouldnt say "clearly", but yes i completely agree that more top order Eng batsmen need to go to the crease with intention of batting for 30+ overs. I just don't think we need to make personnel changes to achieve that -
Jason Roy, a very talented player, is still trying to make the step up to intnl cricket so should bat more overs soon (or otherwise replaced for someone who can).
Hales has just proved he can bat overs and accumulate.
Root the same.
And Eoin Morgan can most certainly bat time if he's prepared to stop batting like a headless chicken intent on playing high risk shots early in innings just to make a statement to his own players. 3 of his dismissals in this series were unnecessary, holed out to long-on when in the 20s at a run a ball and then twice charged the bowler giving away his wkt because he was struggling to get started. The man has 8 ODI centuries, 4 of them being not outs. He can bat long.
Moeen Ali is the other batsman who can also offer more crease occupation, although he's currently so happy to swat at anything outside off-stump and head back to the pavilion. He's been at crease twice recently with the ship needing steadying and 20+ overs of innings remaining. Again he has the ability to do this job if he can be bothered to use his brain cells. But Ali currently lucky to be batting at 7 the way he's been performing with the bat so i certainly wouldn't move him up the order whatsoever.