Originally Posted by
Mibbes Aye
Ed Smith, the new England Test selector announces his first side tomorrow to face Pakistan. I can't make those Tests but I will be at Edgbaston for a couple of days for the Test against India, and I will get a chance to see Pakistan when they come to the Grange for their one-dayer against Scotland.
Bowling-wise it looks fairly predictable. Anderson and Broad, and no shortage of third or fourth seamers. There are a couple of youngsters in contention, which makes sense in terms of succession planning, but obviously represents risk.
Batting-wise there are decisions to be made. Assuming Cook stays, then the question is who he opens with. Stoneman hasn't really built on his opportunity and the question is whether it's time to bring back Keaton Jennings. There's also question marks over Vince and Malan - Vince has done himself no harm with a double century in the County Championshio but essentially he remains the same player - comes in, looks good playing a cover drive and gets out.
Fundamentally for England it feels like they have to look at Jonny Bairstow. I think it's clear that he doesn't want to bat higher up the order, but like Joe Root I think the selectors have to simply tell them that's what's happening. Root at three and Bairstow at five, or even four. They are the two strongest English batsmen and batting lower down the order isn't helping their team.
I know Bairstow wants to keep the gloves but for the greater good of England they can push him up into a gamechanger in the middle order and bring in Ben Foakes, who can keep but also averages forty-plus with the bat in first-class cricket.