England Winter Test cricket thread

[Pedenj]

I think a lot of people did.

We reacted so well though and made the change that was needed to the team.

Jimmy just given MOTM for this game.

[Neil Young]

Bell's done it again - got a hundred when another batsman has also got one. How many times is it now?

[Shaggy]

Bell's done it again - got a hundred when another batsman has also got one. How many times is it now?

I dunno but it's amazing. He badly needs to make many more 'ugly runs'. He knows now we have the likes of Root, Bairstow, Taylor and others ready to come in so he has to produce. Timely effort today though, nonetheless.

Bopara needs to find a new hobby

[Neil Young]

[Pedenj]

Bell has as much talent as any other batter we have available, if not more.

His range of shots is brilliant, it's just he doesn't apply himself often enough. Silly shots for no reason that he gets out with need addressing. Good to see we have talent ready to fill in if needs be though.

[Shaggy]

The players have posted some great celebration pics on Twitter.

Just thinking about our squad, The Ashes etc. My 11 for the Ashes, at this stage, would look something like this:

Cook
Compton
Trott
Pietersen
Bell
Root
Prior
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Finn

Players not making it and all capable of coming in and making a difference:

Bairstow
Morgan
Taylor
Patel
Panesar
Bresnan
Tremlett
Onions

That's 19 players

[Baracus]

Bopara needs to find a new hobby

[Shaggy]

Ravi Shastri, 2011:

"What right does Nasser have to say 'disgrace', its for both teams, there are certain things that can be corrected, fair enough England is trying to hit at everything that the BCCI does, everything damn thing that they do, they are jealous about the way the IPL is going, they are jealous about where India is in World Cricket, they are jealous about the fact that India are world champions, they are jealous because of the too much money being made by BCCI, bottom-line is that they have never been number 1 in the world in Test cricket,"

Have some of that, Shastri!

[destinydude]

It's fairly common knowledge that he has been BCCI's stooge for long.

[Pedenj]

Think I'm with you there Shaggy

[captainfog]

I think much will depend on the tour of New Zealand. Compton needs to make some big runs there to play in the Ashes otherwise I think his place in danger. There are also question marks over Broad regaining form and fitness. Assuming both these things happen then the team is as Shaggy suggests. If not then I think it will look like this:

Cook
Root
Trott
Pietersen
Bell
Bairstow
Prior
Swann
Anderson
Meaker
Finn

[Chazza]

I think much will depend on the tour of New Zealand. Compton needs to make some big runs there to play in the Ashes otherwise I think his place in danger. There are also question marks over Broad regaining form and fitness. Assuming both these things happen then the team is as Shaggy suggests. If not then I think it will look like this:

Cook
Root
Trott
Pietersen
Bell
Bairstow
Prior
Swann
Anderson
Meaker
Finn

I like the look of that team but I reckon the selectors will go with Bresnan over Meaker, especially if Finn plays.

[Shaggy]

I want Root to open with Cook but I think Compton will score runs in NZ. India away is about a hard a start as you can get in Test cricket and he did alright. Kept getting in - if he does that in NZ he'll score plenty of runs.

[Alex]

I think Root is a future opener. But he is 21 or something isnt he? I say give him time in the middle order, then move him up when Compton starts to tail off. Cook and Compton seemed ok.

[Shaggy]

My worry with Compton and Cook is it's too one-paced. Compton made Cook look like Chris Gayle - with Trott at 3 it will severely damage our run rate, and we were slow for the most part in India. Root looks as though he can block all day if he wants but at the same time he has all the shots.