England's Summer of Cricket against Sri Lanka and India

[Alex]

Broad has been poor today. Probably could do with a spell out the side too. Certainly cook should be dropped on form alone.

Tough though, with no obvious opening pair. Maybe bring in Hales?

[captainfog]

Broad has been poor today. Probably could do with a spell out the side too. Certainly cook should be dropped on form alone.

Tough though, with no obvious opening pair. Maybe bring in Hales?

Broad was magic in the last test match. He is fine. It was unfortunate that Jimmy and Broad both had off test matches, but we really didn't manage that situation very well.

[RichC]

How is James Taylor at Notts getting on ? Highly thought of wasn't he ?

[Alex]

We bowl them both every game. Usually into the ground. But broad looked way out of sorts today. Incredibly lethargic. He could easily drop out for a test for Stokes, no?

Not saying he's done, just that something differed would be nice.

[captainfog]

We bowl them both every game. Usually into the ground. But broad looked way out of sorts today. Incredibly lethargic. He could easily drop out for a test for Stokes, no?

Not saying he's done, just that something differed would be nice.

I think Broad had picked up a knock. Got a bit of a gap between now and India so I'd expect him to be fit for that.

[Chazza]

Broad has been poor today. Probably could do with a spell out the side too. Certainly cook should be dropped on form alone.

Tough though, with no obvious opening pair. Maybe bring in Hales?

No idea on an opener but I am not sure Hales is ready for the longer form of the game.

Can't see much else unless Root is moved back up and Bairstow or Morgan come in. Need to get Buttler in for Prior and either Patel or Borthwick for Ali.

[Chazza]

How is James Taylor at Notts getting on ? Highly thought of wasn't he ?

Good shout.

Has he opened before?

[Alex]

Root was saying recently he isn't an opener anymore, feels far more comfortable coming in at 5. He's been alright there for England. Disaster as opener in the Ashes though.

Tough one innit.

[captainfog]

On a completely unrelated subject. They did an Ask Swanny yesterday on TMS. Two points were interesting:

1) Boycs wanted to know if he regretted retiring when he did and not sticking it out till the end of the tour - Swanny said he would have happily stayed, but wasn't given that choice. He was sent home after saying his elbow was shot and so he then retired. After announcing his decision to retire the ECB gave him no help and he had to find his own way home, in the end KP helped him out by putting him in touch with a friend who ran a hotel in Dubai.

2) Asked about his relationship with KP - the two fell out after Swann slagged off his captaincy in his autobiography, but claims they had a great working relationship. Swann also stressed how after KP came back into the side after the texting thing he was as good as gold and he doesn't know what went on after he left the Aussie tour, but before that KP was very much a positive and involved member of the squad.

[captainfog]

Bring back Compton

Dig IN and COMP ON

James Taylor is a nuggety middle order batsman.

[Chazza]

Noooooo not Compo.

Carbs

Seriously though we look really short of openers.

[captainfog]

Noooooo not Compo.

Carbs

Seriously though we look really short of openers.

Carbs is rubbish. Compton has two test hundreds under his belt and was only dropped because he wasn't in Cooks clique. If Cooks needs a break from test cricket then Compton should come in.

Hales is miles away from being a test cricketer.

[RichC]

I wonder if Cook picks up a "knock" and sits out at least the first test vs India.

[captainfog]

You should listen to the TMS podcast. Boycott on fire. Completely scathing. Recipe for a resignation he reckons.

He's right. It's a total shambles. We're in for a long summer and KP must be laughing his ass off.

[Alex]

Root and Ali seem to be batting to get a draw :snooooooooozzzzzzzzzzzeeeeeeeeeeeeee:

Whats the ****ing point. Hes the Roy Hodgson of Cricket. Dont lose boys! Whatever you do, dont lose!!! Bore em to death, but dont ****ING lose!!