Jonny Bairstow

Cardiffdaffs said:
Exactly. I’d open with him and put him instead of Crawley personally.
Click to expand...
No way do I see Crawley playing in the Ashes this Summer. He was found out by the NZ seamers and Australia would eat him up likewise. Good shout - if fit they could consider JB up the order.
 
Cardiffdaffs said:
Exactly. I’d open with him and put him instead of Crawley personally.
Click to expand...
Don't think he's ever opened in Test cricket, but might be the only spot available. It IS hard to see how he could average less than the 27 Crawley does, but there are other things about Crawley's game that they seem to love.
 
atypical_boro said:
Don't think he's ever opened in Test cricket, but might be the only spot available. It IS hard to see how he could average less than the 27 Crawley does, but there are other things about Crawley's game that they seem to love.
Click to expand...
Thare was not much to love in NZ. He looked like a rabbit in headlights both batting and in the field. A walking wicket.
 
Zoophonic said:
Thare was not much to love in NZ. He looked like a rabbit in headlights both batting and in the field. A walking wicket.
Click to expand...
He can dig in a bit though can't he, even if he doesn't make runs. I'm not saying it justifies his selection but if they aren't picking him for that, I've no idea what they are picking him for. YJB doesn't really have that string to his bow, he is far more suited to batting number 4-6 in this Stokes team. The problem is that Root, Brooks and Stokes bat there, and if you shuffle things about too much you could lose the magic those 3 are capable of.

Looks like he's going to have to have a bash at batting 1-3, I hope he does well. I wouldn't want to see him back behind the stumps, Foakes is and should remain there and is a more than capable number 7.
 
Bairstow will definitely play if fit but that is a big if currently. Still a little while to go, but he will need to get a few first 11 games in before June. I'd say Crawley is most under pressure. He's not had a great start to the season, but he's very much a confidence player and offers something different. Good summer and year of test cricket to look forward to.
 
atypical_boro said:
He can dig in a bit though can't he, even if he doesn't make runs. I'm not saying it justifies his selection but if they aren't picking him for that, I've no idea what they are picking him for. YJB doesn't really have that string to his bow, he is far more suited to batting number 4-6 in this Stokes team. The problem is that Root, Brooks and Stokes bat there, and if you shuffle things about too much you could lose the magic those 3 are capable of.

Looks like he's going to have to have a bash at batting 1-3, I hope he does well. I wouldn't want to see him back behind the stumps, Foakes is and should remain there and is a more than capable number 7.
Click to expand...
I see more magic in Root, Bairstow and Brook than I do any three that includes Stokes.
They are the 3 that can win it for England. Focus on getting those 3 in the right places.

I personally think Brook has the class to bat 3 and do so fearlessly in whatever circumstances.
Root stays at 4, Bairstow returns at 5, allowing for Stokes at 6 and Foakes at 7.

The fitness reliability of the quicks is a worry. Archer, Anderson, Wood, Robinson, Broad and Woakes should be enough across the series.
Spin bowler and Opening bats are the weaknesses.
 
indeedido said:
I see more magic in Root, Bairstow and Brook than I do any three that includes Stokes.
They are the 3 that can win it for England. Focus on getting those 3 in the right places.

I personally think Brook has the class to bat 3 and do so fearlessly in whatever circumstances.
Root stays at 4, Bairstow returns at 5, allowing for Stokes at 6 and Foakes at 7.
Click to expand...
You've forgotten 2019 and a number of innings since quite quickly then! YJB may be a great player but he hasn't achieved the heroics Stokes has for England (yet).

As for Brooks batting 3, that's ideal, but we've seen it before when a young player with lots of promise is moved up to 3 too quickly and can't hack it. If Brooks can, then its problem solved. But I think I'd want us to have a better partnership than Crawley/Duckett before him before that is tried. Duckett may have found his feet for England (we'll know more by August) but Crawley hasn't and I don't see that changing v Australia.
 
atypical_boro said:
He can dig in a bit though can't he, even if he doesn't make runs. I'm not saying it justifies his selection but if they aren't picking him for that, I've no idea what they are picking him for. YJB doesn't really have that string to his bow, he is far more suited to batting number 4-6 in this Stokes team. The problem is that Root, Brooks and Stokes bat there, and if you shuffle things about too much you could lose the magic those 3 are capable of.

Looks like he's going to have to have a bash at batting 1-3, I hope he does well. I wouldn't want to see him back behind the stumps, Foakes is and should remain there and is a more than capable number 7.
Click to expand...
Crawley was great against spin in Pakistan but over here he showed his inherent weakness against the seaming new ball - I agree with the observation that it would be hugely risky to play Crawley as he won’t be good enough based on what I saw in February. Now he may be retained simply as a pinch hitter opener to get Baz Ball cricket up and running but somehow against the Aussies it will need something more than a quick 20 runs each time.
 
atypical_boro said:
You've forgotten 2019 and a number of innings since quite quickly then! YJB may be a great player but he hasn't achieved the heroics Stokes has for England (yet).

As for Brooks batting 3, that's ideal, but we've seen it before when a young player with lots of promise is moved up to 3 too quickly and can't hack it. If Brooks can, then its problem solved. But I think I'd want us to have a better partnership than Crawley/Duckett before him before that is tried. Duckett may have found his feet for England (we'll know more by August) but Crawley hasn't and I don't see that changing v Australia.
Click to expand...
Of course he was excellent in the 2019 Ashes series and had a good 2020 too.
But in the 44 innings from the start of 2021 he has 1284 runs at 30.6, with just 2 tons and 6 further 50's.
He is due a better run of personal form in Test cricket, I just hope he has it this year.

I think Brook has the technique and mindset.
Labuschagne has made 3 his own from the Ashes in 2019, I think Brook will prove even better.
 
Harry Brook can bat anywhere. He’s that good.
I‘m also a fan of Root at #1, but don’t think he’ll be persuaded to do that. Think he might go back to 3, though. My best XI would be:

Root
Duckett
Pope
Brook
Bairstow
Stokes
Foakes
Woakes
Robinson
Wood
Anderson

rotating the bowlers with Broad, Leach, Archer where necessary
 
Borotommo said:
Harry Brook can bat anywhere. He’s that good.
Click to expand...
Whilst I don't disagree, people said the same about Root and Bairstow when they were young. It must be something about Yorkshiremen.

What we've discovered over the last decade is that, as fantastic as they are, they actually appear to be much better suited to particular positions/roles. Both their form have fluctuated based on where/how they've batted.
 
S7DiscoDown said:
I imagine Foakes is most under threat. They may look at getting Bairstow in as a wicket Keeper.

Although also Foakes also recognised as having an exceptional summer.

We are blessed with some stunning talent. It's going to be hard to get them all in. That said Foakes is a far superior glove man. Rated by many as one of the best in the world.
Click to expand...
The problem for Foakes is do we really have a world class spinner in the test team or rely on one in home series? I feel it's stood up to the stumps that really makes the difference with a quality keeper.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top