Ashes 2023
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@Donsteppa I think I remember him living a charmed life early in his career. He may have been been dropped more than Nicholls one year which is some feat. He's got a lot of talent but still plenty of work ons.
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It seems odd to this Englishman too. I'd want Bairstow in the side for his middle order batting but would prefer Foakes behind the stumps. It is just how to shoehorn them both in. Ideally you don't want Bairstow batting any higher than 5 or Foakes any higher than 6, so who do you leave out?
With pope gone do you put Root up to 3 and Brook to 4? Not sure I'd want that. Moeen is not a test 3.
I see it as a narrow call either way between Bairstow and Foakes with the actual problem being who come is at first drop.
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that's an incredibly strong batting lineup. Cummins at 10?
and very interesting to not have a spinner.
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@mariner4life Been raining a lot in Manchester and Murphy bowled under 10 overs the whole of the last test. It's a good move to can the spinner I think.
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yeah i get the reasoning, but with Lyon ever-present, it just looks weird.
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@mariner4life said in Ashes 2023:
yeah i get the reasoning, but with Lyon ever-present, it just looks weird.
First Test in a bajillion years (or just over a decade in real terms) we haven't had a spinner.
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For Australia, it'll be interesting to see if Labuschagne and Smith finally front with the bat. One top innings aside from Smith, they've mainly been AWOL. Likewise if Cummins has learnt any captaincy lessons.
Warner might jam one, but only on the stopped clock basis.
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As for England, their bowling attack looks about right. Just the bewildering choice of concrete shoes Bairstow for keeping duties to back them up. Some good keeping analysis from Dinesh Karthik in the buildup.
Ali at 3 is a puzzler. I imagine there would have been large odds on that selection two months ago...
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