Changes for the Boxing Day Test match

Well the Ashes have gone and I see no reason why we shouldn't change it up a bit if you ask me. So here's who I would bring in if I was selector for England:

1. Cook (c)
2. Root
3. Bell
4. KP
5. Ballance
6. Stokes
7. Bairstow (wk)
8. Bresnan
9. Swann
10. Anderson/Broad
11. Finn

Carbs has done ok so far but I'd move Root back up the order. He's basically been opening anyway due to him coming in early so i don't think moving him to open will cause too much problems. He's being touted for that position in the future so I'd stick with him there now.

Ballance in, I know he hasn't done much on tour but I feel its time to give other batmsen a chance when others have failed.

Bairstow in for Prior. Had a shocker with the gloves this time and his shot to get out in the second innings was abysmal. Bairstow deserves his shot.

Assuming Broad is out of the next test so I'd bring Finn in. I just feel we need to do something different. I know Flower said he's not quite up to form but is getting there, and that's good enough for me. Pressure is off him, the ashes are gone so why not I say.

Someone should slap Alistair Cook full pelt in the face for starters. Rubbish captain.

Id go for

1. Cook
2. Carberry
3. Root
4. KP
5. Bell
6. Stokes
7. Bairstow
8. Swann
9. Broad
10. Anderson
11. Finn

Finn and Bairstow to come in.

Soon the most loving Captain becomes Rubbish, funny na.

My XI would be like this.

1. Cook
2. Carberry
3. Root
4. KP
5. Bell
6. Stokes
7. Bairstow
8. Swann
9. Tremlett
10. Rankin
11. Anderson

I would like to introduce both Rankin and tremlett.

1. Cook
2. Carberry
3. Root
4. KP
5. Bell
6. Stokes
7. Prior
8. Bresilad
9. Swann
10. Rankin
11. Finn

I'm gonna assume Broad won't be risked and is injured so Finn comes in for him. I would also give Anderson a break and let Rankin have a crack to see what he's got.

I would be reluctant to drop Carberry, he's doing alright.

Also saying Cook is a rubbish captain is a complete #headsgone

I'd be inclined to get a few fresh faces in there and start looking at what they can give to the team. Something like this:-

1. Cook
2. Carberry
3. Bell
4. Pietersen
5. Root
6. Ballance
7. Stokes
8. Prior
9. Swann
10. Finn
11. Anderson

Would maybe consider Rankin but is he really one for the future considering his age?

Can't see why Carberry would be dropped. He's done well.

Would go:

Cook
Carbs
M.Ali
Root
Bell
Stokes
Bairstow
Bresnan
Tremlett
Finn
Anderson

Moeen can bowl spin

Dropping Carberry just leaves the middle order even more exposed. The top 3 havent exactly been doing a wonderful job of protecting them and anchoring the innings but sticking root in to open (where hes struggled) and have Bell at 3 ( where hes struggled) doesnt fill me with confidence or really do anything to develope the side.
If you were going to drop an opener why not "rest" Cook who lets face it appears to have a terminal stress related disease at the minute. Neither will happen of course.

Lets assume then that Stokes stays. Is he good enough to be part of a 4 man attack? Nah.
That leaves KP and Prior exposed. Looking back you have to wonder if it mightve been better for England if Prior hadnt got fit for the first test. Maybe for his long term future too, although hes a long way from being a problem in my mind.
Would dropping a keeper with a good test average for a batsman with a poor one help the side much? Maybe it could give Bairstow the do or die opportunity to prove he could be the new batsman keeper people take 5 years to begrudgingly accept ( OK many never did accept Stewart) but I cant see it.
KP ..wow. That would be nuts. The Aussies would certainly see it as a huge victory. Is he really gone or will he do what hes done when weve been at this point before and pull out another match winning century to remind everyone hes one of the best batsmen England have had in modern times. Or he could go on hanging around scrapping the odd decent performance like Tendulkar and Ponting did.
Would Bairstow or Balance be able to fill his place in the side? Maybe, but its certainly not going to make the side look stronger.
Shuffling the order to promote Bell...at exactly what point on this tour has he looked like the guy to stand up and take on Johnson and his chums with the new ball? Shuffling deckchairs...

Bowling ... with Broad out theres a spot up for grabs between Finn, Tremlett and and Rankin. Finn is the one most likely to take the wickets. Andersons place should be under threat for the remaining games of this tour but theres no way that will happen with the other senior bowler out, and also for the sake of not having a one dimensional attack.
Panesar and Swann? The change wouldnt do much to improve the side on paper or for the future. Panesars record on tour is even worse than Swanns. The change would be driven by Swanns mental state and injury status if it happened, but I cant see it.

I really dont see a lot happening with the side because theres not a lot of wiggle room. They really have to give Finn a bash, although before the last test the coaches were busy making sure the press was full of stories about how he was off form ... this time the stuff coming out of the England camp is a lot more positive about him.
Maybe Bairstow or Balance will also get a game, but whoever they drop it will be a big call.

How about this England XI for the Boxing Day test at the MCG :-

1   Carberry
2   Root
3   Cook
4   Bell
5   Ballance
6   Bairstow
7   Stokes
8   Pietersen (to be selected as an off-spinner)
9   Anderson (if Broad isn't fit to play)
10 Finn
11 Rankin

gboycottnut1 wrote:How about this England XI for the Boxing Day test at the MCG :-

1   Carberry
2   Root
3   Cook
4   Bell
5   Ballance
6   Bairstow
7   Stokes
8   Pietersen (to be selected as an off-spinner)
9   Anderson (if Broad isn't fit to play)
10 Finn
11 Rankin

Absolutely outstanding as always!.
KP to beat Laker's record and take all 20 wickets and score a pair at 8 in a 3 wicket win for England!.

I would put the following side at Melbourne:

1) Cook
2) Carberry
3) Root....not because it's best for him..but simply because you can't shuffle the batting order every game.
4) KP and ask him to bat like KP not Flower
5) Bell
6) Bairstow(WK)......give Prior a break...not dump him but just relieve him for a bit
7) Stokes at 7 is probably better suited to express his style
8) Broad
9) Swann
10) Rankin
11) Finn......rest anderson

some might want Ballance who can get in in one of following 2 ways:
a) drop Carberry and push someone / anyone to open
b) Treatk Stokes as a speacilist seamer and he is certianly good enough......and drop one of finn / rankin in the 11 above

KP_fan wrote:I would put the following side at Melbourne:

1) Cook
2) Carberry
3) Root....not because it's best for him..but simply because you can't shuffle the batting order every game.
4) KP and ask him to bat like KP not Flower
5) Bell
6) Bairstow(WK)......give Prior a break...not dump him but just relieve him for a bit
7) Stokes at 7 is probably better suited to express his style
8) Broad
9) Swann
10) Rankin
11) Finn......rest anderson

some might want Ballance who can get in in one of following 2 ways:
a) drop Carberry and push someone / anyone to open
b) Treatk Stokes as a speacilist seamer and he is certianly good enough......and drop one of finn / rankin in the 11 above

Have you missed the ways that he's got out this series?

I'd just mix it up for Melbourne - Cook, Carberry, Root, Ballance, Bairstow, Stokes, Prior, Broad, Swann, Rsnkin, Finn.

Won't happen, but it'd be nice.

Is the assumption now that broad will be ok to bowl 30 plus overs in the next test?
If he is fit and there's no indication playing would make it worse if rather see Anderson rested than continue to be utterly Ineffective

Unless he cops another one on the same foot I guess...

Ah dash it... as for the England team now with Swann retired:

1. Cook
2. Carberry
3. Root
4. Pietersen
5. Bell
6. Stokes
7. Prior
8. Bresnan
9. Finn
10. Anderson
11. Panesar

Linebreaker wrote:Unless he cops another one on the same foot I guess...

Ah dash it... as for the England team now with Swann retired:

1. Cook
2. Carberry
3. Root
4. Pietersen
5. Bell
6. Stokes
7. Prior
8. Bresnan
9. Finn
10. Anderson
11. Panesar

Well now that Swann has retired, Pietersen should definitely be used as the frontline spinner in which he bats at number 8, thus allowing England to field a stronger batting lineup and also allowing for 4 pace bowlers to be available to Captain Cook.

So this would be my England XI for the MCG Test :-

1 Carberry
2 Root
3 Cook
4 Bell
5 Ballance
6 Bairstow
7 Stokes
8 Pietersen
9 Broad
10 Finn
11 Rankin

gboycottnut1 wrote:


Well now that Swann has retired, Pietersen should definitely be used as the frontline spinner in which he bats at number 8, thus allowing England to field a stronger batting lineup and also allowing for 4 pace bowlers to be available to Captain Cook.

So this would be my England XI for the MCG Test :-

1  Carberry
2  Root
3  Cook
4  Bell
5  Ballance
6  Bairstow
7  Stokes
8  Pietersen
9  Broad
10 Finn
11 Rankin

Imaginative vision and planning by Boycs to have Pietersen as our off spinning number 8. Perhaps we should now recall Trott. Send him out to bat at number 11 with no pressure there and use him as first change bowler.

To be fair the chances of that happening have just increased dramatically