It's hard for younger players to breakthrough when a top quality player is declining. You have to be ruthless and sometimes let the you get player have the exposure whrn you know the talent is there. Like saying goodbye to the Rolls Royce with 200k on clock and replacing with a brand new DB11 stick version, knowing you can add parts to it over time.

comment by The Night King (U20644)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Bake 'em away toys (U7303)
posted about a minute ago
Shet, everything alright?
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Better.
Got food poisoning at a wedding last week.
I was seriously felt at deaths door.
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Not good mate, hopefully you are on the mednd and resting.

Lost around 10lbs in weight in a week.
Just resting up now. Finally got discharged this morning.
The missus kept my fone so i could rest. Drove me crazy!

Back home to enjoy raising my blood pressure watching this

I'd much rather a player retired when he lost the drive and didn't feel like he could contribute what was needed, instead of hanging around like a bad smell being picked on reputation

Why should he hang around like a bad smell? Why can’t selectors have the guts to drop him?

I actually have no problem with people going for youth if they feel an older player is a burden, but in this case which young player was knocking at the door?

Not a bad morning. A bit slow, But idont care how long it takes. as long as England get some sorta lead

Great knock form Burns so far, always felt people were writing him off too early

10 umpire errors so far, shocking

burns done enough already here to be persevered with despite a slow start to his test career

comment by Dave&Danny (U4428)
posted 32 minutes ago
10 umpire errors so far, shocking
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Tbf, that last one was a very slight nick but overall, its been awful

comment by Phe'ndombele (U20037)
posted 17 minutes ago
burns done enough already here to be persevered with despite a slow start to his test career
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There really isn't another viable option anyway. Even if Dom Sibley came in, you'd think he'd open alongside Burns and shift Roy down the order (probably at Denly's expense) rather than replacing Burns.

Happy for Burns though, hope he pushes on

comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Phe'ndombele (U20037)
posted 17 minutes ago
burns done enough already here to be persevered with despite a slow start to his test career
----------------------------------------------------------------------
There really isn't another viable option anyway. Even if Dom Sibley came in, you'd think he'd open alongside Burns and shift Roy down the order (probably at Denly's expense) rather than replacing Burns.

Happy for Burns though, hope he pushes on
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yeah this. Was talking from the point of view england chop and change willingly. Burns and another at the top. Root, Roy, Buttler, Stokes, Bairstow middle order, going forward.

Drop Bairstow. Horribly overrated player with a sheite attitude. Bring Foakes back in when he's fit.

This innings is not going how I expected at all. But of course one wicket will probably swiftly become 4

Drop Bairstow. Horribly overrated player with a sheite attitude. Bring Foakes back in when he's fit.




do agree, good ODI player, tests gives away his wicket too easily.

Yeah now Root has gone i can see a few falling now. Really dont understand why Denly is in the team, hope saying that will mean he scores a century now.

Root gone.
Good c&b by Siddle

Root's done his job at least, stopped the usual collapse

comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 16 minutes ago
Drop Bairstow. Horribly overrated player with a sheite attitude. Bring Foakes back in when he's fit.

This innings is not going how I expected at all. But of course one wicket will probably swiftly become 4
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Is there any player you do rate?

comment by The Welsh Xavi (U15412)
posted 9 minutes ago
Root's done his job at least, stopped the usual collapse
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hope hes not injured. was hobbling. Burn century and denly to prove me wrong please.

still buttler, stokes, bairstow, moeen and woakes to come. Thats a hell of a strong middle-lower order.

comment by Phe'ndombele (U20037)
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by The Welsh Xavi (U15412)
posted 9 minutes ago
Root's done his job at least, stopped the usual collapse
----------------------------------------------------------------------
hope hes not injured. was hobbling. Burn century and denly to prove me wrong please.

still buttler, stokes, bairstow, moeen and woakes to come. Thats a hell of a strong middle-lower order.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

You don't rate Denly? I think he is a very good player who has peaked late in his career. Denly more than deserves his place in this side and should be given a proper chance during this series. He is capable of big scores.

That said, there is a very big arguement to say Roy should play at 4.

Solid from Denly

Root turning out to be Englands' Shane Watson.
Fast falling out of that fab 4. Doesnt seem to be in the same leage as Smith-Kohli-KW

comment by shiekh (U19310)
posted 56 seconds ago
Root turning out to be Englands' Shane Watson.
Fast falling out of that fab 4. Doesnt seem to be in the same leage as Smith-Kohli-KW
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Those 3 are ahead of Root IMO.

So sad to see how Root hasnt lived upto the billing. Not saying he is a bad player by any mean. He is a very good player, but with that pathetic conversion rate, he wont be remembered alongside the GOATs .

comment by shiekh (U19310)
posted 46 seconds ago
So sad to see how Root hasnt lived upto the billing. Not saying he is a bad player by any mean. He is a very good player, but with that pathetic conversion rate, he wont be remembered alongside the GOATs .
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this is sadly true.

Root- In 82 matches just 16 hundred.

KW- 20 in 72 ( 30 half century)
Kohli - 25 in 77 ( 20 half century, only behind Don)
Smith- 24 in 64 (24 ton, best of the lot)

Are all miles ahead.

The problem with Root is not technical but he just seems mentally a bit 'weak' compared to the fabulous 3.