The current test batting line up is the worst I've ever seen, by some distance.

Even during the Dark Days, when England were losing at home to Stephen Fleming's NZ, it wasn't this bad.

There was always Thorpe, Hussain, Atherton and Stewart. Plus the talent of Hick and Ramprakash who would be the 2nd and 3rd best batters on the current team, but were on the fringes of that side.

Hard to argue with that really and although we have two promising young batsmen in Hameed and Pope, we don't really have the quality experienced batsmen to guide them. Think back to Root's debut when he had Cook, Trott, KP, Bell and Prior are in the side and the difference is huge. It's unfortunate that we will miss Stokes again, hopefully others can step up in his absence but the India series showed that only Root seemed up to that challenge, with the bat anyway.

I fear for Wood in this series as he is likely to be our main threat and it wouldn't surprise me to see him bowl way more than he should.

BOTR - agree with most of your points but I still don't see Root stepping down after the Ashes even if we get beaten heavily. He's in amazing form and it's about others coming up to his level if we are going to compete with the top sides. I know we usually look at the captain but in this case, he's the only reason why our batting has any sort of credibility at this moment in time.

Lions squad to tour Australia:

Tom Abell (Somerset)
Josh Bohannon (Lancashire)
James Bracey (Gloucestershire)
Brydon Carse (Durham)
Mason Crane (Hampshire)
Matthew Fisher (Yorkshire)
Ben Foakes (Surrey)
Alex Lees (Durham)
Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire)
Liam Norwell (Warwickshire)
Matt Parkinson (Lancashire)
Dom Sibley (Warwickshire)
Jamie Smith (Surrey)
Rob Yates (Warwickshire)

Wouldn't be surprised if some of them are drafted into the main squad after a game or two.

Jamie Smith came on leaps and bounds for Surrey this year. Keeps wicket, and scored a lot of runs moving higher up the order as the season progressed. He actually ended the season opening alongside the useless Ryan Patel.

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Ben Stokes has been back in the nets. I'm sure many of us would want him in the Ashes squad but obviously his health must be the priority.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-10092187/Great-hitting-balls-Ben-Stokes-raises-hopes-fit-Ashes.html

Sibley left the Lions tour to work on his "batting"
You'da thought batting on good wickets would help him? No. its because hes not happy.. Hopefully he doesnt play for England again. he was never that good

I mean... it's quite hard to blame him, honestly. He probably doesn't want to spend months in a bubble away from home, when the only chance of him getting a game for the test side is if we're getting absolutely battered and two of Burns/Hameed/Crawley have failed badly enough to get dropped. Not exactly ideal circumstances to come back into the side.

At least the other potential openers have the benefit of some good form this year behind them, and they don't have the scar tissue of recent failures at test level hanging over their heads.

All the best to Sibley and it's a chance for Harry Brook to impress.

https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/2299864

I get why Sibley would rather work on his batting at home but he had a good tour to Australia with the Lions last time, and if he had another good tour then who knows maybe he'd be drafted into the main squad. I guess it's a bit of a catch 22 for him.

I do like how willing he is to fix things and work on his game though, as it's not the first time he's done it.

You can work on it but wont alter the facts he will never change his approach and thats negative in his foot movement.

I think if he's looking to be more positive in general then hopefully that will get his feet moving. He might fall short and end up being too positive early on but lets give him some time and see how he goes. It's not like the top 3 is blocked out, Burns is inconsistent at the top and needs to score more centuries, Hameed looks the part but needs to back it up with runs and Malan feels like a very short term plug for the Ashes.

Listening to the Tailenders podcast got me quite excited for the Ashes only to be reminded that we're actually not very good so likely to get battered. At least with it in Australia, it's easier to just miss the carnage.

Stokes added to the squad, seems he's happy with the break he's had and ready to go again so that's good news for us. It's not going to be enough to change the outcome of the series but he at least means we're close to full strength.

I posted about Stokes in the wrong thread

Like I said... We're still getting tonked

No doubt, but good to see him back for the test series and I'm pleased he didn't rush back to play the T20 world cup as 1) I don't think he'd really improve on the XI that played in the first game and 2) our test team desperately needs him.

Great news hes back.. was always worried about the 5th bowler option. and hes a better batter than most,.so brilliant news

so my 11..
Burns
Hameed
Malan
Root
Stokes
Pope
Butler
Woakes
Broad
Anderson
Leach.

Of course always bring in Wood for other bowlers along the way..
Woakes at 8 gives us a long batting line up and we have the 5 bowlers now

I think I'd have Robinson and Wood in for Woakes and Broad for the first test otherwise that'd be the line up I'd go with as well.

Oops i forgot Robinson.. I dunno why i did that. and yes.. Maybe Robinson for Broad.

Agree with TCM. Much as I love Chris Woakes (the handsome devil), he just isn't a good overseas bowler. I fancy Robinson will either have a breakout series or he'll be absolutely eaten for breakfast - nothing in between. Be interesting to find out which

Burns
Hameed (Yates/Abell in reserve)
Malan
Root
Stokes
Pope
Buttler
Robinson
Leach
Broad
Anderson


And for once, it's nice to know we have backup bats ready and raring to slot straight in (Yates, Abell, Foakes)... None of whom is named Moeen Ali.

I know Bairstow is still knocking about but I guess you can't have it all

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Oh, good point. I said I agreed with TCM and then posted the wrong facking lineup

Wood for Broad (or Anderson) depending on fitness

That tale's too long.

* tail *