don't think it's fair to bring in new faces for such a non-event as the final test match. The current squad needs to be examined once more and feel the full heat of their failure, before decisions are made on the future captaincy, selection and preparation.

IMO the whole thinking behind the captaincy needs scrutiny. Root's batting average has dropped off a cliff and it's too much of a sacrifice of (batting) talent. Same thing happened with Cook.

Let your best batsmen bat, and find another leader in the ranks.

There’s also something in the way they practice. Sky the other day, could have been Gooch, mentioned that Atherton in the nets would practice leaving the ball whereas too many players now want to knock the cover off everything in practice. Like it or not test cricket is a more disciplined game than many of them seem prepared to play.

I think that he's looked at other country's openers who play in both the long and short forms of the game and assumed that we could do the same.

Nasser Hussain did a small piece on his "Third Man" spot showing what's wrong with Jason Roy's technique which makes one wonder why if a TV commentator can spot the flaws why can't the selectors, coach and captain.

If the powers that be want an inexperienced player at Test level to play in a position that he's unaccustomed to then perhaps they should ask his county to play him there to see how he copes at county level. That assumes that we actually play county cricket during the summer which we don't much at the moment

I think that he's looked at other country's openers who play in both the long and short forms of the game and assumed that we could do the same.

Nasser Hussain did a small piece on his "Third Man" spot showing what's wrong with Jason Roy's technique which makes one wonder why if a TV commentator can spot the flaws why can't the selectors, coach and captain.

If the powers that be want an inexperienced player at Test level to play in a position that he's unaccustomed to then perhaps they should ask his county to play him there to see how he copes at county level. That assumes that we actually play county cricket during the summer which we don't much at the moment

What bothers me is the likes of Hussain, Atherton and Vaughan - why are none of them part of the coaching team? Instead we have Thorpe and Chris Silverwood. Australia have the Waugh brothers, Langer and Haddin.

I don’t think there is a need for major changes for the last Test. I feel Denly has had a good series so far and merits his spot. There are question marks over Roy, but he needs to be given a fair crack at number 4. He showed discipline in the second innings. Burns has cemented his spot for the time being. Buttler has shown he can adapt to Test cricket and has battling qualities. Bairstow is on the brink, I’m not convinced by his keeping.

I’m surprised Woakes was chopped and we’ve not seen Sam Curran. Overton was a strange inclusion. I’d probably bring in Curran for Overton for the last Test and otherwise keep it the same. I’d like to give Bairstow and Roy NZ at least to prove their worth, with Pope and Foakes to come in.

Good post....Denly has the right mental stuff but just like Stoneman I just don't think he's talented enough against the better bowlers.

Edited by Stirlingsays (09 Sep 2019 8.17pm)