England Lions

Potentially one of their most important tours in some time.

End of day 2 vs Sri Lanka "anyone we can find" XI

Things are going nicely.
Century for Yorkshire wonderkid Lees in only his 12th first class game. Borthwick and Kerrigan followed up with plenty of wickets to leave England a big lead going into the second innings where the batting order was shuffled to give everyone a go.

Bairstow has made decent scores in both innings but interestingly is not keeping wicket. Does that suggest England are banking on Prior to return? They cant seriously be considering Foakes will be ready for the summer tests...can they?

Think they now have Buttler in mind.

Next Test: Cook, Robson, Bell, Root, Morgan, Stokes, Buttler, Borthwick, Broad, Jordan, Anderson.

Very adventurous middle order but they do want change.  

Itd certainly be interesting if the decided "this is how I play"

I hadnt really considered Buttler for tests. I assumed England were allergic to the idea of having the same keeper for all 3 formats.

I guess a lot will depend on Priors form/desire early season and how much the "rebuilding the team ethic" goes beyond just one man.

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Itd certainly be interesting if the decided "this is how I play"

I hadnt really considered Buttler for tests. I assumed England were allergic to the idea of having the same keeper for all 3 formats.

I guess a lot will depend on Priors form/desire early season and how much the "rebuilding the team ethic" goes beyond just one man.

But if as expected Giles in charge, much the same. NEGATIVE i feel.

To be fair Giles is the guy whos championed the idea that Stokes is a number 3 batsman on the grounds he can get out more quickly than previous people theyve tried

I agree with Skyeman - I think Buttler is going to secure that test place this year. Prior is on borrowed time with his form, and I don't think Bairstow is going to cut it.

Like the look of Skyeman's team. Though I think id be going with Panesar as the short term spin option. Give Borthwick some time in and around the squad but not thrown into the lions den just yet.

skyeman wrote:Think they now have Buttler in mind.

Next Test: Cook, Robson, Bell, Root, Morgan, Stokes, Buttler, Borthwick, Broad, Jordan, Anderson.

Very adventurous middle order but they do want change.  

Taylor for morgan, bat him at 3 with bell and root dropping down one place.

Surely Root has to bat at 4 ... that's the only number he hasn't been tried at yet, isn't it?   

How is Onions so far down the pecking order that he's only an injury replacement for the Lions?

Is Ballance not in anybody's thoughts?
Personally reckon he's probably got at least as much chance of being in the line-up for the first test as Morgan or Taylor
Dougie Brown reckons Trott will be back for England this summer though, so if that were to happen we'd only need someone to replace Carberry (if he is to be replaced), most likely Robson.
So, if Trott comes back, it'll be something like Cook, Robson, Trott, Bell, Root, Stokes, Buttler/Prior, Broad, Borthwick/Tredwell/Rayner/A.N.Other, Jordan/Finn, Anderson
If Trott doesn't return Bell will go to three and one of Ballance/Taylor/Morgan/Moeen will come in at 4 or 5.
Of course, if non of the spin options is particularly exciting they could just bring in Moeen and use him and Root to bowl spin, but I doubt that'll happen.

Sangakkara wrote:How is Onions so far down the pecking order that he's only an injury replacement for the Lions?

Probably a mixture of his age and them knowing what he can do and what hes about. Also they have any number of right arm fast mediums. The attention will be on young (and coachable), fast, tall, left arm, able to bat ...of which hes none. The more of those boxes a seamer ticks the more likely they are to get in the lions.
Sounds like hes only been called up now because hes match fit. Cricinfo article points out even then hes only got in after 4 others in the Lions/Performance squads were injured! Is this Australia 2 years ago?
Maybe he is mates with KP?




As for Taylor/Balance/Morgan/Bairstow (batsman or keeper) the problem is none of them have exactly grabbed their chances to date have they. At least now Stokes has grabbed his we dont have to look at specialist batsmen being able to chip in to the bowling.

Meanwhile Bairstow has hit a century in the second innings, although Plunkett did to which perhaps says more about the pitch/bowling than Bairstows sudden rehabilitation.

Hoggy_Bear wrote: ...

Dougie Brown reckons Trott will be back for England this summer ...

But it's not Brown's decision. There again, I suppose it might be ... and to think you, Hoggy, talk about a Surrey mafia ...   

guildfordbat wrote:

Hoggy_Bear wrote: ...

Dougie Brown reckons Trott will be back for England this summer ...

But it's not Brown's decision. There again, I suppose it might be ... and to think you, Hoggy, talk about a Surrey mafia ...   

That's only on these boards Guildford. In the real world Warks. rule the waves.  

If Trott were indeed ok for selection again that would be a huge plus...must confess I have my doubts. Would he be ready to tour ? Would they select him for home Tests if they weren't sure...

Ballance hasn't exactly caught fire in his first few appearances. And you could say Taylor didn't get much of a go first time around. Really think early runs in 2014 might be handy.

Taylor for me to start at 4 against Lanka...

also Sangakarra: No idea how Onions is so far down the pecking order!..