James Anderson, Ben Stokes and Adil Rashid have been named in an expanded 14-man England squad for the second Test against Pakistan at Old Trafford.
Anderson and Stokes are included after recovering from injury, but it is the inclusion of Rashid, the legspinner, that is the most intriguing name.
Rashid offers England both the possibility of playing two spinners or the option of dropping Moeen Ali, who endured a poor game at Lord's and has a bowling average of 92 in seven Tests this year.
England squad Alastair Cook, Alex Hales, Joe Root, James Vince, Gary Ballance, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Steven Finn, Jake Ball
Sadly, I have got to the point now where I think its time for Mo to have a little bit of a rest. He has struggled for a long time now with both bat and ball. He is a bits and pieces player - neither good enough to play as a specialist batsman or bowler. He has a batting average of 29 and bowling average of 41.47 over the last 12 months, He is unable to offer any control with the ball and hold an end down, and his shot selection often falls in the category of shocking.
Ballance and Vince will undoubtedly get the rest of the series to prove themselves, but for England to be successful, they are going to need both to step up. Ballance's technical flaw is still there, and Vince, although beautiful to watch, has a bad habit of getting himself out.
[quote author=Mail link=topic=105330.msg703520#msg703520 date=1468863487]
I do not think batting where Mo bats allows us to see him in full flow.
I think he should be dropped but that would be it for him I am afraid.
We should have always played him as a specialist batsman to allow him to develop, much like we should do for Vince...
Mo was a part time spinner for his county but made to be a specialist spinner for his country...preposterous...
Ballance does not cut the mustard for me.
[/quote]
Agreed on Mo with his bowling. In all honesty, I think he is a victim of his own success. After that magical series against India, expectations were suddenly extremely high and he was looked at as a frontline spinner - something he isn't. It is a shame that he decided to scrap the doosra.
[quote author=dillinger10 link=topic=105330.msg703566#msg703566 date=1468867333]
I think Colonel Mustard has a better chance of getting an England call up than Phil at this point ;D
[/quote]
You boys are cracking me up on this very humid evening......nice one Dilly.
