Alastair Cook has hinted that he may step down as England captain

Alastair Cook has hinted that he may step down as England captain after the India series.

Alastair Cook confirms Haseeb Hameed will make his Test debut tomorrow, with Ben Duckett moved to bat at four.

[quote author=CHAIRMAN link=topic=106944.msg719319#msg719319 date=1478604111]
Alastair Cook confirms Haseeb Hameed will make his Test debut tomorrow, with Ben Duckett moved to bat at four.
[/quote]

I am pleased with this and thought Hameed should have opened in Bangladesh.

I really do not subscribe to this forcing of an over attacking option at the top of the order, especially in sub continental conditions!

Had Hameed had had the tests in Bangladesh he would have gained some experience in local conditions.

Duckett does not seem to have that defensive technique, and he totally admitted to this at the PCA awards ceremony, so the middle order is best for him.

He does remind me of Hughes, stepping away to the legside, but that sort of technique gets found out rapidly, like Hughes was.

I have not really had much time recently so not sure what bowling option we would have but reasonably sure Jimmy would not be playing.

Agreed on Hameed, and was surprised that Duckett got the nod ahead of him for the first Test in Bangladesh.

I thought going back to Ballance for the series against Pakistan was a worthwhile gamble, but after failing again, he never should have been taken on this tour. By taking Ballance, England have painted themselves into a bit of a corner as other than Hameed, Buttler (who has played just one first-class match in the last year) is the only other option in the middle-order. Less than ideal.

Check out Ballance's moving average.



As for the bowlers, it looks as though Jimmy may be fit for the second Test. I would imagine the team for the first Test will look like: Cook©, Hameed, Root, Duckett, Ali, Stokes, Bairstow (wk), Woakes, Rashid, Broad, Batty

Personally, I would look to switch up Bairstow and Mo as Jonny has been England's most consistent batsman this year.

England vs IndiaT20 3 of 3 - India won series 2-1

Wednesday, February 1, 2017
[table][tr][td]202/6 (20)[/td][td]
[/td][td]127/10 (16.3)[/td][td]
won by 3 wickets[/td][/tr][tr][td]India[/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td]
[/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td]
[/td][/tr][tr][td][table][tr][td]Nov 8, 2016
[/td][td]England[/td][td][/td][td]Match drawn[/td][/tr][tr][td]India[/td][/tr][/table][/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td]
[/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td]
[/td][/tr][tr][td][table][tr][td]Wed, Nov 16
[/td][td]India[/td][td][/td][td]India won by 246 runs[/td][/tr][tr][td]England[/td][/tr][/table][/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td]
[/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td]
[/td][/tr][tr][td][table][tr][td]Fri, Nov 25
[/td][td]England[/td][td][/td][td]India won by 8 wickets[/td][/tr][tr][td]India[/td][/tr][/table][/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td]
[/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td]
[/td][/tr][tr][td][table][tr][td]Wed, Dec 7
[/td][td]England[/td][td][/td][td]India won by an innings and 36 runs[/td][/tr][tr][td]India[/td][/tr][/table][/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td]
[/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td]
[/td][/tr][tr][td][table][tr][td]Thu, Dec 15
[/td][td]England[/td][td][/td][td]India won by an innings and 75 runs[/td][/tr][tr][td]India[/td][/tr][/table][/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td]
[/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td]
[/td][/tr][tr][td][table][tr][td]Sun, Jan 15
[/td][td]England[/td][td][/td][td]India won by 3 wickets[/td][/tr][tr][td]India[/td][/tr][/table][/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td]
[/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td]
[/td][/tr][tr][td][table][tr][td]Thu, Jan 19
[/td][td]India[/td][td][/td][td]India won by 15 runs[/td][/tr][tr][td]England[/td][/tr][/table][/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td]
[/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td]
[/td][/tr][tr][td][table][tr][td]Sun, Jan 22
[/td][td]England[/td][td][/td][td]England won by 5 runs[/td][/tr][tr][td]India[/td][/tr][/table][/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td]
[/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td]
[/td][/tr][tr][td][table][tr][td]Thu, Jan 26
[/td][td]India[/td][td][/td][td]England won by 7 wickets[/td][/tr][tr][td]England[/td][/tr][/table][/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td]
[/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td]
[/td][/tr][tr][td][table][tr][td]Sun, Jan 29
[/td][td]India[/td][td][/td][td]India won by 5 runs[/td][/tr][tr][td]England[/td][/tr][/table][/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td]
[/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td]
[/td][/tr][tr][td][table][tr][td]Wed, Feb 1
[/td][td]India[/td][td][/td][td]India won by 75 runs[/td][/tr][tr][td]England[/td][/tr][/table][/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td][/td][td]
[/td][/tr][/table]

After that drubbing he has stepped down !

Where are our AWOL England posters (above)  :-\