Third test - Pakistan v England, Dubai

[Driver8]

Does this mean we lose our No 1 ranking?

Yep. We had to win the match to keep it.

 

[fleet]

Yep. We had to win the match to keep it.

It is embarassing to keep it if we are so bad at playing spin, especially away from home.

 

[Gwylan]

Yep. We had to win the match to keep it.

Not quite true.

SA have to beat NZ 3-0 in their test series to overtake us - if they don't do that, we're still number 1

 

[Pavilionaire]

Two words - laughing. stock.

 

[Pevenseagull]

Morgan's test average after 16 matches 30.43 ... not good enough

 

[sten_super]

Morgan's test average after 16 matches 30.43 ... not good enough

Who do you replace him with though? I don't think Bopara is any better, in which case you are probably looking at a debutant in Sri Lanka coming in at 6; someone like James Taylor? Or you look to bring in another bowler, in which case either Samit Patel or (if he's fit) Tim Bresnan.

edit: I should point out that I agree, and I'm not sure that he's a Test player. Out of the options I present I'd play Bresnan at 7, with Prior at 6 and Broad at 8, meaning 3 seamers and 2 spinners. He may not make a huge number of runs but as much as anything else I think he has great character and would certainly have made a better fist of this series than Morgan.

 

[Pevenseagull]

Who do you replace him with though? I don't think Bopara is any better, in which case you are probably looking at a debutant in Sri Lanka coming in at 6; someone like James Taylor? Or you look to bring in another bowler, in which case either Samit Patel or (if he's fit) Tim Bresnan.

edit: I should point out that I agree, and I'm not sure that he's a Test player. Out of the options I present I'd play Bresnan at 7, with Prior at 6 and Broad at 8, meaning 3 seamers and 2 spinners. He may not make a huge number of runs but as much as anything else I think he has great character and would certainly have made a better fist of this series than Morgan.

good call