[Cricket] England v India. Third Test. 18-22 Aug. Trent Bridge. (Curran dropped for Stokes).

[larus]

Well, that seems harsh to me on Curran. He’s come in and done well, yet gets replaced straight away.

Yes, Stokes is a good cricketer (ignoring his off field antics), but after all the talk this week about Stokes needing to apologise, make amends etc., he’s straight back in. I’d have preferred that he was forced to wait at least 1 test.

Probably irrelevant to the outcome at Trent Bridge anyway. Englands bowlers usually do well here and the Indians look weak against any seam/swing, and that’s assuming the Kohli can play.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Ridiculous decision. Drop Buttler instead. It reeks of favouritism.

 

[big nuts]

Ridiculous decision. Drop Buttler instead. It reeks of favouritism.

We’d have a six man bowling attack if we did that. Not really needed with India barely able to score 200 in this series.

Harsh for the lad but probably the right call as I wouldn’t drop Woakes, Anderson or Broad.

I’d only drop Buttler for another specialist batsman. Not sure who though? Ian Bell is back playing well, could do a lot worse.

 

[ManOfSussex]

Steve James called for this yesterday in The Times.

[tweet]1030426653816762368[/tweet]

 

[Eeyore]

Bad, bad, bad.

The kid has done well and his confidence is sky high.

Rotten decision. Okay, he was found not guilty, but it's still wrong.

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

It is incredibly harsh and I hope he's back in the side soon but if we need to keep a spin option in Rashid I can't see who else would come out for him?

Buttler is incredibly lucky to still be in the side and if he doesn't get a score this match I do think he should be dropped but as Big Nuts says above, it would have to be for another specialist batsman.

 

[Luke93]

On batting form alone, Curren should be in the side ahead of Jennings, Malan and Buttler.

5 quicks and Raahid is too many bowlers though. Still, a wonderful problem to have!

 

[dazzer6666]

Seems harsh on Curran but it's the right decision - his time will come soon enough. Cant play all of Stokes, Woakes and Curran as the balance of the side would be wrong.

 

[studio150]

Ridiculous decision. Drop Buttler instead. It reeks of favouritism.

Vice Captain, and averaged 80.5 in the series against Pakistan earlier in the summer.

 

[dejavuatbtn]

Difficult to justify changing a winning side and dropping one of the players of the series to date. CPS got it wrong with the charge and he should thank his lucky stars he’s not banged up as an example. Fair do’s though, they have rightfully let him back in the fold but I for one would have liked to see him bringing on the drinks for this one

 

[Beanstalk]

Regardless of what has happened, should you change a team that have just won a test by an innings? Not in my book.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

If the ball moves at all at Trent Bridge, Rashid will not bowl in the match (maybe the traditional 'one over before lunch', if he's lucky).

For me there were two better options to accommodate Stokes:

1. Leave out Rashid, and rely on Root to bowl any little spin that is required.
2. Leave out Buttler AND Rashid, and bring in Stokes, plus Moeen to bat at five and provide and spin required.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Difficult to justify changing a winning side and dropping one of the players of the series to date.

Stokes himself is also 'one of the players of the series to date'. The series would be stood at 1-1 but for his efforts on the Sunday morning of the first Test.

 

[pasty]

It's a tough one on Curran, but lets be honest, the moment the jury foreman uttered the words "not guilty", it was going to happen.

 

[Marshy]

that is bloody harsh on Curran in my opinion.

Bloody harsh. Not like the lad could do a lot more to keep his place.

 

[dejavuatbtn]

Stokes himself is also 'one of the players of the series to date'. The series would be stood at 1-1 but for his efforts on the Sunday morning of the first Test.

Difficult to justify changing a winning side AND dropping ONE of the players of the series to date.

 

[Giraffe]

If the ball moves at all at Trent Bridge, Rashid will not bowl in the match (maybe the traditional 'one over before lunch', if he's lucky).

For me there were two better options to accommodate Stokes:

1. Leave out Rashid, and rely on Root to bowl any little spin that is required.
2. Leave out Buttler AND Rashid, and bring in Stokes, plus Moeen to bat at five and provide and spin required.

2. is a great shout.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Vice Captain, and averaged 80.5 in the series against Pakistan earlier in the summer.

0,1, and 24 in THIS series, only recalled because the selectors had run out of options for batsmen.

I'd put Stokes in for his batting ahead of Buttler in the test arena, and having another bowling option means the seam attack facing India will be RELENTLESS.

If you put good young players into a test side and they grasp the opportunity with both hands, making match-winning contributions with bat and ball you do NOT then drop them, especially for a bloke who's just avoided a stretch by the skin of his teeth.

 

[dazzer6666]

Bit like dropping Goldson after he was MOTM when he stepped in I suppose.........

 

[BensGrandad]

I would have dropped Jennings and moved Bairstow up to try as an opener with Cook. as he does it well in the village green game.