Sorry! Bairstow as a wicket keeper just doesn't cut it.

[Sennockian69]

As about as useful to a winning cause as Hadler is in the National League.

[61666]

For me, Bairstow should be opening, instead of Crawley, with Foakes as keeper. Australia would be all out by now and we would still have got the same first innings score.

[moley]

Provided they can bat a bit (and Foakes more than that) always pick your best keeper

Also Bairstow is a fantastic fielder and lord knows we need that

btw, Ben Foakes father was a referee who had a few Stones games in the 80s/early 90s, but I'm sure you knew that

[61666]

There is an argument to say that Bairstow should be dropped after his ridiculous stumping yesterday. Ok, Aussies play hard and not entirely fairly, but JB clearly not concentrating in giving his wicket away like that. Foakes for me and wouldn't pick Crawley for the next test either. With Pope looking an injury worry and Jimmy past his best, there should be a few changes for Headingly, but they don't like doing that unless they have to.

[sword65]

The Lords members put up a better fight than half the England team. Bairstows dismissal was legal ,he was just dozy, but not as dozy as Stokes. Stokes bludgeoned some piss poor Aussie bowling and got us to within 70 runs for victory. 70 runs in 40 overs at 1.75 runs per over. Proper cricket from then on and the series would be level but he couldn't control himself ,he wanted to win it in 5 overs. Poor choice,and poor management who should have curtailed his suicidal tendency.

[moley]

We should not be 2-0 down, if we could actually hold half of the catches we have shelled and NOT fall in to the trap of trying to hit short bowling out of the ground, when alternatively we can let the Aussies tire themselves out and then take advantage later. It is Test cricket taking 5 days for a reason, you still win whether you do it in 3 days or off the last ball of the 5th, Bazball does not allow for the ebbs and flows you need to be successful, that's why the Aussie attitude and game plan is superior, even though they are not the best Australian team I have seen and should be beatable, if only we could use a bit of common sense.

Not sure I would drop Crawley, he is not an opener but the ideal replacement for Pope, maybe Bairstow could open, he would be no worse?

[moley]

btw I agree Bairstow was a bit dozy, but lesson (hopefully) learned for future test matches, not the most sporting thing but these are Aussies after all