England Team Discussion

[wasteyouryouth]

Paul Walter, opening, for Essex has scores of 95, 76, 41* and 104.

I thought I'd come up with a proper crackhead XI for the Zimbabwe Test. This isn't a prediction, but it is what I'd pick if I were doing a Cricket Captain playthrough:

1. Ben Duckett
2. Ben McKinney (debut)
3. Jacob Bethell
4. Joe Root
5. Harry Brook
6. Tom Banton (debut)
7. Ollie Pope
8. Josh Tongue
9. Sam Cook (debut)
10. James Minto (debut)
11. Sonny Baker (debut)

My reasoning is:

• McKinney is a straight up better batter than Crawley
• Bethell earned another crack at Test cricket after his first three caps; he can be half of the spin contingent with Rootalitharan
• No point messing up Stokes' body for a game against Zimbabwe; why not give Banton a go after he has been headline-grabbingly excellent in the Championship for a couple of seasons.
• Pope is still the Test vice-captain; the best way he fits in my team is as keeper so that is what he'll be.
• Then four seamers who I want to see in England kit for various reasons. Again, no point knackering any front-line picks ahead of India and Australia.

Paul Walter, opening, for Essex has scores of 95, 76, 41* and 104.

 

[Aislabie]

Paul Walter, opening, for Essex has scores of 95, 76, 41* and 104.

Get him in! Man's a hero

 

[Aislabie]

They're going to keep Zak Crawley in the squad rather than picking Ben McKinney?! I am at an absolute loss