Certainly wouldn’t be against dropping Burns for anyone to be honest.

And yes, I mean anybody. Literally, anybody.

Believe it or not (and this probably shows how useless the rest of the England batting is) but I read yesterday that Burns is England second highest run scorer in 2021, after Root !

Think he got a big hundred against NZ and a couple of decent knocks against India, in the Summer.

I feel he deserves one more chance. Not convinced Crawley would do any better.

Is the cupboard that bare? Surely with the amount of cricket played in England there should be someone that can play the 5 day game. Is the County cricket turning into more white ball than red ball?

Very much so. Driven by 1) The ECB desire to win the 2019 WC, 2) The ECB feeling that they got usurped by the IPL (after the Stanford debacle) & 3) Money (white ball brings in the crowds)

The ECB-designed calendar for the last few years has prioritised white ball being played in the summer months of July & Aug, with red ball largely being shunted to April, May & September.

Can Malan open?

In theory, Yes. So can/could Compton, Root, Carberry, Robson, Trott, Lyth, Ali, Buttler, Hales, Duckett, Jennings, Stoneman, Denly, Roy, Crawley & Sibley.

The problem with Malan opening is that you lose him as a #3, although I appreciate that if Burns or Hameed again fall early, Malan is almost opening anyway…

They won’t change Burns after just one Test in a 5 Test series. If he fails again in Adelaide, they may well make a change.

One down, one to go….

Hope you cashed out

Ha! No, they were individual bets so I was happy to let the Palace bet lose. Still well up on the cricket/F1/football yesterday :p

:)

Hazelwood out of next test.

Hazelwood is an excellent bowler so will be missed, but the Aussies are still too strong IMO.

Hard to replace such a brilliant line and length bowler that can swing it both ways a bit and seam it like he can. Not the easiest player to replace, will be a reasonable hole to fill.

Maybe we could ask for a loan. Anderson or Broad could fill the hole:D

Or Woakes, he'll be the one most likely to go for Kimmy and Broady.

I've never seen Jye Richardson bowl Bones, what's he like?

Played some T20 and 50 over games for Aus. Plays Shield cricket for WA.
He’s not that big but can send them down at a decent clip. Can swing it both ways as well. Not sure of his ability over a 5 day Test but he’s worth his chance and has been really consistent for the past 2/3 years. I haven’t seen to much of him either tbh. He’s a yard or two quicker than Hazlewood I reckon.

Not much in the above but it’s all I can remember off the top of my head.

We have to stick with Burns as in reality there is no other option unless we shuffle the pack around but that will only mean weakening another position, the alternative if he fails again could maybe we see Bairstow come in? its a sorry state to be in so early on.
Surely the selectors should have realised Burns with his "shuffling across" the crease style was always going to be an issue with the Aussie quickies and so it is turning out to be, and with the still struggling Hameed at the other end we were always going to struggle to build a crucial opening stand.
Going to be a long hard slog ahead for our boys.

Warner in real doubt apparently. Not sure who replaces him as opener, whether we push someone up the order or find another opening bat.

If i was a betting man, I think they'll push someone up the order and bring in a middle order bat.

Khawaja could open, no?

Yeah good call. Got be honest though, he's in real good form but i think he's one of those players to good for domestic cricket but not good enough at test level.
I think you might be on the money though with Khawaja being selected. Not sure if they'll open him though. Hmm, they probably will.