Stick with a team that has been thrashed by Australia or ring in the changes?
That is the dilemma facing England’s selectors when they meet Tuesday to select a team for the third Ashes Test after a humbling at the hands of Australia in the second Test at Lord’s that finished prematurely on Sunday.
“There are some good players on the outside and we’ve got a selection meeting,” said England’s coach Trevor Bayliss, an Australian appointed shortly before the start of the five-match Ashes series. “I’m not going to speculate on what exactly will happen until Tuesday.”
That did not stop just about every England cricket fan from speculating on Monday after England collapsed to 103 all out in their second innings.
That was 405 runs short of what they needed to avoid defeat as Australia rediscovered their lost form, after losing the first Test in Cardiff, to set England a final innings run chase of 509 runs.
Such a failure has some England fans ruminating on how many players to drop. The bowlers were generally spared from criticism, but a list of batsmen – including opener Adam Lyth and Gary Ballance, Ian Bell and Jos Buttler – are all in the firing line. Buttler has been successful as a wicketkeeper so will probably be spared although he scored only 13 and 11 at Lord’s.
England’s real problem is the top order.
“Eight times in the last seven Tests England has been 50 or less for three after 15 overs,” said former-captain and opener Mike Atherton, pointing out a problem that threatens to cripple England.
Captain Alastair Cook has rediscovered his form this year. He was in the runs in the home series against New Zealand and scored 96 at Lord’s in the first innings, England’s highest scorer in the game.
But apart from a century against New Zealand, Lyth has failed and Cook’s quest for a convincing opening partner continues. There has not been a settled partner since Andrew Strauss retired three years ago. Bayliss said players needed confidence.
“They are obviously good players and the reason they are in the team is because they are thought of as the best players in England at the moment,” he said.
Ballance has scored heavily in the past, but Australia appear to have exposed a fundamental flaw in his complete lack of foot movement, a rare fault in an international batsman that has been concealed by an impressive eye for the ball.
Veteran batsman Ian Bell, one of England’s classiest players until recently, has only managed 128 runs in his past six games for England.
At 33, there are calls for Bell to be put out to grass.
England may fiddle with the batting order, promoting in-form batsman Joe Root to No 3 from his present position at No 5, where he has found himself struggling with the tail.
Bayliss also weighed into the debate about English pitches after Australian bowlers found life in a wicket where England could get almost no bounce or movement.
“We’ve got no control over what the wickets are like, but certainly a flat wicket plays into the Australians’ hands,” Bayliss said. “We want to win this series and for anyone to win a series you have to take 20 wickets per match.
“A flat wicket suits not only their batters but also the bowling attack they’ve got, more so than it does ours.”
While England was collapsing on Sunday, Jonny Bairstow was busy scoring a century and showing he is in the form of his life for his county Yorkshire.
Bairstow averages over 100 this season and is the favourite to be given another chance for England.
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Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
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Emirates Cricket Board Women’s T10
ECB Hawks v ECB Falcons
Monday, April 6, 7.30pm, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
The match will be broadcast live on the My Sports Eye Facebook page
Hawks
Coach: Chaitrali Kalgutkar
Squad: Chaya Mughal (captain), Archara Supriya, Chamani Senevirathne, Chathurika Anand, Geethika Jyothis, Indhuja Nandakumar, Kashish Loungani, Khushi Sharma, Khushi Tanwar, Rinitha Rajith, Siddhi Pagarani, Siya Gokhale, Subha Srinivasan, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish
Falcons
Coach: Najeeb Amar
Squad: Kavisha Kumari (captain), Almaseera Jahangir, Annika Shivpuri, Archisha Mukherjee, Judit Cleetus, Ishani Senavirathne, Lavanya Keny, Mahika Gaur, Malavika Unnithan, Rishitha Rajith, Rithika Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Shashini Kaluarachchi, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Vaishnave Mahesh
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
The specs: 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali
Price, base / as tested Dh207,846 / Dh220,000
Engine 6.2L V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 420hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque 624Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined 13.5L / 100km
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Company%20Profile
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The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
On the menu
First course
▶ Emirati sea bass tartare Yuzu and labneh mayo, avocado, green herbs, fermented tomato water
▶ The Tale of the Oyster Oyster tartare, Bahraini gum berry pickle
Second course
▶ Local mackerel Sourdough crouton, baharat oil, red radish, zaatar mayo
▶ One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Quail, smoked freekeh, cinnamon cocoa
Third course
▶ Bahraini bouillabaisse Venus clams, local prawns, fishfarm seabream, farro
▶ Lamb 2 ways Braised lamb, crispy lamb chop, bulgur, physalis
Dessert
▶ Lumi Black lemon ice cream, pistachio, pomegranate
▶ Black chocolate bar Dark chocolate, dates, caramel, camel milk ice cream
MOTHER%20OF%20STRANGERS
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
CREW
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Tips for entertaining with ease
· Set the table the night before. It’s a small job but it will make you feel more organised once done.
· As the host, your mood sets the tone. If people arrive to find you red-faced and harried, they’re not going to relax until you do. Take a deep breath and try to exude calm energy.
· Guests tend to turn up thirsty. Fill a big jug with iced water and lemon or lime slices and encourage people to help themselves.
· Have some background music on to help create a bit of ambience and fill any initial lulls in conversations.
· The meal certainly doesn’t need to be ready the moment your guests step through the door, but if there’s a nibble or two that can be passed around it will ward off hunger pangs and buy you a bit more time in the kitchen.
· You absolutely don’t have to make every element of the brunch from scratch. Take inspiration from our ideas for ready-made extras and by all means pick up a store-bought dessert.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
SPECS
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Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
A Prayer Before Dawn
Director: Jean-Stephane Sauvaire
Starring: Joe Cole, Somluck Kamsing, Panya Yimmumphai
Three stars