Now I’d axe Sibley, let Jonny open and slip Foakes in at 7
Another result in Sri Lanka should not come as a surprise — they don’t do draws — but my suggested england changes for the second test might do. there has been a clamour for Surrey wicketkeeper Ben Foakes to play and, 1-0 up in the series, what’s the solution? I would drop Dom Sibley. he doesn’t look like making a run.
Jonny Bairstow scored 82 for once out this week, batting at three, so I would move him one place higher, ask Dan Lawrence to come in at first-wicket down and slip Foakes in at seven — then you win the series.
I will explain my thinking. During the 2019 Ashes, england came up with a hare- brained scheme to promote one of the openers from one- day cricket to open in test match cricket.
But in Jason roy they picked the wrong one. Bairstow has six test centuries and has proved a real addition to the team whenever he has been recalled.
there is also competition for the gloves. Yes, Jos Buttler was excellent in this match but england are always mindful of fielding a long batting line-up and Foakes’s inclusion would enhance that.
Sri Lanka will ensure the second test pitch is a ragging, Bunsen burner — and that should encourage rotation behind the stumps because in that heat, being up, down, up, down is energy-sapping.
there will be lots of spin bowled and it will be hard on the body.
People readily accept plans to swap the fast bowlers to counter fatigue. But what about the physical demands placed on the wicketkeeper? that’s some job. In such extreme conditions you can freshen up players. For example, they will be saying to Stuart Broad, ‘ three wickets, fantastic effort, now put your feet up.’
A top-notch player left on the bench, just as would happen in football. nothing to do with his performance in the last match, but because the manager wants him fully firing in the one that follows. MY TEAM: CRAWLEY, BAIRSTOW, LAWRENCE, ROOT (capt), BUTTLER, CURRAN, FOAKES (wkt), BESS, LEACH, MAHMOOD, ANDERSON.
NASSER HUSSAIN
not for me, Bumble. I would play the same batsmen, retain Jos Buttler as wicketkeeper and keep the same spinners. Jack Leach and Dom Bess need to keep bowling and improving. the rotation should be restricted to the seamers.
there are 16 more tests this year and, with back-breaking conditions for the faster men in Galle, I would rest some if not all that played in the first one. So, Jimmy Anderson for Stuart Broad, olly Stone for Mark Wood and possibly Chris Woakes for Sam Curran — although the latter could justifiably be given another game as he was not over-bowled. MY TEAM: SIBLEY, CRAWLEY, BAIRSTOW, ROOT (capt), LAWRENCE, BUTTLER (wkt), CURRAN/WOAKES, BESS, LEACH, STONE, ANDERSON.
PAUL NEWMAN
SorrY, Bumble, bonkers to suggest dropping Dom Sibley after one poor test. Yes, he will be under pressure from rory Burns when england go to India, but he has shown he can make it’s test centuries and trying to replicate that in Asia is the next and biggest stage of his development.
But I would bring in Jimmy Anderson for Stuart Broad and olly Stone for Mark Wood. otherwise, england should be unchanged. MY TEAM: SIBLEY, CRAWLEY, BAIRSTOW, ROOT (capt), LAWRENCE, BUTTLER (wkt), CURRAN, BESS, LEACH, STONE, ANDERSON.
LAWRENCE BOOTH
I Don’t think you can drop Dom Sibley after one bad test. With five more games to come in Sri Lanka and India, you’d be admitting he shouldn’t have come on tour in the first place. If he’s going to make it as a long-term opener, he has to be given a chance to work out how to play spin in Asia.
the changes I would make are to the bowling, for reasons of rest and rotation: Anderson for Broad, the pace of olly Stone for the pace of Mark Wood, who tends not to play back-to-back tests because of his history with injuries, and Chris Woakes for Sam Curran, to strengthen the lower-order batting a touch. MY TEAM: SIBLEY, CRAWLEY, BAIRSTOW, ROOT (capt), LAWRENCE, BUTTLER (wkt), WOAKES, BESS, LEACH, STONE, ANDERSON.
RICHARD GIBSON
You’Ve certainly opened a debate with this one, Bumble, but the changes should be reserved for the bowling unit. the pre-series plan to share new-ball duties between Broad and Anderson should be acted upon and I’d also add a third spinner.
Seldom have genuinely fast bowlers been successful at Galle. And when Australia’s Mitchell Starc did well five years ago, with match figures of 11 for 94, Sri Lanka still won by a landslide of 229 runs courtesy of 18 wickets via spin and a run out.
Drier conditions later this week suggest the turning ball will play an even more prominent role in the second match than the first, so I’d select one of the wrist-spinners, Matt Parkinson or Mason Crane, from the reserve ranks. MY TEAM: SIBLEY, CRAWLEY, BAIRSTOW, ROOT (capt), LAWRENCE, BUTTLER (wkt), CURRAN, BESS, LEACH, PARKINSON/CRANE,
ANDERSON.