KipperJohn wrote:It will be very tough at the MCG - which is why I'd like to see Ballance in instead of Bopara. Only 2 overs bowled again today so that part of his game barely seems to matter. If he isn't going to bowl, or only as a last resort then bring in a better bat with a clearer mind.
Definitely need to put some robustness into the middle order with Morgan finding runs hard to come by.
When the chips are down forget all the talk about balance of the side, winning the toss and such like - this will be about strength of character and playing the situation.
If Moores can make tough decisions he'd put Ballance at 5 and move Morgan to 6 - can always change the order as necessary.
I too would bring Ballance in to replace Bopara but I'd have hin open with Bell and move Moeen to 6. Moeen claims he's overcome his problem with the the rising ball but I see no evidence that there's much truth in that. Even today against good but not really fast bowling, he looked uncomfortable. I think he'd do better lower in the order when the ball has lost some of it's hardness.
Although Ballance only achieved a 70% S/R that was mainly due to taking 20 deliveries over his first 3 runs, after which he scored 54 off 61 deliveries. Not bad for his first outing.