Arthur makes a good point. Once the innings had been at least put back into something resembling normal cricket it would surely have been better for Bairstow and Willey ( who by then didn't look to be having too much trouble with the bowling) to set themselves to just bat the overs - and if that meant 245 , so be it. At least it would have offered some hopes of defending if - as did appear to happen to an extent - the ball did a bit again after lunch .
Instead they seemed to be still after the now usual six per over...
Does this show a bit of a lack of flexibility in the team plan ? Certainly the early bats totally failed to adapt to the conditions or the situation.
OK it is nice to say "play with no fear" and "this is just a hiccup" ...but if they get a couple of sporty pitches for NZ and Australia and play like that the show could be over pretty quickly !
Not to panic - Morgan probably just wants to sound positive ( though if it had been , oh , Cook or Moores saying that he'd have been kicked to death on here
) Hopefully they have taken it on board internally ; and Root probably won't go so cheaply - to a good ball - too often.
The other issue is Roy. Morgan seems to have no concerns ; but when does faith become stubborn refusal to face reality ? He may come out firing against Bangladesh... and if he does we know how devastating he can be. But what if he fails again ?Do they still keep faith for NZ and Australia ?
It isn't just his lack of runs that bothers me ; but the fact that he's had very little time in the middle for months now. He has been a strong member of a winning team but that doesn't guarantee he will find form overnight - and I wonder if it should guarantee him a place ahead of a player who looks to be in excellent form but can't find a spot ?
If Bairstow were a regular opener I'd call it an open and shut case . As it is I can see the point in maintaining the "shape" In hopes it all comes right on the night. But I feel it is far from a clear decision and if they were to make a change I would not categorize it as a knee jerk reaction or any sort of panic. Indeed if they stick with the status quo and it all goes pear shaped then criticism of pigheadedness might be hard to deflect. Given all the optimism surrounding this team I hope for the selectors' sake that whatever they do decide pays off . The English cricket public is not renowned for sympathy and understanding...
Me , I'm just about tossing a coin between batting Bairstow at three after Hales and Root or giving Roy the Bangladesh game
to find form. But I am just a little afraid that even failure against Bangladesh might not sway Morgan's faith - and I think that would be taking continuity a little too far.