SaintPowelly wrote:I would probably pick Robson too, but apparently Moores is a Carbs fan, and he isn't in bad form this season.
Carbs scored 100* in a T20 and 150* in a List A game vs Lancs last season, so I think there is a fair chance he will be playing limited overs this summer.
It would seem a bit daft not to pick Robson given his recent form , since none of the last three openers tried have altogether convinced.
Not impossible though for Carberry - or even Compton ! - to make a claim for the vacant number three spot , surely ? I for one don't want Bell there ; and if there is no clear "classic number three" emerging at present , then a third opener type as a temporary measure might be the way to go. One would hope that one of Root , Ali , Ballance , Taylor (anyone else you care to name) would be looking good for the place in a year or so ; but in the meantime a little bit of extra defence high in the order could be the least-worst option...
Cook
Robson
Carberry/Compton etc
Bell
Root
Stokes/Woakes
Prior - or another wk
Broad
Finn/Jordan/Bresnan etc
Anderson
...and the eleventh spot going either to a batsman who bowls a bit of spin (bats at six , all down one) or a pure spinner of rabbit class with the bat...
The above isn't perhaps what I want to see , or expect to see...but you could argue for it without being certified , I think.
Still like to see early season form rewarded this time round : in times past England often seemed to wait until someone lost form , and only then selected him...