Sellsy's Monday Supplement

At about 7.00 am Tuesday morning England’s new hero Ben Stokes will bring up his double century to secure victory in the third Ashes Test, and then no doubt my alarm will go off to wake me from my dream! 

Even though Ben has given us supporters some hope on the fourth day, I do think he is delaying the inevitable. The Ashes are lost; there is no doubt about it, so let’s move on.

 

What next for England, or should I say who’s next? Well they have two more Tests to play, some pointless One Day Internationals and T20 games and then a trip back to Blighty – some might say on the slowest steam ship you can find. 

 

Between the Aussie trip and the English season in 2014, England have some ODI’s in the West Indies and then it’s World T20 series, but this is just a bit of fun before Test series against Sri Lanka and India next summer. Who will survive between the inevitable in Perth to the first Test in June at Lord’s? 

 

There are players in the current squad who have distinguished careers and their Test record proves this. But some are getting near or even past their sell-by-date. So is it time to say to some of these guy’s thanks and goodbye. Or should we question the coach, Andy Flower, and his back-up team, have they past their sell-by-date? 

 

Yes, it’s prediction time, or should I say my point of view. The Ashes are good as lost, so why not experiment with some players who have not featured so far in the series, or even look at some guys who are playing in the Academy out there in Aus. 

With Jonathan Trott now missing from the fold, there is an opportunity for someone to step up and come in to the England set-up and make number three his own. I don’t think Joe Root should be there at three, he is an opener, so let him open. Michael Carberry has had his chance, made a few scores, but not gone on to make a telling score.

 

I would like to see England give Gary Ballance an opportunity at three, Kevin Pietersen at four, Ian Bell at five, and then comes six and seven, seven being the wicketkeeper. Matt Prior should now give way. He has had an absolute nightmare series, with the bat and especially behind the stumps. Missed stumpings, catches he should be going for, sloppy keeping letting byes go between his legs etc. The wicketkeeper is a central part of a fielding unit, if he does well behind the stumps; the whole team aspires to this. Jonny Bairstow should be given a chance in Melbourne.

 

Ben Stokes will keep his place at six for now, the England need to decide what they want from him, a third seamer who can bat, a genuine all rounder or a batsman who is your fourth seamer. I must admit I do like the look of Ben; he has impressed me with his aptitude, his desire and his never say die attitude (yes have a go at Warner, Johnson and co.). 

 

If the batting is a problem, the bowling unit is a nightmare. I just can’t see where the next wicket is going to come from. Boyd Rankin should now step in, if Broad is fit or not. You must keep James Anderson in the side, and for now continue with Tim Bresnan. Then after the series is over have a look at other options.

The next two Tests I would line-up as: Alastair Cook, Joe Root, Gary Ballance, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann (just), Boyd Rankin and James Anderson. When finished say goodbye to Flower and co. 

Then for the first Test against Sri Lanka in June: James Harris for Bresnan, Danny Briggs for Swann and Jos Buttler for Bairstow. Then tell the likes of James Taylor, Eoin Morgan, go back to County cricket and heavily nudge the selectors. And also tell the likes of Matt Prior, Ravi Bopara, Samit Patel and Chris Tremlett, goodbye! 

All this may seem that I’m hitting the panic button, but what I’ve seen and heard over the last three Tests changes need to be made. Look at Andre Villas-Boas, two thumping’s and he’s been sacked (had to have a dig at Spurs!). 

Anyway, enough of my point of view, I may off calmed down by next week. Time for a Thatchers me thinks, well it is 5.27!