Will England: (A) play Bethell at 3 and let Pope keep the gloves OR (B) play Pope at 3 and give OG Robinson the gloves? I doubt they’ll do (C) which is to drop Pope, play Bethell at 3 and give OG Robinson the gloves #cricket - ThreadSky

wgrumblepants.bsky.social • 96 days ago

Will England:

(A) play Bethell at 3 and let Pope keep the gloves

OR

(B) play Pope at 3 and give OG Robinson the gloves?

I doubt they’ll do (C) which is to drop Pope, play Bethell at 3 and give OG Robinson the gloves

#cricket

Comments

cowcornerjack.bsky.social•96 days ago

I think they should go (C) but will go (B). Management have seen plenty of Pope already, and think it would be harsh to drop Bethell. I know he didn't have many to chase down in 2nd innings, but feel he needs to get another go and show what he can do. Can't judge him off the first innings.

wgrumblepants.bsky.social•96 days ago

I’d love Bethell to get another chance to show what he can do.

brigademodels.co.uk•96 days ago

I doubt they'll change a winning team, so A. But it's all very much a stop-gap situation with Smith bound to come back in the summer.

johnners13.bsky.social•96 days ago

Probably B

cricketbear73.bsky.social•96 days ago

I think A, I’m not sure they will want to change a winning side

bigdannyspencer.bsky.social•96 days ago

(D).
Drop Crawley. Stokes to open.

wgrumblepants.bsky.social•96 days ago

That one’s outside the box!

giraffepig.bsky.social•96 days ago

I think C is more likely than you imagine, the management don't seem to be respecting the opposition at all, it's all just looking for the next ashes, they'll lose tests and series trying to be better for next AUS, it's awful

fishinoz.bsky.social•96 days ago

They should opt for C... they will actually go for B and Pope will bat 3 and score 22 runs across both inns. Mark my words!!!

fishinoz.bsky.social•93 days ago

Like a man in orthopedic shoes.... I stand corrected!

vaibhav-mu.bsky.social•96 days ago

Not dropping Pope after he actually scored some runs.

tjm1966.bsky.social•96 days ago

I agree, but he’s not a number 3.

manchesterogs.bsky.social•96 days ago

I would like them to go B. Pope needs to nail down 3 if he is going to play and he has too much ability to be discarded. We need a proper keeper and it is an ideal opportunity to look at Robinson. Bethell has done himself no harm, but for now he can cover the top 6 and wait for his chance.

alanmor.bsky.social•96 days ago

B - I think

rogerspac24.bsky.social•96 days ago

A for sure

pad16.bsky.social•96 days ago

I want to see if Bethell can string some innings together,so I would play him at 3 drop pope ,so c for me

glenniron.bsky.social•96 days ago

B for me!

carlwiddows.bsky.social•96 days ago

I think they will go with A. And why not. Keeping wicket and going down the order saved Pope for now and the rest of the decade.

planetjack.bsky.social•96 days ago

Would like it to be A but think it will be B

haveringpish.bsky.social•96 days ago

I think (a) but they will go (b) after very nearly going with (c)

paulwoodhead100.bsky.social•96 days ago

They'll do a) I'd be tempted to do c)

betterpolo.bsky.social•95 days ago

I don't think they'll change the team.

Beyond this series, either Pope and Bethell are in a two-Test shootout for one place, or they give up on wicketkeeping as any sort of specialist function.

betterpolo.bsky.social•95 days ago

Feels slightly absurd to fly in a specialist keeper to be emergency back-up to an emergency stand-in for a non-keeping wicket-keeping reserve to our actual keeper.

Our biggest problem remains that English cricket is short of top three batsmen.

jonhyde1871.bsky.social•96 days ago

simaginfan.bsky.social•96 days ago

Think Pope has saved himself again with his rare decent knock. He's due another one around next April, so would rest him until then 🤣

berwynm.bsky.social•96 days ago

That’s a genuine lol and a follow from me.

simaginfan.bsky.social•96 days ago

🤣👍

pipjcw.bsky.social•96 days ago

I'm fairly sure A

lardyda44.bsky.social•96 days ago

Is B drop Bethell ?

dts1970.bsky.social•96 days ago

It’s a tough one, Pope looked better down the order and Bethell impressed in both innings, so I’m gonna say (a)

What do you think?

wgrumblepants.bsky.social•96 days ago

I suspect that’s what they will do, which is really unfortunate for OG Robinson (having flown half way across the world for the chance to play for England).

dts1970.bsky.social•96 days ago

Yeah, agreed. It feels as though long term he’ll get a chance though, Smith looks too good to be stuck batting down the order and I think he’ll play as a specialist batter before too long

frankiewirefox.bsky.social•96 days ago

They should go with (b)

They'll probably choose (a)

Robinson is a rare talent

wesleymcdonald.bsky.social•96 days ago

Don’t change a winning team

Both Pope and Bethell deserve to play after the performances in the last test

jameash89.bsky.social•96 days ago

Exactly this. Plus the long term plan is to reinstate Smith anyway, so there’s little point giving another player a debut while also potentially damaging Pope or Bethell’s confidence. You’d imagine Robinson is only available as injury cover

wesleymcdonald.bsky.social•96 days ago

Yeah Smith is the one they like and definitely a powerful batting wicket keeper no need to change untill he is back

Me personally would still prefer Ben Foakes as I want the best wicket keeper

neilpearson26.bsky.social•96 days ago

It will definitely be A. England have gone all in on Bethell in all formats, so it would be odd to drop him after a decent first test. Pope did well enough. It'll be interesting going forward to see how they organise the team when Smith is back. Or is he going to lose out to Pope long term?

sh-berkhamsted.bsky.social•95 days ago

I think they will do (A)

benw87.bsky.social•96 days ago

I think they’ve accidentally stumbled on a solution to a problem that should never have existed.

1. Crawley
2. Duckett
3. Robinson (keeper)
4. Root
5. Brook
6. Pope
7. Stokes

Bethell sits out… for now.

wgrumblepants.bsky.social•96 days ago

Batting a keeper at 3 seems to be considered to be be asking a bit much these days.

benw87.bsky.social•96 days ago

Does he bat there for Durham? Smith is certainly top order for Surrey too. Although you’ll know more than me in relation to Surrey.

wgrumblepants.bsky.social•96 days ago

Robinson bats 5 for Durham I think. Smith doesn’t generally keep for Surrey in FC cricket.

yorkspirlo.bsky.social•95 days ago

Personally, I would go for C but they would never do it

yorkspirlo.bsky.social•95 days ago

I demand that all those who stated 'must have a specialist keeper' go for option 2. Or was it more about hating Bairstow? 🤔

yorkspirlo.bsky.social•95 days ago

Option B, sorry!

lindsaycricket.bsky.social•96 days ago

Considering the current set up, could be (D) give Bethell the gloves, Robinson to open with Pope at 8

tjm1966.bsky.social•96 days ago

Or Duckett to keep

daveherbert.bsky.social•96 days ago

I would consider (E) - if a number 3 should be able to open, Pope to open instead of Crawley, who seems out of touch, keep Bethell at 3 and bring in OR.

siwillo77.bsky.social•96 days ago

cricketdoggie.bsky.social•96 days ago

(A) without doubt. Bethell almost cannot be dropped; the media attention he is receiving he could run as PM!

jardinmondial.bsky.social•96 days ago

The real question is this: what do Baz & Keysey want to learn in the next calendar year before The Ashes? Do they need to check over & over again that Pope is nervy & inconsistent at No3 or do they want to test Bethell & J.Smith at No3 vs multiple opponents and give O.Robinson a decent go at WK?

jardinmondial.bsky.social•96 days ago

Also, remember the last time the starkness of the No3 spot was exposed by a Starc mess? First ball last Ashes down under. Who came in next? The resolute & compact Dawid Malan. Got an 80 that match. The Aussies would love a nervy Pope walking out first drop as opposed to a purposive Bethell or Smith.

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