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TRO Saracen May 2013 5:41pm, 28 May 2013 7,568 posts	0 TRO Saracen Agreed, all the bollox about 'not being aggressive enough' is just chit chat. England players are centrally contracted and thus don't have 6 weeks of County Cricket to get their eye in and find form in English conditions at the start of the season. Before any 'big' series there is an early summer 2 test series against a lesser nation to do that job (and put more money in the coffers). At the time of the declaration/no declaration we had a bowling attack that had hit its straps big time (Broad/Anderson at Lord's, Swann/Finn at headingley). Enforcing the follow on would have meant the bowlers staying on for time in the middle they did not need, and having a 4 man attack potentially operating for 2 days in the field - not what you want with bigger things round the corner. Then we would probably have won by an innings, and the batsmen, who have a few players misfiring would have missed out on another chance to sharpen up, which they need pretty badly. No brainer to decline the follow on IMO.
Badger May 2013 6:02pm, 28 May 2013 3,710 posts	0 Badger Agree entirely. Nice to be so completely dominant in a 4 day game that you can decide how best to use it as a practice session. The Ashes will be a bit more challenging to say the least!
The Teaboy May 2013 7:40pm, 28 May 2013 7,683 posts	0 The Teaboy Lucky with the weather. I have no real problems with batting again, I just think we should have been more aggressive when we did.
Wobbling May 2013 7:46pm, 28 May 2013 1,966 posts	0 Wobbling Aye, still not sure what Trott was up to on Sunday evening.
Marts May 2013 8:49pm, 28 May 2013 3,845 posts	0 Marts I think we should've enforced the follow-on or batted more aggressively on Sunday evening. We got very lucky with the weather. Compton's innings i understand to some degree as he is under pressure (although I think he should have been told that he's in the side for the 1st Ashes test and to go out and play freely), but Trott scratching around was ludicrous.
postieboy May 2013 10:59pm, 28 May 2013 1,873 posts	0 postieboy Trott is a batsmen of the Geoff Boycott mould. Bats for himself, not the team. Even Andy Flower was critical of his approach on Sunday evening, and he isn't one to criticise his own players. I'd drop Compton and promote Root to open in the Ashes providing Pieterson is fit. Compton reminds me too much of Mark Ramprakash. Gets too tense and forgets how to bat naturally. Root on the other hand looks like a duck to water at international level and has a fine future ahead of him.
Hackett May 2013 6:40am, 29 May 2013 1,438 posts	0 Hackett Big ask to drop Root in as opener in the Ashes. Agreed he looks a natural , reminds me of Atherton in a lot of ways but I think they will stick with Compton if KP isn't fit. If compton goes back to County Cricket gets a couple of 100s job done. If KP is fit then changes have to be made to accomodate him and i dont think it will be. Simple as to drop Bairstow for him. Flower may consider the team need to rejig the batting order and can push Root up to open and KP in at 4. Good to see Cook get back into the runs but now for ICC money making series ..
Wobbling May 2013 8:02am, 29 May 2013 1,967 posts	0 Wobbling KP won't have had much, if any, match practice before the Ashes. I know it's sacrilege to suggest leaving KP out of an Ashes team but without any recent experience with the bat, I doubt the Aussies will fear him that much. He needs the same advice as Compton: go back to your county and score some runs.
Goofee May 2013 8:29am, 29 May 2013 920 posts	0 Goofee Although Root is taking to test cricket like a natural, I think asking him to open in an Ashes series is just a bit too much too soon. If Compton is to lose his place to accommodate Pietersen (which I agree would be a gamble given his lack of match practice) then I see Trott as a natural opener, whether you consider he's playing for himself or the team, he can be a solid foundation on which to build an innings.
Hackett May 2013 8:50am, 29 May 2013 1,448 posts	0 Hackett As we were saying .... @BBCSport: Nick Compton must score "heavy" runs for Somerset to make England's Ashes team, says coach Andy Flower t.co