England announce Joe Denly will open, Jason Roy to drop to #4, Craig Overton in for 4th Ashes Test

[Abdullah719]

England have made one change to the team for the fourth Specsavers Ashes Test starting at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Somerset bowler Craig Overton replaces Chris Woakes from the side that won the third Test at Headingley.

Three Lions captain Joe Root has also confirmed that Joe Denly will move to the top of the batting order to open with Rory Burns, with Jason Roy set to bat at No 4.

The Ashes series is level at 1-1 with two Tests to play after Ben Stokes dramatic 135 not out inspired the Three Lions to victory by one wicket in the third Test at Headingley.

England team for fourth Specsavers Ashes Test: Rory Burns, Joe Denly, Joe Root (c), Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (w), Jos Buttler, Craig Overton, Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach.

https://www.ecb.co.uk/england/men/news/1335805/england-name-team-for-fourth-ashes-test

 

[Sir-fraz]

i still dont think moving roy will save his test career. but fact is they have no one else to play..

 

[jnaveen1980]

They are trying to make something out of Roy? Is England woefully short of test players? Look deep. There must be some South African or New Zealander playing for some county

 

[introvert]

interesting choice of picking Overton over curran.

 

[Manunited18]

They are trying to make something out of Roy? Is England woefully short of test players? Look deep. There must be some South African or New Zealander playing for some county

Lol, ha ha ha

 

[Ab Fan]

Rather should have swapped Denly and Root.

 

[Justcrazy]

It will be really closely fought Series.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Old trafford usually has pace and decent bounce in surface so overtons selection makes sense.

I think denly opening is a good move. Longterm i cant see Roy doing much as test player even at 4.

 

[The Viper]

It’s the right call in the circumstances. It was too risky trying Roy as an opener. At least Denly has opened before and did make a batting 50 in his last innings.

 

[Ahmed_99]

I thought Sam Curran was next in the pecking order. He's performed pretty decently when given the opportunity and strengthens the batting too. Good move to drop Roy done the order becuase he's struggled too much as an opener. He may have a future as a test opener down the line but for England's ashes chances it's important he bats lower against a slightly older ball

 

[sweep_shot]

Jason Roy should be dropped. This guy is a walking wicket in Test.

Play Curran instead of this hack.

 

[Savak]

They are banking on Roy to be their game changer. Best to keep him away from the new ball

 

[Robert]

I thought Sam Curran was next in the pecking order. He's performed pretty decently when given the opportunity and strengthens the batting too. Good move to drop Roy done the order becuase he's struggled too much as an opener. He may have a future as a test opener down the line but for England's ashes chances it's important he bats lower against a slightly older ball

Overton was considered a better bet in this deck.

 

[Ab Fan]

England will need Joe Root's prolific run-scoring back if they want to win more games and establish atleast home dominance. The problem is that he isn't able to score a lot of runs lately and hence batting has been the concern for England.

Till now, you would have thought Bairstow to take his average over 40 and Buttler to have established himself, neither happened yet. Only Stokes has been the positive in the batting.

 

[Titan24]

It was a poor move to open with Roy even at the start of the series, he even plays in the middle order for his county team in 4 day cricket and doesnt has a prolific record even in that position let alone opening the batting in test cricket against the likes of Cummins and Hazlewood. On the other hand Denly has opened in 4 day cricket for the most part of his career.

Playing Craig Overton over Sam Curran is also another strange move unless Eng's management thinks Overton has better control which he clearly hasnt shown today by going at economy of more than 4 rpo. Sam Curran would have provided much more with the bat as well along with left arm variety and angle.

 

[James]

Denly has probably done enough to keep his place.

 

[HappyWarsFan]

Denly has probably done enough to keep his place.

Would be a farce if he was to keep playing. It's such an Asad Shafiq innings, fail the whole series then do good last innings.

England really should call Sibley in. He looks like a good player.

 

[Saj]

This England batting line-up has to be one of their weakest ever.

Several rather ordinary batsmen in there.

 

[James]

Would be a farce if he was to keep playing. It's such an Asad Shafiq innings, fail the whole series then do good last innings.

England really should call Sibley in. He looks like a good player.

He scored a crucial half century at Headingley as well, in the successful run chase.

 

[MenInG]

This England batting line-up has to be one of their weakest ever.

Several rather ordinary batsmen in there.

Yes - not impressed by some of these IPL/T20 specialists masquerading as Test batsmen

 

[Ab Fan]

Roy, Bairstow and Buttler have been huge disappointments.

But do they have a replacement??

Burns and Denly, these two itself are 29 and 33 years old respectively.

 

[Markhor]

Joke selections.

Bring in Sibley for Denly, Pope for Roy and Foakes for Buttler for 5th Test.

 

[The Viper]

Standards are low for England.

Sibley and Pope should have been selected.

 

[Last Monetarist]

Think it would be harsh to drop Denly after his application at the crease during the last two tests, he may not have scored much but he deserves credit for digging in against this Australian attack. That to me shows a degree of mental fortitude which England probably lack in the test team.

However, Pope definitely needs to be selected instead of Roy in the middle order, and there's room for only one of Bairstow or Buttler with Foakes to slot in as keeper.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Denly should be persisted with as opener for a few more series. Cant keep chopping and changing at top of the order.

Roy is a white ball specialist and Technic is simply not good enough for test cricket.

 

[Ram Shekhar]

What a joke. Denly, Buttler, Roy, Root. How did England think they can win with these useless players in their side? The best player - the one they imported from Zimbabwe - Sam Curran is not played and they think they can win without him. Pathetic team. Glad that Australia rightfully thumped them in their own conditions.