The Ashes

[minestrone]

Just keep repeating it every Ashes year and someday it'll come true.

I said they would lose in the summer.

[Doggy Styles]

If they are going to drop Root down the order, then there's no competition - they won't bring in Ballance or Stokes for a proven test centurion, and Bairstow is nowhere near test class.

Carberry is competing with Bairstow, Ballance and Stokes for the batting spot - and he seems to be ahead of the others.

I'm not sure what you mean. Carberry is only competing for the opening spot, with Root. Those other three don't open, and as far as I know never have. If Carberry opens, as you say Root will almost certainly get the six spot. But if Root opens, it's highly unlikely Carberry will play at six in front of three specialists.

I should add that I saw highlights of that 150 he scored, and he made good use of his outside edge. He'll find it tough against a better bowling and fielding team than that lot in Hobart, who didn't look very good at all.

[DirtyDog]

I'm not sure what you mean. Carberry is only competing for the opening spot, with Root. Those other three don't open, and as far as I know never have. If Carberry opens, as you say Root will almost certainly get the six spot. But if Root opens, it's highly unlikely Carberry will play at six in front of three specialists.

I should add that I saw highlights of that 150 he scored, and he made good use of his outside edge. He'll find it tough against a better bowling and fielding team than that lot in Hobart, who didn't look very good at all.

Carberry isn't competing with Root at all - he is competing for the vacant batting spot with the other fringe players - Ballance, Bairstow and Stokes. Only one of those four is going to play. If Carberry plays, then Root will play in the middle order. If Carberry doesn't play, then one of the others will bat in the middle order and Root will open. Root will play no matter what.

Therefore, Carberry is competing with Ballance, Stokes and Bairstow for the one remaining batting spot - he needs to be better than the other three to get a place in the side.

[Doggy Styles]

Carberry isn't competing with Root at all - he is competing for the vacant batting spot with the other fringe players - Ballance, Bairstow and Stokes. Only one of those four is going to play. If Carberry plays, then Root will play in the middle order. If Carberry doesn't play, then one of the others will bat in the middle order and Root will open. Root will play no matter what.

Therefore, Carberry is competing with Ballance, Stokes and Bairstow for the one remaining batting spot - he needs to be better than the other three to get a place in the side.

No he doesn't. He only needs to be better than Root at opening.

[DirtyDog]

No he doesn't. He only needs to be better than Root at opening.

Well, that's one way to look at it.