England's coach Trevor Bayliss is in a dilemma for the selection of the team for the upcoming winter tours of India and Bangladesh. Batsmen on which the team counted on disappointed the side big time as Alex Hales, Gary Ballance and James Vince collectively scored only 498 runs throughout the 4-match Test series against Pakistan which ended 2-2.
Bayliss believes that the players have been given a ‘decent run’ to prove their talent, and the ECB will face a ‘tough’ decision during squad selection. After losing the first Test to Pakistan, the Three Lions came back strongly by winning the 2nd and 3rd matches respectively but failed to save the penultimate match where they were handed a 10-wicket loss mainly due to the magnificent 219-run innings from Younis Khan.
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As per the reports of the BBC, Bayliss said, "We've got around a month before we get together and discuss the next series so there will be tough decisions to make." Gary Ballance was given a chance to show his capabilities in the Test series due to Nick Compton’s absence from the squad. Ballance also has the highest batting average of the above mentioned three from the concluded Test series at 27.85, which is considered mediocre.
The Three Lions’ coach recalls that he once heard Captain Alastair Cook speak about experienced first-class players who have failed to make a mark at the International level, "I think I heard [captain Alastair Cook] say the two or three guys we've got in the team have been very good players over the last two or three years, experienced players at county level, and they have found it tough to jump up to this level. They have shown bits and pieces, but I think it just proves that the jump between first-class cricket and Test cricket is a big one”.
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Opener Alex Hales had a rather poor and forgettable series against the Asian giants where his average was 18 and was also fined 15% of his match fee during the series for barging into the match referee’s office after a decision went against him. James Vince was no exception from the two, having scored at an average of 22.57 in the Tests.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan has given clear indication about the players who should board the plane in the upcoming tours. Vaughan said, "Vince I don't think will make it, which is sad because I do think he's a good player, but it's a mental thing," Vaughan said on Test Match Special.
"Hales goes on the plane, but what I want to see from him is more aggression on the pitches in Bangladesh and India”, he added.
England is scheduled to play 5 ODIs and a lone T20 International against Pakistan beginning on 24 August.
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