Cook form in the last 5 previous test matches. his scores are:- 75, 56 England v New Zealand Leeds 29 May 2015 Test # 2163 16, 162 England v New Zealand Lord's 21 May 2015 Test # 2162 105, 4 England v West Indies Bridgetown 1 May 2015 Test # 2160 76, 59* England v West Indies St George's 21 Apr 2015 Test # 2158 11, 13 England v West Indies North Sound 13 Apr 2015 Test # 2157 so his Batting average from those 5 test matches is 64.22. and IF you want to included his test scores from this current test match aswell then his Batting average is 55.45 HARDLY out of form is he???

that is what you have interpretation Abbey not me. you have just ignored my points about him not playing a full season of County Cricket and scoring loads of runs. but yet again I'm not surprised by this. BACK TO THE ASHES. Bell starting to look like the Proper Ian Bell we all know about

lead of 217 so far over Australia and if we got over 300 run lead then I can't see Australia getting it. The same KP who back stabbed his captain during a test series. is KP playing county cricket and scoring lot of runs? no he is not. he playing twenty20 cricket. if he wanted his place back then he should playing cricket and scoring lot of runs and putting pressure on Strauss, Whittaker and Bayliss to pick him due to weight of runs. instead he's playing in the Caribbean PL. says it all IMO he should have been kick out of the team in 2012 and never allowed back in it.

Nobody in the England set up wants KP back in the team. Nottingham and Hampshire got rid of him in the end. Wonder why? Did Bayliss want him back in the team? It appears not. Strauss doesnt. Plus where is KP playing cricket atm? In the Caribbean premier League. Its about time we all forget about KP playing for England. Back to the Ashes Michael Clarke has just taken a great catch to get rid of Lyth

Forget Pietersen. Hes gone. Accept it and move on. Cook is England leading run scorer in Test Cricket EVER!!! lets not forget that. Bell need some runs badly. Now in

Very impressive today were England bowlers. Lets hope Cook and Lyth both get good scores in the second innings

We bowled well at their key players in Warner, Smith and Clarke. Stopped them from being too attacking against us.

Mark Wood is good bowler at reserve swing and this pitch look like his type of bowling will be crucial

catches win games Gav. I think this pitch will turn alot on day 4 and 5. Ali will be crucial and Anderson and Wood with their reserve swing bowling

Root's innings was very good and he was very aggressive. But I will be happy with getting over 400 total. Pitch is slow and will suit our bowlers and didn't suit the pace of Johnson and Starc

I understand what you are saying totally tho Alan. I just Rashid could get more Wickets than Ali. If Rashid went 4 or 4.5 a over but pick up 4 or 5 wickets per test then I would be happy with that. Abbey, not going to keep going over this KP issue time after time. Let focus on the players playing for England and around the test squad.

Al, do you think Ali is good enough to be 1st choice spinner? Im unsure tbh. He is good batsman but I think Rashid's bowling is better and he is decent batsman

Rashid would be my first choice spinner. our most attacking spinner in England

Rashid is named in the England squad for the 1st test

Bairstow won the game for England today. Great inning by him. Very pleased for Morgan/Farbrace and the players. Plus very happy we are playing positive attacking cricket in ODI.

Ali is a batsman 1st not a spinner. Rashid can bat at 8 and is the better spinner

I think Rashid should be England 1st choice spinner in the Ashes. he turns the ball and will cause Australia's batsman's problems IMO more than Ali will

Can we get back to discuss the cricket and the ashes and stay on the topic of the thread.

KP isn't going to be select for England. Was a very good player for England but not involved anymore with us. He SHOULD NEVER had played again after his text gate scandal with Strauss and South Africa. I rather focus on the players who playing for England now.

it was joke Al. New Zealand? bunch of amateurs? seriously you need to look at that again. didn't New Zealand reach the world cup final and play cricket in attacking style. plus they have good players like Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson, Tim Southee, Boult, McCullam, Guptill. I expect the ashes to be a very tight between England and Aussies

cracking win for England. so entertaining to watched these 4 ODI's with New Zealand. Kevin who? haha.

Abbey, its about winning each game of Cricket we play in.

What a great today for England. Buttler and Root batting great. Rashid is bowling well and taking wickets.

only scored 2 runs against the red rose tho. haha. but seriously I understand about the cost issues tho. I going to the second day of the 3rd test and the 1st day of the 4th test. not cheap But I'm looking to watching some test cricket tho

Lied to? I don't the ECB ever made any promises did they? play county Cricket? he only played around 3 or 4 games I think. Suits at the ECB are a bloody disgrace? don't think they are tbh I know you wouldn't like what I posted but they are my views