SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 4 hrs 51 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

England

We have some thinking to do, says Bayliss as wounded England consider changes

:Headline: We have some thinking to do, says Bayliss as wounded England consider changes: ID:348135: from db_amp
The tourists were crushed by 381 runs in the first Test against the West Indies.

England will ponder changes "in a number of positions" following their first Test thrashing in Barbados, with head coach Trevor Bayliss admitting opener Keaton Jennings is increasingly vulnerable.

After winning eight of their previous nine matches, including a rare overseas whitewash of Sri Lanka, England began 2019 with a 381-run humbling by the West Indies.

Their batsman were largely responsible, bowled out for 77 in the first-innings before allowing a second-tier spinner in Roston Chase to claim A-lister's figures of eight for 60 in the second. All the while their own attack looked ill-judged, with Adil Rashid and Sam Curran failing to justify their selections.

Bayliss was taken aback by the flimsy nature of the performance and will respond by examining the make-up of the XI for next week's clash in Antigua.

"We will have some thinking to do in a number of positions," he said.

"We will sit down, have a chat with the guys and try to get to the bottom of it. It's not the first time that we've succumbed in a short space of time. The boys are in the dressing room hurting, I'd be worried if they weren't.

"I think it gets down to a bit of guts and determination to get through those tough periods. They bowled extremely well against us, but when a team bowls extremely well against us we have got to be able to deal with it. Every time we lose a wicket it (feels like) the beginning of a collapse."

“It's not the first time that we've succumbed in a short space of time. The boys are in the dressing room hurting, I'd be worried if they weren't.”
- Trevor Bayliss

Stuart Broad appears highly likely to return at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, his surprise omission in Bridgetown failing to pay off, while pace pair Chris Woakes and Mark Wood and left-arm spinner Jack Leach will also be looking for a chance.

It was, though, the batting that let England down most in the series opener.

Jennings is under most pressure, with knocks of 17 and 14 dragging his Test average down to 25.86. It is just four Tests since he scored a fine, unbeaten 146 in Galle, but the Lancashire batsman's only successes have come in Asia and pace bowling remains an issue.

Bayliss' outlook has typically been a forgiving one towards out-of-form batsmen, with his stated policy of preferring one chance too many to one chance too few.

Trevor Bayliss admits batsman Keaton Jennings is struggling (Ricardo Mazalan/AP).

And while that may buy Jennings one more opportunity, keeping Joe Denly's Test debut on hold, there is no denying his performances have become a concern.

"Keaton is struggling a little bit," admitted Bayliss.

"I'd be lying if I said we're not worried about it and I'd be lying if I said he hadn't been thinking about it. He's one of the hardest workers we've got and he's going to leave no stone unturned in making it better. Let's wait and see."

The verdict on Rory Burns, Jennings' rookie opening partner, was better. His score of 84 on Saturday was his best in eight Test knocks to date and Bayliss likes what he is seeing.

"Burns has shown enough," said the Australian.

Rory Burns' form was a rare bright spot for England in the first Test (Ricardo Mazalan/AP).

"As we said in Sri Lanka he looks like he's been here for 20 or 30 Tests, not four. He's still learning and will still get better.

Bayliss also took a moment to support Curran. The 20-year-old all-rounder impressed as he won each of his first seven Tests but had a rough time on new ball duty at the Kensington Oval, taking one for 123.

"It was down to Curran or Broad and the gut feel was Curran," he added.

"It didn't work out, the young bloke has had the first bad Test in his career. It won't be his last, but he's a good young player who will learn from it."

amp_article__348135 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-01-28 12:00:05:
html db last update - 2021-02-23 12:21:27 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Trevor Bayliss

Click here for more stories about England

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .