Woakes at 7 is scary enough before a collapse happens, that he’ll come in so early is very worrying. That Buttler is coming in at 6 is also a touch concerning.
I was just thinking about that because Buttler is nearly as bad as Iron Mitts Bairstow behind the stumps.
Given the number of allrounders we supposedly have (admittedly when Stokes can bowl) you would have thought we could afford a proper keeper. But then you see Woakes at 7 and the doubts set in.
On a totally unrelated point, much as I am mega excited by Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, I don’t see them having long careers, and certainly not as out and out quicks. The reason is this:
Despite Aggers et al going on about Naseem as having a beautiful sideways on action, he actually doesn’t bowl with the classic (if you are talking side-on) cartwheel action. Both of them bowl with what I call a ‘fold-away’ action. The front arm doesn’t pull straight down and away, but pulls back across the body. Both of their arm swings that actually propel the ball are pretty short. Not wanting to tar them with this brush, but think Martin McCague (if any remembers). He was notionally ‘side-on’ but he actually bowled the ball with a flick of the arm that began with the arm pointing down, not a full swing around.
This type of bowling action suits a youthful, whippy physique. As they both fill out, I expect they will lose pace.
I guess time will tell, but for now it sure is great viewing/listening.