Things not looking good so far. I reckon there is zero likelihood of Stokes going down under. Still not had the police investigation done plus an internal one. Steven Finn ruled out of the tour with injury. Jake Ball injured and awaiting results of a scan. Moeen Ali still hasnt played yet due to not being fully fit. I predict a heavy defeat due to a lack of experience and quality in the England squad. (Yes I know we have Cook Root Bairstow Broad Anderson but we don't have much else to go with them)
First Test is vital, get out of Brisbane unbeaten and we've got a good chance. The Aussies are ***** as well at the minute and there's no way they'll get 5 tests out of their best bowling lineup so if we get some miles into their legs early that'll help. In the 2nd test at Adelaide I fancy us under lights with their dodgy batting so could see us being 1-0 up after 2 then it's all to play for. The injuries are being overplayed a bit, Ali will be fine I'm sure as he's been batting in the nets today and are 4th seamers at best anyway. Good to see Anderson looks in some decent form early on judging by his bowling figures, need Broad and Woakes to back him up and stifle their bats who will come at us hard to create opportunities. Stokes is a huge miss but it is what it is and we've had enough time to prepare without him now.
Cook Stoneman Vince Root Malan Bairstow Ali (if fit) Woakes Overton ? Broad Anderson That looks,in my opinion,likely what our first test line up will be.
Looks that way to me. Vince scares the hell out of me at 3 but I think the rest is decent if Stoneman and Malan can contribute.
Same could be said for Mason Crane as well. Would have taken Somerset's Jack Leach instead personally. And possibly Sam Northeast (rather than Vince)who never gets a look in despite being so consistent with the bat.
Not sure what the Police are waiting for, if he hasn't been charged yet. It's pretty obvious from the footage that a case could be brought to the CPS for ABH or Assault, in which case he's going nowhere unless they still fast track criminals to Oz?
And the fact that 41 year old batting coach Paul Collingwood had to field briefly today in the warm up game is pretty poor.
I think that you're probably right though that's potentially the weakest and most underwhelming first test Ashes XI that I've ever seen.
I think we should play with just 1 up front and 5 holding middle orderers, with 4 defensive lads in front of the keeper. We need to stay in the series until January then see if we can strengthen.
Root (c) Cook Duckett (wk) Bairstow (wk) Butler (wk) Billings (wk) Foakes (wk) Woakes Broad Anderson McBurnie Job done, simples.
Yep that lineup is going to get pummelled. I'd prefer it if we played some of our limited overs six-or-out batsmen - some of them are as good as any in the world and at least we'd go down in a death or glory manner. Anyway our only hope is to win the toss every match and take it from there.
