Watching the current Test at Edgbaston, I hope that's the Test batting line-up that England brings to Australia at the end of the year. Cummins & co will have a field day. Other than Stokes who is missing? Will they go back to the likes of Bairstow & Buttler?
Will Anderson & Broad come again to spearhead the attack? Hope so or will the speed guys Archer & Wood be the main men?
It must be a bit of a worry when the South Sea Poms play their near second side and probably beat you on your home ground in just over three days.
Some of the press was rather scathing. Look at this from CricInfo that can be viewed
here
Quote:
There is no future in England pretending that the return of Ben Stokes will cure all ills. Of course he is a fine player who would boost any side. But the Top five England fielded here was the top five they have pencilled in to take-on India and Australia. It is unreasonable to expect Stokes to keep producing the miracles we saw at Leeds and Lord's to mask the deficiencies of his team-mates.
To be fair to England's selection, you can understand why they felt they needed an extra batter. They probably needed a dozen extra batters. And you can see why they didn't feel they needed a spinner on the fourth or fifth day. There's hardly going to be any play.
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