Perhaps Broad could miss out if we want Archer in. Woakes has to play at Lord's in the 2nd Test. Do we really want to bring Archer in in the 3rd Test? It might be too late.Looks like it will be then:
1. Burns, 2. Roy, 3. Denly, 4. Root, 5. Bairstow, 6. Stokes, 7. Buttler, 8. Ali, 9. Woakes, 10. Broad, 11. Anderson.
Think they will hold Archer back and wait to be sure (or forced, if behind in the series...) he can bowl 15-20 overs in a day and he's fully over his side strain. Anderson will obviously get thrown back in, who knows how fit he is but lets hope he is up to speed immediately. If it rains all week then maybe it will be an all pace attack and Curran will play instead of Ali.
Looks like it will be then:
1. Burns, 2. Roy, 3. Denly, 4. Root, 5. Bairstow, 6. Stokes, 7. Buttler, 8. Ali, 9. Woakes, 10. Broad, 11. Anderson.
Think they will hold Archer back and wait to be sure (or forced, if behind in the series...) he can bowl 15-20 overs in a day and he's fully over his side strain. Anderson will obviously get thrown back in, who knows how fit he is but lets hope he is up to speed immediately. If it rains all week then maybe it will be an all pace attack and Curran will play instead of Ali.
I believe he has racked up serious numbers in county this season tooFeel sorry for Burns, woefully out of nick, and about to face the likes of Hazelwood and Starc, who will absolutely hoop that new rock.
I like the idea of Roy at the top, he can go at the Aussies like Tresco did in 2005. He'll either be 70* at lunch or nick off 3rd ball.
Root needs to bat at 3 and frankly it's selfish that he won't. He's the most technically proficient batsman we have (even if he does fall over if swings back in) and should be the ready to come in and steady the ship at first man down.
Leach is a better spinner than Ali, takes the ball away from the right hander, which could be crucial for Smith who plays with a closed bat-face. Ali has got the nod though as he can bat...apparently!
Keep an eye out for Marnus Labuschagne; he was the overseas pro for my club (Plymouth CC) in 2014, and the boy can play.
Can't wait for this series. Going for a 2vs2 draw
I believe he has racked up serious numbers in county this season too
Was the first man to 1000 runs this year, has played well by all accounts and I think top scored in that nonsense Hick v Haddin match last week. Plus bowls leggies/pies which I guess could be an option and then you wouldn't have to use Smith.
Wow. A lot of talk here that Mitchell Starc has been dropped for the first test.
The line up predicted by reliable media folk:
1. Warner 2. Bancroft 3. Khawaja 4. Smith 5. Head 6. Wade 7. Paine 8. Pattinson 9. Cummins 10. Lyon 11. Hazlewood.
If true, it would certainly be a risk considering Pattinson's injury history and the lack of an all-rounder to bowl 10-12 overs an innings in that team.