There may be troubles ahead: England selection issues.

[Durhamfootman]

fair enough

[Durhamfootman]

no other number 3 batsmen out there... anywhere?

or is it just that England were expecting to have shoehorn one of 3 openers into the number 3 slot, and so now that they don't necessarily have to do that, they can't think outside the box

[rich1uk]

westley maybe ?

i dont have a problem with root at #3 tbh altho that then means we still need a #4

if it was up to me i'd have bairstow at #4 and someone else keeping

[Durhamfootman]

Foakes keeping

[rich1uk]

Foakes keeping

yep

Brendon McCullum was talking about Bairstow before the game and saying that its going to be incredibly difficult for him to maintain the level of performance with the bat as a full-time keeper

and he is in a good position to judge

[Durhamfootman]

so...

1. FECAC
2. SABKJ
3. BFAJR
4. YJB
5. NZBBS
6. BTBFMA
7. AEBF
8.
9. AFMW
10.
11. MKJA

2 slots for Broad and Woakes... insert the next 2 cabs off the rank

[Durhamfootman]

7. could be FMAAEBF, of course

[rich1uk]

i forgot my Enigma code machine so i'll have to work out who all those are

[Durhamfootman]

let me know when you have them

[rich1uk]

let me know when you have them

obviously know the players but only worked out 4 of your "prefixes"

i'm too hot and tired tho, thats my excuse anyway

[Arthur Crabtree]

Hope England don't go for the five pace bowlers that some are suggesting. Play a second spinner if Mo is in the top six.

ZBGB can't be ruled out.

[Durhamfootman]

ZBGB?

BFAJR?



FTECB..... at least I know what that means

[alfie]

Hope England don't go for the five pace bowlers that some are suggesting. Play a second spinner if Mo is in the top six.

ZBGB can't be ruled out.

After seeing how well six bowlers worked in India I presume they will be rational enough to select a full list of batsmen this time and trust either 4 + 1 or 3 + 2 to do the job with the ball.

Not a Ballance fan but he is making a pretty good case for a recall.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Not wanting to play six, just if Moeen is in the side as a batter-first then the six total really doesn't mean that much. Though I accept that this means that as Stokes is in as batter-first then England wouldn't be fielding five seamers by the same argument, but I'm willing to overlook that.

Lions win quite easily. Porter-6. Overton-5. Helm-1. Curran-4. Leach-2. Lawrence-2.

[The Professor]

Are we chalking Livingstone up as a failure now?