Apparently he bowled in the nets today and is fine to play. How many overs they get out of him is debatable though, and my preference would be the young leggie. If its another road of a wicket then they'll stick with Ali I fear, but if there's any green in it I'd be tempted to play the 3 seamers plus Wood and have Root as a back up spin option. I don't see McCullum and Stokes changing the side at all apart from hopefully Wood though. It will depend on how our bowlers came out of the 1st Test, and if Anderson feels whether it's worth him playing on a dead deck
If you're right about Ali playing then I think Einstein would be rolling over in his grave. please log in to view this image But hey, we'll take it.
I thought the batting on both sides was a very high standard. Not much between them in the bowling dept either imo, although maybe the Aussies just about edge it. The Aussies looked streets ahead in the field and behind the stumps.
Agreed, just proud of the way they are playing, though. Any team that puts up some fight, win lose or draw, is ok by me.
Josh Tongue replaces Moeen Ali for the Lord's test. Not really a surprise that England have gone with an all-seam attack, but a big surprise that Tongue comes in ahead of Wood. I saw Tongue bowl against Ireland earlier this month and he looked decent enough but he's not as quick as Wood. He gets up to around 90mph though and bowls a decent bouncer.
I didn’t realise Wood is 33 until my lad told me. Apparently he’s not fit enough to play in this test, perhaps Headingly. It’s a real shame that Archer is kaput.
Yeah, Archer is a big loss. Without him and Wood, and with Stokes unable to bowl at top speed, we don't really have anyone to get the Aussies hopping around. Hopefully Lord's will be conducive to swing bowling.
Broad batting at 8, that's a very long tail, real shame Wood not fit enough to last 5 days. Stark will come in for Aussies I reckon, we're gonna have to bat seriously well on a greener wicket against their attack .
Meant to be quite a bit of rain around over the 5 days, 4/1 the draw could be tempting. Dangerous though with Stokes always looking for a result even if it brings defeat into the equation.
If the weather at Lords is anything like here - close, humid, overcast - the ball could move a lot in the air this morning.
Feels like a bowling morning given cloud and humidity..... Big advantage to whoever wins the toss.....
Off for rain. Not going according to plan. Aussies looking pretty comfortable apart from an incredibly difficult chance to Root which just about carried.
Only following on beeb text, but consensus is pitch is lacking a bit of pace, hence chance to Root fell short....
It is a bit slow, but it looked like it just carried. Very difficult. Come on England for ****'s sake, get back out there. ****ing batsmen are waiting for them!
