And the 3 games v Ireland that follow, in which all of the 15 World Cup squad will be rested and will be captained by Zak Crawley !
They're not going to change their minds now, unless there's an injury. As soon as Brook was being bigged up by everyone, he looked really poor in the last two T20s. I'd still pick him mind, as he would have longer to really get in in the 50 over game.
England have looked a little disappointing, even though there were good innings' from Malan, Buttler and Livingstone. Livingstone is such an ugly watch imo and seems to try to hit it far too hard. Very effective when he connects though. Root looked completely out of touch and Brook didn't do much again. Doesn't look the easiest pitch to score on. We look way off top form right now, but no point peaking yet.
Topley is a skint man's Stark, ****ing awful. I presume Wood is being rested. With everyone fit and available my 11 to start the 1st World Cup game would be : Roy, Bairstow, Root, Brook, Stokes, Buttler, Ali, Woakes, Rashid, Atkinson and Wood. Ali could be replaced by Livingstone and possibly Malan in for Brook. We'll need the spinners out there !
Getting mullered here, just loopy medium pacers, no pace at all I'm wicket and these bowlers getting smashed. Without Wood , all looks a bit toothless, Atkinson should've bowled already !
Surely it's time to pick our best possible side from now on? Getting hammered just before the WC isn't exactly going to be good for confidence. Kiwis making batting on this wicket look ridiculously easy. Did Rashid go off injured?
The biggest question is who will take the wickets in the middle overs ? Plunkett was a key man in the last World Cup and could be relied upon to consistently take wickets in the middle overs, don't see who's gonna do that job with this squad. The bowling looked terrible today, Wood has to start and keeping him fit is key too, as usual !
What are we gonna learn from playing Kiwi's in these conditions ? That Boult is lethal in them ? No surprise there. Don't understand playing these matches at home and against this opposition, you couldn't get further away from what it's gonna be like in India on those surfaces. Terrible preparation, would've been better off playing either India, Pakistan or Bangladesh away or even Afghanistan. We'll be going there with Root and Stokes undercooked, Roy with a doubt over his back , Wood as fragile as ever and no clue about back up pace bowlers. Very strange
After an horrendous start, a good knock from Livingstone gives England a chance. NZ still favourites, though.
