Strange game with an expected outcome, England humiliated in the first innings, and Ireland in their second. Good bowling though on a bowler-friendly pitch.
I hope Archer's up for the 5-day game, in terms of fitness. Seems a bit high risk to me at this point.
Archer played last night in the T20. He's likely to start.They won't play two spinners at Edgbaston, so Rashid was never going to come into the equation. He'll only play if there is a spinners wicket, unlikely in a wet English summer. He'll never be No 1 spinner in tests, as he cant bowl tight over after tight over, which is a spinners role in this country. Whether Ali can, time will tell.
Woakes has to play at Edgbaston (home ground), gives Archer longer to rest his side, pace bowlers can't mess with these.
We do have a great 'squad' of pace bowlers don't we. With Wood out, I just feel we should be patient, wrap him in cotton wool and play 'horses for courses'Archer played last night in the T20. He's likely to start.
We do. Given we're playing the full series in what, 6 weeks ish? we could easliy rotate and not be weakened. Play each test and pick the bowlers to suit the conditions. My major concern will be the batting. I can quite easily see us being 30/3 every innings as I still don't see a decent 1, 2 and 3 emerging. That said, possibly same for them when you get Smith and warner out. Should be a bowlers series.We do have a great 'squad' of pace bowlers don't we. With Wood out, I just feel we should be patient, wrap him in cotton wool and play 'horses for courses'