England's Summer of Cricket 2021

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Siraj will have a couple of deliveries at Anderson. The lead is already a nice 25.

msp83 wrote:Didn't know alfie, that Duty was expecting Moeen to be the next offspinning Shane Warne on return with a touch of Murali! Since England have plenty of those ready, they should surely send Moeen packing!

This is, as KP_fan would tell us, a strawman argument, for I have never stated or asserted this, neither is it my expectation.

England should go in without a front-line spinner until Stokes returns. Then they can pick Leach. Until then they should rely on Root to provide spin while aiming to bolster the batting, with Pope over Moeen.

I see Test hopeful Pope was out for nought today. Mind you, he was in for six balls which should just about ensure his selection, given the current standard.

It must give heart to thousands of club players that they could have faced India at Lord's and done no worse than Curran.

sirfredperry wrote:I see Test hopeful Pope was out for nought today. Mind you, he was in for six balls which should just about ensure his selection, given the current standard.

It must give heart to thousands of club players that they could have faced India at Lord's and done no worse than Curran.

It's funny, but it's also not funny at all!

VTR wrote:On 1999, the Test side might be the worst since then, but certainly not as bad about that. The other thing with 1999 was England were also abysmal in ODIs, these days they are the best in the world.

I know it's not quite that simple, but it does seem a little absurd that there can be so much competition to even get on the fringe of the white ball teams but nobody even in the frame for the test side. There must be one or two that could be good against (and/or with) the red ball too given a reason/time to focus on it.

Yes, I think that's the issue. Just no time to focus and get into the slightly different technique needed for Tests. Bairstow was at one point one of the best Test players in the world for a short period, but his rise to becoming one of the best ODI openers possibly in history ruined his Test game. So it's not an easy transition at all

Even at his best Bairstow's form was dependent on whether he'd fielded already or not. I expect to see drop between a teams first and second innings but not necessarily between the first and second innings of the match.

1st innings- 48.77 with all six of his test centuries coming in the 1st innings of the match.
2nd innings- 27.55
3rd innings- 29.61
4th innings- 22.10

For possibly unfair comparison, this is Gilchrists;

1st innings- 44.48 (6 centuries)
2nd innings- 59.54 (8 centuries)
3rd innings- 37.12 (2 centuries)
4th innings- 35.40 (1 century)

I'm still not sure there's any reason you can't be good at test and one day cricket simultaneously. Maybe a lack of practice, but even then, at England's recent peak some players would go years between turning up for their county.

GSC wrote:I'm still not sure there's any reason you can't be good at test and one day cricket simultaneously. Maybe a lack of practice, but even then, at England's recent peak some players would go years between turning up for their county.

This depends on how you go about playing in both formats; Stokes and Root aren't sloggers in white ball cricket so the transition is quite easy. Many of us have argued that Jos Buttler should play more aggressively in the test side to lessen the impact of switching between formats.

VTR wrote:Yes, I think that's the issue. Just no time to focus and get into the slightly different technique needed for Tests (...) it's not an easy transition at all

Probably, but I (also) wonder if there might be a few 'T20 specialists' that are actually natural red ball players that just saw and took an opportunity that's left them off the radar. Someone who may not have played much or any first class cricket, but has experience with a variety of climates/pitches/roles from being on the franchise circuit that compensates for that.

Lowlandbrit wrote:

VTR wrote:Yes, I think that's the issue. Just no time to focus and get into the slightly different technique needed for Tests (...) it's not an easy transition at all

Probably, but I (also) wonder if there might be a few 'T20 specialists' that are actually natural red ball players that just saw and took an opportunity that's left them off the radar. Someone who may not have played much or any first class cricket, but has experience with a variety of climates/pitches/roles from being on the franchise circuit that compensates for that.

I actually think Livingstone might be a good example of this...he isn't really a consideration for the red ball side because of his white ball exploits/seeming focus...but he's actually got a better red ball average by a fair way than the likes of Hameed/Lawrence who've been tried recently (albeit his red ball average is nothing to shout about in particular).

Some interesting points/discussions on this thread, think I will bore you all with a long rambling post later in the week. Hoping by then we may know more about Wood's shoulder and Woakes's recovery

I'll add another point, why would anyone bother becoming good at Tests nowadays. If you smack a couple of DLF maximums playing for the Manchestershire Indomitables, then you can make a good living and Michael Vaughan will say how great you are. Get out for a golden duck in a Test and he'll bang on and on about how bad you are!

We're going to need some strong stuff to get through the third test...James Vince is being touted for a recall. Rumoured news:

Vince and Malan to get a recall to the squad.
Sibley likely to be dropped.
Wood very unlikely to be fit. Woakes still a doubt.
Very little chance of Stokes returning. No word about Pope.

I cannot see any sense in recalling Vince. It makes even less sense than recalling Moeen. To recap, Vince played a total of 13 tests and averaged under 25, unable to solve the endless problem of edging behind to the keeper. He has averaged 41 for Hampshire in FC cricket this season, with one century. Surely England are not going to ask him to fill in at 3?

If Woakes is unfit there's every chance Curran keeps his place. Anderson may be required to play a third test in succession. Wood being unfit gives Mahmood a likely debut chance.

I don't have time just now to look up the exact numbers but Jarrod Kimber gave a breakdown of Vince's FC average in a podcast a while back. Basically his average in Div 2 is outstanding, in Div 1 it's OK, for the England Lions it's pretty poor and for the Test side it's abysmal. In full flow I love Vince batting as most do but his Test average isn't an anomaly when you breakdown his FC performances beyond his overall FC average, which is good for a player in England from recent years, and his high conversion rate of fifties to centuries.

I'd like to see Mahmood get a debut but I'd feel for him doing it in a weakened attack. If Wood doesn't make it then I really hope Woakes does.

Malan's strength is playing seam and pace so given India are going with a 4 man seam attack and the Ashes might be coming up in December this would be the time to try him again I guess. It's far from inspiring though I must say.

Of the tried and discarded batsman from recent years the two I feel most for are Duckett and Bracey. I rate both from having seen them play live. They were picked out of position against tough opposition (away in India for Duckett and against the no 1 Test side in the world for Bracey) then discarded. Bracey never should have had the gloves in a Test match and shouldn't have been batting 7. It was a waste of Bracey's talents as a batsman and a shame for much stronger keepers such as Ben Brown who were more deserving of filling in with the gloves.

Not sure anyone should be comparing the Vince recall with that of Moeen.

Vince has consistently failed at Test level while Moeen has five Test hundreds and almost 200 Test wickets. Moeen had a good stand with Root at Lord's, took wickets and made a fine catch. Given the paucity of talent available at present, Moeen's is a sensible selection.

Main problem is who to bat at three. Hope they don't even THINK of putting Root there. Not sure who really fits the bill at present.

Are they [i]really[/ i] considering Vince or is this some journalist's fantasy ? Could only think (searching for a reason)they might want someone in the first three who might play some shots if he were to last a few overs rather than just block for half an hour and get out for 5. And if Vince failed (as he probably would !) it wouldn't impact the confidence of a future hope like Crawley or Pope...

I don't want Root up at three either.

If the top three aren’t going to make runs, they may as well not make runs elegantly?

I mean a Vince special of a 20-30 run stylish innings is still a vast improvement

Sibley dropped, Malan is back. Crawley isn't even in the squad

So barring a comedy injury to one of the players, which can't be ruled out with England, top three is certain to be Burns, Hameed, Malan

Feels harsh on Sibley. I know he's hardly anyone's cup of tea, and he is a very limited player, but in eight innings this summer he's got past the new ball phase on five occasions and made it easier for the middle-order to get runs. He has been dropped though and it's probably the end of his test career.

Lot of responsibility on Hameed and Burns. Hameed looked lost for the duration of his short stay at the crease in the last test, hopefully a familiar position will help him settle but I'm not too confident. Burns, three ducks already this summer, also under pressure. No idea what the selectors have next if one/both needs dropping. A recall for Lyth? SOS to Cook? Tell Trescothick to stop coaching and get the pads back on?

Malan may come in at 3...do the selectors know what they're doing? Or are they plain out of choices? Malan is hopeless in English conditions. He's played 8 tests in England and averaged 20. Could be worse I suppose, could be Vince. Pope is also in the squad, so I suppose it's a straight toss-up between Pope and Malan at 3...unless it's Bairstow up to 3 and Pope at 5? But I don't feel England will have recalled Malan to just be a squad player, so he's the favourite for 3 by my reckoning.

Lawrence floating around the squad as backup.

No Woakes, big disappointment. Means Curran will probably retain his spot. Hope it's overcast at Headingley.

Team will likely be - Burns; Hameed; Malan; Root; Bairstow; Buttler; Moeen; Curran; Robinson; Wood (if unfit, Mahmood); Anderson (if unfit, Overton).

Have a feeling Headingley will be a 3-day test with four low scores. It's one of the English grounds where England have a pretty rubbish recent record - of the last eleven tests played here, dating back to 2008, the visitors have won six to England's four. Mind you, the last test was Headingley 2019. India have won by big margins on their last two visits to Headingley, but they were quite a way back in 2002 and 1986.

Shows the depths of the state of the test batting ranks that the dude brought into help the top 3 has an average of 20.23 in home tests (the third lowest of any top six English batsman to have played six or more home tests) and has played four first class games in the past two seasons.

The big news, is that Woakes still isn't fit.

Agree that we've probably seen the last of Sibley. They must, I think, stick with Burns. They could do worse than Malan. In fact, they have done worse than Malan.

I feel for Hameed. I think it would have been great for him to have had another season or two piling up big runs in the county championship. But to pitch him into a losing team against India?

Maybe we can go back to 1956 and pick Washbrook, Shepherd and Compton. How was that for a trio of good selections?

One of those where there really wasnt any good options. Hameebs already been dropped in as the guy in form outside of the team so who else is really left.

Don't think it has to be the end for Sibley, but he needs to go away and come with methods of at least working singles off the opposing attack. Can't just drop anchor all the time

Tough on Sibley really. But he does look like a man who has been totally found out. He’s only 25 and if he can go back to County cricket and expand his shot selection a touch, so he is not so easy to bowl to and tie down, he can come again. He’s proven he can bat for long periods and swallow balls in Tests, which is not something a lot of England’s batsmen tried recently can say!

Not really sure what the point of Malan is. Averages 20 at home and will just nick off repeatedly. Albeit when you say ‘I wouldn’t pick player X’ you should probably name who you would pick instead and I can’t categorically name anyone who would do better!

And as much as England’s batting has taken the main focus, India have comprehensively out bowled England this series too. Certainly at Lords there was no let up from any of their seam bowlers whereas for the most part England were operating with two.

So there it is.  Vince was indeed a smokescreen , as I suspected. Malan it is - similarly perhaps a "joker" selection but one with recent good whiteball form and some record against pace.  I'm not confident he will succeed but I do think he was just possibly ditched prematurely so I don't altogether mind him getting another chance. Pity it is at three...

(I am actually not at all bothered right now with "planning for the future".  To avoid total humiliation this season they need instant improvement. So age and potential are not the major factors this week)

As both Pope and Lawrence are retained I guess there remains the possibility they might go with one more batsman if conditions suggest a low scoring match. Problem then of course that a four man attack arguably can't contain Moeen or Curran (not to rubbish either : but I do not think they carry enough control to be one of just four bowlers - and are unlikely to be wreckers either except in very extreme conditions) So that would leave an attack of something like Overton Robinson Anderson Wood/Mahmood.  Which might work if it is a seam bowlers paradise ...  but in that case I fear for England's batsmen

I do not expect that anyway. Reckon it will be Burns Hameed Malan Root Bairstow Buttler Moeen + some combination of four pace men depending on fitness. Probably best they can do for now .

Doesn't exactly inspire confidence but they did compete really well at Lord's despite a rotten start , and were arguably "winning" until they lost their heads/nerve on the last morning.  If that defeat hasn't completely knocked the stuffing out of them they can still come back. India are a fine team but not unbeatable (were bowled out for 36 in Australia not too long ago , remember ? )

And yes they also came back from that horror to win the series against Australia despite losing half their best XI to injuries ! Which underlines (a) how good they are ; and (b) that teams can return from the dead.

So I will watch at Headingley in hopes of another miracle (even without Stokes !) Just not going to be betting on it...

England have rarely lost two Tests in a row at home in recent years but you have to reckon that there is a good chance of this happening at Leeds next week.

But England will be going in with stronger batting as they have ditched the not-good-enough/out-of-form batters and brought in some guys who might make some runs.

England's last-day horror show at Lord's should not overshadow the good cricket they played on days 2, 3 and 4. To get in a possible winning position after India were around 270 for two towards the end of the first day was a good effort.

Struggling batsmen, though, have no immediate hope of improving thanks to the ridiculous scheduling of red-ball cricket at the moment. Nothing sums this up better than the statement that "Sibley will return to county cricket" except there isn't any until August 30.

sirfredperry wrote:England have rarely lost two Tests in a row at home in recent years but you have to reckon that there is a good chance of this happening at Leeds next week.

But England will be going in with stronger batting as they have ditched the not-good-enough/out-of-form batters and brought in some guys who might make some runs.

England's last-day horror show at Lord's should not overshadow the good cricket they played on days 2, 3 and 4. To get in a possible winning position after India were around 270 for two towards the end of the first day was a good effort.

Struggling batsmen, though, have no immediate hope of improving thanks to the ridiculous scheduling of red-ball cricket at the moment. Nothing sums this up better than the statement that "Sibley will return to county cricket" except there isn't any until August 30.  

Have they really , though ? Sibley is the only bat dropped : replaced by Malan (presumably) - who is still a bit of a question mark based on previous appearances. And Hameed - a player whose recall I was actually quite happy to see - has been tasked with the opening role despite quite frankly looking like a total rabbit (and a scared one) at Lord's . I do hope he makes that form a lie but must confess I now wonder if his comeback may have been a little too soon.

Totally agree with your last paragraph !

I'm with you Alfie on Hameed, I didn't like what I saw from him at all. Everybody fails from time to time, the great Virat Kohli got a first baller in the first test but visibly looking worried as you walk out to bat is something entirely different. That isn't something you can necessarily coach out of someone.

Yes , Soul : to be fair to Hameed I don't remember him being easily rattled when he first played for England so these nerves may be temporary (due to coming back after such a long time out ; and a very up and down journey) : but he needs to get them under control very soon or he's not going to be much help.
I did also have the impression that he wasn't very confident in the field. Guess this next Test will tell us anyway.

I think nerves is something you have to play your way out of rather than it being a coaching issue. The problem is whether Hameed will be able to get through the first half hour until he settles. His early test performances suggested a strong mentality, so we have to wait and see. Maybe playing as an opener rather than at 3 will help, as he is used to being in the middle at the start of the innings.

Agree regarding Sibley - has shown the mental strength but has some technical flaws and definitely needs to add a couple of off side shots to his scoring repertoire. Playing within your limitations is not a bad thing, after all, Alistair Cook made a million runs with a cut and a clip.

I agree with the general consensus on Sibley, I do think he can have a future in test cricket - his ability to soak up deliveries at the start of an innings is very valuable (nobody has played more 100 ball + innings than him since his debut), but obviously he's in terrible form at the moment and he needs to stop getting out to the one scoring shot he does have! (whilst ideally developing something a bit more on the offside).

Do hope he can return at some point. Seeing off the new ball if we go to Aus would be super valuable, with the way the Kookaburra goes soft (unlike the Dukes)

Water is wet and Mark Wood is injured again. Fair to say my dream of seeing Wood, Stone and Archer playing for England together is a long way away!

Would imagine Mahmood replaces him. More like for like than Overton.

No surprise about Wood missing out due to injury. I hope it puts an end to fielders diving around in a dangerous kamikaze fashion just to save one run. I believe Wood's injury means England are missing six bowlers now - Wood, Stone, Archer, Broad, Woakes and Stokes (not sure if I've missed any!). Has to be Mahmood coming in as a replacement, Overton would be a negative selection.

Woakes is playing for his county's second XI this week, so if he comes through that having bowled a few overs he may make the fourth test team. In other bad news in cricketing terms, however, Buttler may miss the fourth/fifth test with his wife expecting a second child.

All seems to be conspiring to wreck any hopes England had for this summer...is indeed now five fast bowlers - and THE allrounder - injured or otherwise out of action. Still hoping your faith in a turnaround is going to be rewarded , Duty : but am fearing my worst case scenario (and it is only that , rather than an actual prediction !) of India 4-0 is rather more likely. Though the situation (1 down after dramatic collapse , players dropping like flies) is not unlike India's predicament in Australia just a few months past so anything is possible , I suppose.

On the bright side , Mahmood looked good in the short form so might be the fresh face they need to give a bit of a lift. We can hope...

ECB statement wrote:“England seamer Mark Wood has been ruled out of the LV= Insurance third Test against India with a jarred right shoulder.

Wood sustained the injury on the fourth day of the second Test at Lord’s and will not be fit to play at Emerald Headingley starting on Wednesday.

He will remain with the squad in Leeds and will continue his rehab with the England medical team.

The 31-year-old will be assessed at the end of this Test match.”

If he was injured on day four, why the hell was he bowling on day five? It’s no wonder our bowlers are all injured, the medical staff are an absolute shambles.

Wood missing out would be a shame....and especially that it was a suicidal plunge.
Bowlers killing their team's prospects and potentially their careers trying to save a run is madness.
They should be consciously trained to not put their body at risk.

But every injury is an opportunity to move on and find new stars
Won't be surprised if on match morning on the Indian bowlers also is down

Mahmood, in limited overs whatever I've followed of him, seems an impressive operator. Has good pace, and seems to have a bit more than Wood in the other skill sets. Will they drop Sam for Overton? Is Oliver Stone ruled out for the summer and beyond? Again, seemed a more skilled operator than Mark Wood, who's mostly about speeds...

KP_fan wrote:Wood missing out would be  a shame....and especially that it was a suicidal plunge.
Bowlers killing their team's prospects and potentially their careers trying to save a run is madness.
They should be consciously trained to not put their body at risk.

But every injury is an opportunity to move on and find new stars
Won't be surprised if on match morning on the Indian bowlers also is down

The 10 day break has been very timely for the Indian quicks, particularly Jasprit and Shami.
KPF, last time when India won at Headingley, they went in with both Kumble and Harbhajan didn't they? Sanjay Bangar and Rahul Dravid set it up with a fabulous, skillful partnership, and then Tendulkar and Ganguly battered England into submission before Kumble set to work on the England batting... That was a fabulous England team as well, a significant part of the core of their 2005 Ashes winning side was being formed... Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick were established, and Fred Flintoff was emerging into the world's top all-rounder. Had early sightings of Steve Harmison and Simon Jones, and Matthew Hoggard and Ashley Gyles were also around.

msp83 wrote:Mahmood, in limited overs whatever I've followed of him, seems an impressive operator. Has good pace, and seems to have a bit more than Wood in the other skill sets. Will they drop Sam for Overton? Is Oliver Stone ruled out for the summer and beyond? Again, seemed a more skilled operator than Mark Wood, who's mostly about speeds...

Olly Stone has a stress fracture of the back. Certainly out till after the Ashes.

I’d pick Overton over Curran. You lose a bit with the batting but he is a much better bowler.

Not sure you'd lose much with the batting with the form Curran's in!

msp83 wrote:

KP_fan wrote:Wood missing out would be  a shame....and especially that it was a suicidal plunge.
Bowlers killing their team's prospects and potentially their careers trying to save a run is madness.
They should be consciously trained to not put their body at risk.

But every injury is an opportunity to move on and find new stars
Won't be surprised if on match morning on the Indian bowlers also is down

The 10 day break has been very timely for the Indian quicks, particularly Jasprit and Shami.
KPF, last time when India won at Headingley, they went in with both Kumble and Harbhajan didn't they? Sanjay Bangar and Rahul Dravid set it up with a fabulous, skillful partnership, and then Tendulkar and Ganguly battered England into submission before Kumble set to work on the England batting... That was a fabulous England team as well, a significant part of the core of their 2005 Ashes winning side was being formed... Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick were established, and Fred Flintoff was emerging into the world's top all-rounder. Had early sightings of Steve Harmison and Simon Jones, and Matthew Hoggard and Ashley Gyles were also around.

That's overselling that England side somewhat, they were still a good 18 months away from really gelling as a team. Trescothick missed most of the series while Flintoff's position in team was still being questioned, hadn't sorted out his fitness issues by this point. Michael Vaughan was the only player who was at the height of his game in 2002.

Simon Jones hadn't really learnt how to control reverse swing yet either. Strauss was a couple of years from even debuting. Pietersen 3 years from his Test debut.

Thorpe was still in the side though and an absolutely fabulous batsman at that point. What England would give for a batsman with that class and mental toughness just now to partner Root.

This England side would pay good money for Mark Butcher though to be fair.

msp83 wrote:

KP_fan wrote:Wood missing out would be  a shame....and especially that it was a suicidal plunge.
Bowlers killing their team's prospects and potentially their careers trying to save a run is madness.
They should be consciously trained to not put their body at risk.

But every injury is an opportunity to move on and find new stars
Won't be surprised if on match morning on the Indian bowlers also is down

The 10 day break has been very timely for the Indian quicks, particularly Jasprit and Shami.
KPF, last time when India won at Headingley, they went in with both Kumble and Harbhajan didn't they? Sanjay Bangar and Rahul Dravid set it up with a fabulous, skillful partnership, and then Tendulkar and Ganguly battered England into submission before Kumble set to work on the England batting... That was a fabulous England team as well, a significant part of the core of their 2005 Ashes winning side was being formed... Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick were established, and Fred Flintoff was emerging into the world's top all-rounder. Had early sightings of Steve Harmison and Simon Jones, and Matthew Hoggard and Ashley Gyles were also around.

And before that when we won at Headingley was in 1986 on the back of already a win in Lords and Eng narrowly avoided a white wash in Oval. I was a kid listening to BBC sports on Transistor Radios and watching late night a 45 min highlight package on B&W Doordarshan

Headingley then as in 2003 was a seamers paradise ...and notably with variable bounce as early as D2 and D3
In 1986 Vengsarkar scored what I would call the template inning in how to play seam and swing with variable bounce 102* in second inning with a 61 in first..and on the back of his 3rd consecutive 100 at Lords in T1
Binny Bamboozled Eng with medium pace swing that defied the laws of physics ...and Eng were rolled out for around  100 odd in each inning
The variability of bounce was what made Headingley most difficult pitch then....and Derek Pirngle was their most successful and difficult bowler to handle
Pringle was like Ollie Robinson, a yard slower but a bit better as a batsman

Duty281 wrote:Not sure you'd lose much with the batting with the form Curran's in!

Not altogether fair. He made a pair at Lord's but was second top scorer in the first game.

Though that is not saying a lot

Seriously I reckon either Overton or Curran might - or might not - do a job this week. With bat and/or ball. But you wouldn't expect either to be the game changer England need , would you ? Think it needs a couple of top order bats to stand up with Root and a really good team effort from the bowlers - all of them.

Selection might depend on how much they want the left arm option.

Yes, what we properly want to see is an English batsman that isn't Joe Root make a century in the next test (and if Root does want to make another, that's also fine).

I think England will stick with Curran over Overton because of that left arm angle, which has caused a few issues for India. Overton may end up coming in for Anderson because Anderson playing three tests in a row is quite rare these days, plus he had an injury issue hanging over him in the second test.

Kohli has a low average against left-armers as well. I reckon that might be Sam's saving grace.

I really rate Surran but I have said many times that I think Stokes and Sam complement one another very well. Stokes can bowl very well when the pitch flattens out a bit and the ball isn't doing much. Sam meanwhile can be very dangerous when it's swinging. Without Stokes I struggle to see how Sam ideally fits into the Test side.

1.Burns
2.Hameed
3.Malan
4.Root
5.Bairstow
6.Buttler (wk)
7.Moeen
8.Surran
9.Robinson
10.Mahmood
11.Anderson

I'd guess that will be the T3 side. It's not great and if Jimmy needs resting it gets significantly worse.

I think how well the Indian pace attack have bowled in the first two tests has changed my mind a bit on the left arm thing. Of course you’d love to have it, but you can’t go wrong just picking your four best seamers and I don’t think SCurran is in that.

JDizzle wrote:I think how well the Indian pace attack have bowled in the first two tests has changed my mind a bit on the left arm thing. Of course you’d love to have it, but you can’t go wrong just picking your four best seamers and I don’t think SCurran is in that.

With Archer, Broad, Woakes, Stokes and Stone unavailable India have a better seam battery than England though. As depressing as that is to write given it's been England's one strength lately I think it's true.

Jimmy is of course brilliant and Robinson looks like a player capable of a long career but Wood largely struggles at home, Curran is very dependent on conditions (and even so he's out of form), Overton has looked well below the standard required for Test cricket in previous opportunities and Mahmood is raw.

Given how depleted the options are I think wanting variety in the left-arm angle is warranted to an extent.

India are just the better side. Better batsman, a brilliant keeper-batsman, two world class spin bowling all-rounders and 4 quality seam options. Root would probably sell an organ to have Ashwin in his side just to bowl economically alongside Jimmy, let alone for the potential wickets in the 2nd innings. Ashwin isn't even making the India XI! They are a fantastic squad of players who have come a long way since their last visit to England.

I think it’s a bit generous to Curran or harsh on Overton to describe Curran as condition dependent but Overton as looking well below standard.

Of Overton’s four Tests, he’s played two in Aus and one in NZ- where he then carried the can for the batting debacle and was dropped for Test Two! Curran’s overseas record is comparable to Overton’s in a larger sample, just Curran’s had the chance to improve things in England, albeit he has bowled well at times, whereas Overton hasn’t really.

I think there FC records are quite accurately reflect their abilities in relation to each other as bowlers - averages of 23 and 30. And I don’t think purely being a left armer outweighs that as sometimes teams get too hung up on it. Hello Xavier Doherty

India’s seam attack was pretty damn good in 2018 too - just England’s batting has fallen off a cliff from even then!