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[tim2000s]

There was discussion on TMS that at treat Bridge he had spent most of it on his heels due to a calf injury.  They thought he started off on his balls,  but I didn't hear later in the day as to whether he had dropped back.

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[jamielsn15]

Prior has the look of a man that knows he's on borrowed time.  If the injuries aren't healing and causing subsequent injuries and leading to a lack of confidence, I wouldn't be surprised if he called time on his career soonish - or if it was done for him.  Possibly at the end of the series, although it wouldn't surprise me if it were earlier.

England have retained Prior for his experience as much as his ability, so whether he stays in longer than in previous years with a more experienced side may be a talking point with selectors.  I do think that if he's replaced at any point from now, he won't come back.

[Manormanic]

Prior is very close to the end of the road - he's been fluffing his lines with regularity all season both with bat and gloves and, now that the debutants have a few caps under their belts, management will want to have a very careful look at his place, probably as soon as the next test.

[joeljonno]

It depends on other factors, but I would be surprised if he was still in place by the end of the series.

[csnew]

Yet another failure for cook.
Same old dismissal. Getting pretty boring now

[Jenko]

Surely the bloke has to be due for runs soon!!! And now Robson gone too..

[Manormanic]

Cook's problems perfectly encapsulated by a cricinfo correspondant:

Moppa: "Bowlers have worked out they can bowl fuller to Cook, which makes it harder for him to leave on length. This means he must make more hard decisions about when to play and when to leave, and so its harder to concentrate, error-free, through long innings. Given he scores slowly, the law of averages means that he won't make big scores. "

[tim2000s]

Oh look! Pitching it up works!

[FattusCattus]

So: the pressure is on to bed in, grit it out and settle for a patient score in conditions that are going to get better to bat in.

Ian Bell to the crease - is he going to get the difficult runs this time? Is he going to post a hard-fought big one, or get out frustratingly for a pretty 25 - 40?

Plenty of Bell fans on here - discuss.

[400notout]

Robsons dismissals since becoming a Test opener.... all full length on the drive, not a fan.

Shame for Cook, think he has to step away from captaincy before he ruins his whole career, he needs to have something left to salvage!

[tim2000s]

This England team is plumbing the depths of the mid-nineties. After the noughties, the world number ones and the beating India in India, what we are now seeing is that the only real difference between England now and England 20 years ago is that the management is not chopping and changing the side quite so frequently. Anyone care to disagree?

[joeljonno]

I don't think we are there yet.

We just seem to have lost out killer instinct.

[ajmw89]

Gotta agree with ou Tim.  They are almost keep picking the same players now because they're scared to pick the alternative.  Prior needs replacing until he gets 100% fully fit and we need a proper spinner.  However, if they selectors want youth, there's not exactly many people knocking the door down.

[FattusCattus]

Bugger youth! (well not in practice, obviously!) - lets get team England back to winning ways.

Balance, Robson, Root, Ali, Jordan are enough youth for the moment, and Cook, Plunkett and Broad are hardly ancient -  let's pick the best XI

[trypewriter]

I think batting wise there's a bit of Mr Micawber about it - the belief that something will turn up. Probably the same with the bowling really. Shows how much Swann is missed.