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[Manormanic]

Various thoughts.

If everyone is fit and available, we seem close to a best all conditions XI:
Hameed
Cook
Root
Duckett
Bairstow
Stokes
Ali
Woakes
Rashid
Broad
Anderson

That is actually pretty close to a perfectly balanced side - four quicks and a pair of spinners who turn it opposite directions. With the rashid issue, I agree he is not yet a first innings bowler in England, but the ability for any leggie to roll the later order makes it a reasonable idea.

Is there another candidate? We don't need five seamers - ball and Footitt can provide rotation till Jimmy retires. An extra batsman? If you really need a specialist at eight, you have issues....

The bolter in this is Sam Curran. If you have the mother of all middle orders giving you space for a punt, then the kid who gives variety by bowling left arm and can bat at a Rashid/Woakes level might be the point of difference. Just a thought....

[Manormanic]

Auto correct on spectacular form there...

[rickjames]

Mishra seriously lucky to get Hameed there, that's a no ball surely?

[edge]

Agree completely with that side if not the batting order @Manormanic , this winter was always likely to make or break Moeen and Rashid and thus far they seem to be rising to the challenge. Gives us a perfect balance with Moeen in as a batsman (Bairstow stays at 7 for me), all the bowling covered and proper batsman down to 9. If Curran comes in when Anderson retires we really will have everything covered with a left arm seamer as well!

[smilley792]

Woakessssssss!!!!!

[rickjames]

DROP CHRIS WOAKES, HE'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH

[csnew]

A quick collapse here should make the game interesting. Gambhir's played his last test match

[Big Mac]

Thanks for not reviewing that Chet

[rickjames]

68-3. Give Hameed a lifetime central contract

[Big Mac]

England shattering the myth that this current Indian side can play spin well, some of these dismissals have been awful 

[smilley792]

I like rahane, but both wickets in this game from whom have been village!

[Big Mac]

I'm happy to see Moeen coming round the wicket, much more attacking angle.

[Manormanic]

Not impressed with the umpiring from Chris Gaffaney - he is basically giving Ashwin license to kick balls away of the stumps with no intent to play a shot.

[smilley792]

Rash and moeen two most dangerous looking bowlers here.


So cook has root and ansari on......

[smilley792]

And ansari gets a wicket!! Lol