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[Alvaro]

Jos Buttler is to the red ball as water is to oil, PPCC

Hales could be fun.

I am looking forward to seeing Alzarri Joseph bowl on more helpful pitches too.

[Seniorplayer]

He's hardly had success there has he?

He's taken 43 wickets at 38.44 which isnt great, and those figures are flattered by the series England won!

He did get a world record in Australia though, most runs conceded from 1 over in a Test...

Yes 87 wickets against Aus 43 in OZ would have thought was okay.

[HallamKeeper]

Maybe a little harsh to judge Anderson's Aus record. Did he play in both whitewashes where our batting didn't give the bowlers much to work with?

[Seniorplayer]

We might do yes..I remember a 3 day game at edgebaston when the first ball of the match went miles over the keeper and it was over before lunch on day 3 I think

Worst thing England can do is be complacent...from what I can see at least 2 places in the team are up for grabs

Saw that one remember seeing Curtly Ambroses face after that first ball

[Alvaro]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvKE3Uh6Eng

[ppccopener]

Stoneman in.mason crane in

If buzz is right and stoneman is a better player of the short stuff it's a big chance to get on the oz tour

Don't know much about crane but a good series to start in

[alexhilly1492]

[alexhilly1492]

hope stoneman can cement his place,

isnt crane the chap who was the first overseas for NSW last winter? this must be a sign hes on the plane to aus? although guessing what our selectors will do is never simple!

[petehosk]

Stoneman seems to have the technical skill - just hope he proves to have the mental temperament too! 

[rickjames]

THE SELECTORS DID THE RIGHT THING

[petehosk]

If they are hoping to look at Stoneman, Crane and get Woakes some match time, they may need to rest Ali and one of the seamers?
I am assuming they will play Malan at 5 to give him a decent run, in which case they can't move Bairstow up to 5 and free up a space for Crane.

Therefore I suspect they will play:

Cook
Stoneman
Westley
Root
Malan
Stokes
Bairstow
Woakes
Broad/TRJ
Anderson/TRJ
Crane

As much as I love watching Ali, we have Root, Westley and Malan who can all bowl spin. So if you are going to take a look at Crane in an International then no point in playing Ali as well. Plus we can't play Malan, Crane and Ali unless we only play 3 seamers!

[Buzz]

Pete you have just dropped our in form, player of the series winning spinner batsman for a colt.

Crane won't play, they are just having a look at him.

[Manormanic]

I suspect the intention is for Crane to "get used" to being a squad member, with a view to maybe making his debut in the Lords game if we are 2-0 clear. Its an odd selection - harsh as hell on Rashid - but the selectors seem to have seen something in him they like.   

[Bats_Entertainment]

Crane will play instead of Malan, If he plays. But probably not likely that he will.

Surprised he's jumped ahead of Rashid.

[roco]

I'd have thought hales at 5 must have crossed there minds as in stunning form