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[edge]

Olly Stone has been ruled out of the tour and will return back to the UK for further tests on his back - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/46899562

I know Stone has injury previous, but it's not a terribly good look for the England backroom when a non-playing tourist gets a stress fracture...

[FattusCattus]

I think Leach and Mo are going to clean up in this series.

It will be interesting today Alvin - the inference in the match report was that Leach didn't pull up many trees compared to Mo yesterday, plus he isn't playing today so a real chance for Rash to jump the queue.

Personally I'd rest Mo and let Leach and Rash have a shootout in this game.

[Buzz]

Leach is going to be the one to miss out, unless Rashid bowls like a drain.
Also worth mentioning they are using a lower grade Dukes ball than the ones used in England which stays harder and swings for longer than the usual ball.
It may be that Rashid misses out too.
The pitches are, apparently, dreadful too.

Team for the first test?
Jennings
Burns
Bairstow
Root
Stokes
Buttler
Ali
Foakes
Curran
Broad
Anderson

[SD]

I would probably punt for Ali batting 8 as the sole spinner with Broad, Jimmy and Curran as the seam options along with Stokes.

Will be interesting to see how the Dukes ball performs.  My recollection of the last series England played out here was that they were unhappy about the Windies using the lower grade Dukes ball as it didn't offer as much for the bowlers 

[FattusCattus]

Apparently Burns has 60 and YJB 50 so far in the innings starting today. Jennings failed again.

[alexhilly1492]

Apparently Burns has 60 and YJB 50 so far in the innings starting today. Jennings failed again.

according to bbc sport burns 62 yjb 50

england 137-1

jennings hit 7

thats at lunch its normally updates at the intervals

[WalkingWicket37]

Oh good, Mark Wood has been called into the squad to replace Olly Stone.

Haven't we seen enough of Wood (12 Tests, 30 wickets at 41.73) to know he isn't a Test match bowler?

His ODI record is pretty grim reading too, you could make a fairly strong argument he's been tried and found lacking at International level...

[Sam]

Oh good, Mark Wood has been called into the squad to replace Olly Stone.

Haven't we seen enough of Wood (12 Tests, 30 wickets at 41.73) to know he isn't a Test match bowler?

His ODI record is pretty grim reading too, you could make a fairly strong argument he's been tried and found lacking at International level...

In reality he's very unlikely to play and it's probably better the other potential candidates get some game time for the Lions in India.

[FattusCattus]

Yes - and thankfully he's much less injury-prone than the man he's replacing 

[edge]

2 days out the track looks like it could be a bit spicy...

[rickjames]

Does anyone have any photos of this different Dukes ball they're using? Will be interesting to see what it does...

[edge]

2 days out the track looks like it could be a bit spicy...

Forgot to include link, duh...
https://twitter.com/GeorgeDobell1/status/1087056072895070210?s=19

[ppccopener]

Forgot to include link, duh...
https://twitter.com/GeorgeDobell1/status/1087056072895070210?s=19

Looks dry and when they shave it down a bit those patches might go to leave a fairly hard surface....so more pace than the other venues, but there always is at Barbados...

Might....just might make us think of playing two spinners thou. Interesting call if we do, Leach I like better myself.

It's a close call thou with Rashid, if windies tried to be aggressive he could well get the lower order out....but we need runs on the board ourselves and to bat first

[csnew]

Forgot to include link, duh...
https://twitter.com/GeorgeDobell1/status/1087056072895070210?s=19

Are they playing on the beach or something!

[FattusCattus]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm!  Selection conundrums!

Reports this morning are that the pitch may not be as quick as England first thought and there is a consideration in playing 2 spinners, meaning a choice between Curran and Broad.

I'd play 2 spinners out there I think, and back 3 seamers to do the job in the first innings.