*Official* First Test (Edgbaston, Birmingham) 16–20 June

[Burgey]

Slow outfield probably cost Aus about ten runs today so far

 

[CartyDurham]

Anderson and Ali should probably be out, maybe Woakes and Wood in for them?

Potts is ahead of Woakes

 

[Burgey]

M

i think Potts and wood may come in . Anderson and Moeen out

Woakes a chance to play? Got a good record there, bats well too

 

[honestbharani]

Slow outfield probably cost Aus about ten runs today so far

yeah but it also helps negate swing. Good with the bad.

 

[Burgey]

yeah but it also helps negate swing. Good with the bad.

No, we’ve been terribly hard done by!

 

[Socerer 01]

Potts is ahead of Woakes

wait why, i thought Woakes was gun in England

 

[CartyDurham]

Woakes a chance to play? Got a good record there, bats well too

I agree but Potts played a test this summer already at Lords and they left Woakes out

it’s how they go these days not always picking the obvious

 

[trundler]

Australia would have to play very badly to lose from here.

 

[Michelle Fivefer]

Is Pope vice captain? Seriously?

Do you have a problem with that?

 

[shortpitched713]

I'm depressed. iPad won't charge, can't access other stuff on laptop, Anderson is struggling. Aus need fewer than 100 to win. Will there be changes to Eng team for next match?

Drop Crawley.

And no, my hate boner for the man will never dissipate. It helps sustain me through this series. Although it did make viewing Day 1 of this Test, a bit hard.

 

[Carlos]

I think we can consider the Ali experiment a failure.

 

[Burgey]

Australia would have to play very badly to lose from here.

Two good balls and they’ll likely lose

 

[TimAngas]

Australia would have to play very badly to lose from here.

Not really. We are two bad shots or good balls (less likely on this pitch) from some players with no recent runs at test level coming in.

 

[CartyDurham]

wait why, i thought Woakes was gun in England

He is but has been injured for around 18 months and hardly played

Potts played well all last summer and has already taken wickets in a test match , v Ireland this summer

 

[Burgey]

Do you have a problem with that?

I do when there’s guys like Bairstow and even Root (again) in the side who are a lot more experienced and whose places are secure. Pope will be battling to still be in the side by August

 

[CartyDurham]

Potts is a team mate of Stokes at Durham. He has always looked to him to perform

Potts doesn’t bat but he bowls mid 80s plus and has a habit of claiming big wickets at the right time

 

[Michelle Fivefer]

Is Pope vice captain? Seriously?

Not as daft as dropping Stokes..

 

[Carlos]

Do they bring another spinner into the squad, would be a big admission they messed up the selection?

 

[CartyDurham]

What the hell root trying to get the crowd going

 

[CartyDurham]

What a beauty fizzes past Khawaja edge