I reckon they'll probably rotate seamers during the group stage. Play 2 of the 'can bat' guys (Curran/Willey/Woakes) and one of the fragile specialists (Wood/Topley) and then see who's in form and injury free if we reach knockouts.
Wood is about the perfect number 10 in limited overs, but yeah they'll rotate.
Yeah, slightly odd one. I guess with Malan locking himself into the 1st XI, Brook makes more sense than Roy as a reserve batsman since he can play anywhere in the order (and obviously doesn't have the fitness issues).
I don't buy the idea that brook can bat anywhere in the order, honestly. Reinforced seam on the white ball makes it swing around corner's and brook doesn't have the technique to last vs that opening, and he's not got the ability to rotate the strike vs spin, especially when early in his innings, to keep up the run-a-ball middle overs that make the england machine work.
all down to the back spasms, not sure Brook would have been my replacement, Salt would seem more logical, oh and I'd have gone Carse over Atkinson, but it's not likely to be a big deal.
Probably agree. I'm not mad on Salt but England need depth at the top of the order seeing as Malan can play in the middle order. Wouldn't have been too upset had Vince been the spare batter.
Happy to go with Brook, we know he has the talent and if he gets in he's a match winner. Salt has had enough chances and not done anything with them. I suspect our biggest injury risk is now Stokes, and Brook is the most natural replacement there. Questions above about his ability to play spin, I seem to remember he has quite the knack of hitting them out of the ground.
I'm not sure he really does make more sense in terms of filling positions anymore either.
In 2019, England put the focus on the World Cup over The Ashes, kind of been the opposite this year. But I still think they've ended up in a pretty good place heading to India. The Top 5 looks sorted (I'm sure Root will come good), the seamers are starting to look like there's decent options there (if no out and out match winner unless Wood burns it up). The concern (as we've mentioned all along) is spin. But they will likely have at least 3 in the team they can choose from, and two offer plenty with the bat.
Yeah and there are mirigating factors for playing fewer ODIs but they really could have prepared better. That being said, a lot of this team have been together a while so it won’t feel as cobbled together as it actually is and the debates feel around the squad players and not the eleven, so it could be worse.
