what you see and what the selectors do is a different thing entirely, they as you must know from experience are pretty poor when it comes to spinners, far too many brought in and discarded, rather sticking with eg Ali or Leach, conservative selections and unless a spinner can bat his prospects are slim to almost none
This is all true.Yeah but I assume if Anderson were to get injured, they will send a replacement in for him in the squad itself. And from there, its just 1 bad test of bowling away from the dream 6-8
When was it even suggested he was a doubt? Lawrence could go straight in (his spin might be handy).
He'd have too as I don't think there's another batsman in the squad. Apparently Bashir's visa has been delayed because of his Pakistani family background. If so, that's outrageous, irrespective of whether he was remotely likely to play in the first test. And apparently Kohli has withdrawn from the first two tests for personal reasons.
Because he had knee surgery just over a month ago. For him to be playing elite level sport this soon is wild.
It is a boost, but to be realistic, a far bigger boost for England would be for Ashwin and Jadeja to be unavailable. Those two bowling competently means a comfortable series win for India barring Root having a series equivalent to Cook in 2012 and receiving adequate support from the best of the lineup.
I think we're all fully aware of Stokes' operation, but it was still never suggested that he was not likely to be fit for the First Test, only that he wouldn't bowl.
It's only an offhand comment from a journalist, but if he isn't going to play they probably would keep it quiet for as long as possible.
Yes indeed more my point. Thanks for communicating better than I was.
Yeah, Dobell is normally one of the most informed, is rarely wrong and not one for posting rumours. It just seems odd to me that 3 days out from the First Test, something we hadn't been considering is now a concern. You can do nothing about family bereavements (or whatever has sadly caused Brook to head home), but surely they'd have known that Stokes was a doubt before now and already had Lawrence there.
jokes on you, the Rohit stans will have a field day with this now
Well even if there was any truth in it. McCullum has slammed that down. Link doesn't work on the picture but the headline enough.
Means Dobell's almost certainly on the mark then.
