Wtf? Already? still playing bloody cricket in England and it’s almost farking October!
But of course in a few hours we will all need to go and hide behind a sofa as England name their Middle Order for the coming battle.
Obviously the 16 players will contain the stalwarts
Cook, Root, Stokes, Bairstow, Ali, Broad and Anderson. I would imagine Woakes is in as well.
Which leaves the supporting cast.
James Vince (Test Av 19, only 592 runs this summer) or Gary LBW Ballance at #3
Stoneman & Malan done enough or is it a case of there really is nobody else and they get on the plane? Duckett has gone backwards, Hales doesn’t seem to have really made a big impression in the Middle Order for Notts.
I just would not take Ballance - he’s said his game is OK and we have seen it isn’t.
Surely Root HAS to bat 3 Vince/Hales/Malan at 4 and 5?
Would you take Mason Crane or Adil Rashid (or Jack Leach?) as back up to Moeen?
Which other quicks? No TRJ so is Wood up to it? Does Plunkett get a last chance? Is Jake Ball the answer? Buttler or Foakes?
Anyway a few hours to debate and pick a squad before we can rest easy for a month or so and try and win a trip to watch on Social Media or something.
Cook, Stoneman, Root, Vince, Malan, Stokes, Bairstow, Ali, Woakes, Broad, Anderson
Then Hales, Buttler, Leach, Wood IF fit - if not Plunkett, Ball