ffs Overton will play tomorrow - we were wrong, b

[Burney]

Not against Starc on a quick pitch. Just need the top six to score loads

Seriously - hopefully if Starc is a bit rusty he might leak a few runs which takes the control they have away. Otherwise we need Root and Stokes miracle innings again

To be honest, if you'd had a bet that someone was going to be dropped, all your candidates would've been from the top 6 batsmen rather than the bowling unit, wouldn't they?

[Luis Anaconda]

To be honest, if you'd had a bet that someone was going to be dropped, all your candidates would've been from the top 6 batsmen rather than the bowling unit, wouldn't they?

Indeed - I do think Woakes is off colour, whether a reaction to the World Cup or just to the injuries he's had (and presumably would have been the one to drop out if Jimmy were fit). I can see the sense in Roy dropping to four. Would be tough to bring in Sibley now - one only Championship game in a while and he got 0 and 4. Plus he is more of a sticker than a dasher - as much as we need those I think him and Burns would be a touch negative at the top of the order.

Pope will come in at the Oval should we lose and will definitely feature in NZ/SA. Possible recall for Ian Bell as well

[Burney]

Indeed - I do think Woakes is off colour, whether a reaction to the World Cup or just to the injuries he's had (and presumably would have been the one to drop out if Jimmy were fit). I can see the sense in Roy dropping to four. Would be tough to bring in Sibley now - one only Championship game in a while and he got 0 and 4. Plus he is more of a sticker than a dasher - as much as we need those I think him and Burns would be a touch negative at the top of the order.

Pope will come in at the Oval should we lose and will definitely feature in NZ/SA. Possible recall for Ian Bell as well

BELLY!!!!!

I do like the way Bell is currently being reassessed as a product of our golden age rather than the unreliable flat-track bully he was for much of his career.

[Luis Anaconda]

BELLY!!!!!

I do like the way Bell is currently being reassessed as a product of our golden age rather than the unreliable flat-track bully he was for much of his career.

Very much so - I think he was appreciated more after the 2009 tour to South Africa anyway but the old criticism that he only scored hundreds in innings when someone else got one first seems a luxury these days

[Burney]

Very much so - I think he was appreciated more after the 2009 tour to South Africa anyway but the old criticism that he only scored hundreds in innings when someone else got one first seems a luxury these days

Yes. Don't times change, eh?

I always had a soft spot for Bell as I was at the Oval for his debut when he made 50 against the Windies and he just had such a lovely, classical technique. But God, he could be infuriating. A classic case of a chap who averaged 40-odd by virtue of scoring an awful lot of 40s.