Broad starting the summer very well

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

Think it was the mines that brought Marcus's family to Australia. So basically it is Thatcher's fault, gg.

What would you do with the spinner situation?

God alone knows. Part of me thinks Moeen if he's up for it because:

His test average is about the same as JL's.
He has the experience to deal with getting tonked when a new lad might go into his shell. He's dealt with pressure before.
He can bat at 8, and that's where our weakness is without Woakes.
He'll be good against their left-handers {though we miss JL for Smith and Laba-Shane.}
He's always been a Bazball batter, bit like Stuey B was there ahead of the curve.
And it would be a great redemption arc. Moeen resurrected by Bazball for one last Ashes-winning hurrah!.

I could see Stokes/Baz going with that young Ahmed kid. I just think they'd have wanted to bed him in a bit more instead of dropping him into an Ashes series.

Will Jacks has the same FC average as Joe Root, so no point in him given he's an offie like Root.

Ask for green seamers and go with Jimmy, Olly, Broad and Wood? With Stokes if poss for a few overs of reverse? Don't think they will. Think they like a spinner. So Mo, if not young Raheem. {Obviously, I like sub-continental descendants in the side.}

What about you?

[Luis Anaconda]

God alone knows. Part of me thinks Moeen if he's up for it because:

His test average is about the same as JL's.
He has the experience to deal with getting tonked when a new lad might go into his shell. He's dealt with pressure before.
He can bat at 8, and that's where our weakness is without Woakes.
He'll be good against their left-handers {though we miss JL for Smith and Laba-Shane.}
He's always been a Bazball batter, bit like Stuey B was there ahead of the curve.
And it would be a great redemption arc. Moeen resurrected by Bazball for one last Ashes-winning hurrah!.

I could see Stokes/Baz going with that young Ahmed kid. I just think they'd have wanted to bed him in a bit more instead of dropping him into an Ashes series.

Will Jacks has the same FC average as Joe Root, so no point in him given he's an offie like Root.

Ask for green seamers and go with Jimmy, Olly, Broad and Wood? With Stokes if poss for a few overs of reverse? Don't think they will. Think they like a spinner. So Mo, if not young Raheem. {Obviously, I like sub-continental descendants in the side.}

What about you?

Wouldn't argue with that - agree it is bit early for Ahmed so Mo was only logical choice. Still think they might go without a spinner (or with Joe Root as the main one) but looks like Mo will play at Edgbaston at least.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

Wouldn't argue with that - agree it is bit early for Ahmed so Mo was only logical choice. Still think they might go without a spinner (or with Joe Root as the main one) but looks like Mo will play at Edgbaston at least.

I agree. But how has Woakes been this season? His record in this country is astounding, and give him green seamers at Edgbaston and Lords and he could be a real handful, with Root to attack the lefties.

But the damnable Convicts are sadly looking good with both bat and ball against my boys atm. And they have an all-rounder now when we might not get any overs out of the skipper. If you think how hard they've been to beat when we've had Both/Freddie/Stokes and they haven't had one, with the boot on the other foot, we could be screwed.

I still worry about Zak, so it would have been hard even with a fully fit Stokes and Leach. JL may have gone for 38 runs a wicket since Bazball started but he's taken 45 wickets and we reckon we can knock off 380 runs every time, so he's been great for us.

Basically, we need all the batsmen to fire to some degree, we need Stokes to be able to bowl with the old ball and get it reversing and we need a Mo fairytale ending. Or Harold Larwood and no helmets.

[Luis Anaconda]

I agree. But how has Woakes been this season? His record in this country is astounding, and give him green seamers at Edgbaston and Lords and he could be a real handful, with Root to attack the lefties.

But the damnable Convicts are sadly looking good with both bat and ball against my boys atm. And they have an all-rounder now when we might not get any overs out of the skipper. If you think how hard they've been to beat when we've had Both/Freddie/Stokes and they haven't had one, with the boot on the other foot, we could be screwed.

I still worry about Zak, so it would have been hard even with a fully fit Stokes and Leach. JL may have gone for 38 runs a wicket since Bazball started but he's taken 45 wickets and we reckon we can knock off 380 runs every time, so he's been great for us.

Basically, we need all the batsmen to fire to some degree, we need Stokes to be able to bowl with the old ball and get it reversing and we need a Mo fairytale ending. Or Harold Larwood and no helmets.

If we can keep Robinson fit I think we have a chance - could come down to who plays more between him and Hazelwood (although Boland looks useful)

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

If we can keep Robinson fit I think we have a chance - could come down to who plays more between him and Hazelwood (although Boland looks useful)

Yup. Ollie will be up for his first Ashes at home. Margate boy to boot. {I live here now.}

If we had a fit Joffra {and Stokes and JL} I'd be happier. Root broke his shiny new toy, didn't he, with that 42 over game. Waited all my life for Eng to get a pwoppa WI quick and won {lost} Ashes and won {one} WC later and he's just a fading memory.

[PSRB]

Wouldn't argue with that - agree it is bit early for Ahmed so Mo was only logical choice. Still think they might go without a spinner (or with Joe Root as the main one) but looks like Mo will play at Edgbaston at least.

I'd still beg Rashid to come back!!

A bit ominous with the Aussies spanking the Injuns

[Luis Anaconda]

I'd still beg Rashid to come back!!

A bit ominous with the Aussies spanking the Injuns

Understrength India imo. Still impressive though

[PSRB]

Understrength India imo. Still impressive though

Oh well, at least I'm wfh on Friday

[Luis Anaconda]

Oh well, at least I'm wfh on Friday

Could have had tickets for Friday but instead working from Germany (will have TMS on, of course)

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

Could have had tickets for Friday but instead working from Germany (will have TMS on, of course)

How do you get TMS in Europe? I've been spending a lot of time on the Right Bank in Paris {4th Arrondissement} since I hooked back up with my mate from Les Nomads sound system in 2017 and used to pop down to the river to check the BBC live text. But you couldn't listen to TMS on the page over there like you can in Blighty.

The pause button on TMS on the BBC sport page is great cos I can now sync it up to the dodgy stream as long as it doesn't buffer very often.

For the WC final, cos it was on CH4, I was able to watch on 4OD with TMS in sync. My beloved came in with about 5 or so overs left and actually stayed to watch it all with me - I think Agnew et al on TMS gave her a new insight cos the commentary is so much better than telly.