Afternoon, Have I missed anything

[PSRB]

That second innings

Had plans to go this time but fate intervened

Mark Wood broken Well, a precautionary scan on a sore hamstring. Stokes takes 5 in warm up. He'll bowl himself to breaking point.

[Rich]

Mark Wood broken Well, a precautionary scan on a sore hamstring. Stokes takes 5 in warm up. He'll bowl himself to breaking point.

Good start, eh? Never mind.

Calafiori injured too.

[PSRB]

Good start, eh? Never mind.

Calafiori injured too.

Cala is just being rested for the more important match for Italy, against the Nogs

[Rich]

Cala is just being rested for the more important match for Italy, against the Nogs

I read that he picked up a small groin issue against Sunderland but Italy still wanted to take a look at him. And now they have decided that he's not fit.

Still; we have Hincapie and MLS as cover.

[PSRB]

I read that he picked up a small groin issue against Sunderland but Italy still wanted to take a look at him. And now they have decided that he's not fit.

Still; we have Hincapie and MLS as cover.

NLD I'd prefer MLS to play anyway.

[Sir C]

I'm going to be in trouble if we sudden?y go **** again aren't I?

Missed you, big man :cuddle;

[Rich]

NLD I'd prefer MLS to play anyway.

Hmm. Not sure I agree given that Calafiori has been arguably our best player this season and that MLS has fewer than 90 minutes of football in the PL this season.

I do think young Miles is destined for a role in CM when a berth becomes available anyway.

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

Could not agree more gg

And now Wood's crocked. I wonder f this is still Berni's curse - he did say if we could just win once down under he'd be happy for us always to lose at everything thereafter. {Or words to that effect.}

Our hope was to hit them with pace in Perth at the start and take them by surprise. {We did that in India with Root's double ton, remember?} And then hope the day night lottery in test two works in our favour {as their karma for wanting a day night to sell a few more tickets despite the millions they sell at the G.}

1-0 or 2-0 up going into Adelaide and we would worry far less about resting and rotating the quicks. They could start to turn on each other {by they I mean the media, the public} instead of their usual crowing while we just hoist the white flag of inferiority.

As an aside, we're about to see if the Zak gamble for the last 4 years has paid off. For some reason, I'm not totally convinced it won't. {Maybe it's that 189 or whatever, or hitting the first ball of the last one for 4. But more pace and less movement is right up his street.}