David Kelly

I actually think he'd quite enjoy the stick. It's just a case of making sure he's not allowed out by himself at night.

Unless they have no other choice there's no way they won't take Stokes to Australia. He's more important to the team than Root.

I think it will be Vince. But I agree with Bayliss that it should be Root. Seemed clear from that interview (although I missed the end of it) that Wood would have been in the squad had he proved he could stay fit. I think without him they've just dismissed any thought of a fast bowler and just looked to stick to our strengths. Whether or not our strengths can outweigh the conditions remains to be seen.

Should be a good run chase to watch here.

They are a strength of ours but could end up being a weakness if we don't have the specialist players we need. Plunkett as you say seems to have been forgotten about at test level now. As does Finn.

I don't know much about Overton, does he have pace? Ball is pretty much the same as those other four so I tend to agree with you.

That's a major reason for me wanting him there.

Some of them are wanting Pardew now

He is pretty much. He got an injury in the champions trophy so missed most of the summer and is only really coming back to fitness now. He would be the most vulnerable of our seamers compared to Anderson and Broad (and Stokes but more down to his batting) but I'd still expect him to play most if not all of the matches.

Baby Driver and Free Fire are both on Kodi and well worth a watch if you've not seen them. I really enjoyed Skull Island too.

Woakes is a vastly improved cricketer in both forms of the games (has three wickets so far today) and is bordering on allrounder status these days.

Vince played in the big bash for one of the Sydney teams last time around. Surely you'd heard of Chris Woakes? He's played 18 tests and 66 ODI's.

I doubt even he knows

Taylor retiring is a real shame, not just for him obviously. He was really starting to look the part.

Game over then.

Stoneman for Jennings (which already happened against West Indies), Vince for Westley and Woakes for Rowland Jones. Maybe Ballance challenging Malan too.

Completely agree.

Wasn't on the hard pitches though which is what I assume Ken's getting at. Mind you, they would have been hard when we beat them in SA.

I think it will be close too. I think Australia have the edge playing at home but I don't think it's a forgone conclusion.

Agree with that.

What about the pitches when you played South Africa?

That's five bolwers though. Doubt they'll do that. Most of them can bat a bit but none of them are all rounders. I'd guess they'll play another batsman.

I've just googled them both and yeah they have been injured but it doesn't seem like they're too concerned about them not being available. Them two, and Cummings with Lyons for Spin is certainly a strong attack in their conditions. I don't think it's a forgone conclusion that we'll lose though and I certainly don't see us getting the thrashing we got last time.

The thing I'm clinging to is that they don't look any great shakes either at the moment. Warner and Smith are obviously class but beyond that I don't think they have anyone up to the standard of Stokes, Bairstow and Ali. Bowling is probably going to be key though and that might depend on who they have available. The last few times I've seen them, they haven't had Starc or Hazlewood playing. I don't know if this because they are resting them or if they have injury problems, but if either of them are missing it would really even things up.

I'd have definitely taken Hales. He's not an opener at test level (or any level of red ball cricket tbf to him) but he's an experienced international batsman. Compared to taking three uncapped players, I think he'd be a very good addition to the squad. Can't for the life of me understand why they persist with Ballance. Shame about Wood but it's understandable given his fitness issues. I doubt we'll see much past Anderson, Broad, Woakes and Stokes (assuming availability) in the fast bowling department anyway mind, even if Wood is the best suited.