Dom Bess still exists?
Sidmouth’s favourite son.
Still, 2 teams of English players and the selectors have somehow managed to get over their compulsion to pick Ballance.
Can’t really remember what our best team looks like when everyone’s fit. This basically it?
Burns
Sibley
Denly?
Root
Pope
Stokes
Buttler/Foakes
Woakes/Curran
2 of wood, Broad, archer, anderson
Leach
Pretty much I think.
Though you get the impression they’ want to get Bairstow back in at the first opportunity so at least one of the lower order batsmen is in danger.
Oh and if he’s fit, for tests in England, Jimmy Anderson is a definite, so it’s one from the rest.
Denly is surely the only one who can go.
Would be incredibly ecb to get rid of the solid grinder at 3 to push root up, heap pressure on Pope at 4 and get Bairstow back into the team
There was chatter about this being a shoot-out between Denly and Crawley for the #3 spot.
Also think they love a bit of Jos at 7 for whatever reason, whether or not he keeps wicket or whether they give the gloves to Foakes remains to be seen.
If Root is out for the first test, then I suspect Bairstow might get the nod at 4 due to “experience” (even if that is of repeatedly getting out the same way)
In less good news, Curran off the pitch and waiting on a COVID test 
Bairstow completely out is a bit of a turn-up.
Weather forecast looks a bit dubious on Wednesday and Thursday but a bit more optimistic for Friday onwards. Though if it is overcast and Jimmy gets it to hoop about against rusty batsmen, rain may be the best bet of the game making it to Saturday.
Just checked the forecast, nothing says the first day of the English test summer more than a drizzly day in Southampton
Weaponising the weather by making someone like Sri Lanka or Pakistan play us in Durham in May is a fine strategy and not at all dubious in terms of the spirit of the game.
Really missed the inane chat through a rain break. Don’t even mind it being vaughan. Just feels like a nice warm hug
Really good, his sigh at the end is heatbreaking.
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Broad misses out! Bit surprised. Was brilliant in SA. Happy for Woody though. Was quite keen to watch us have a bowl today tbh but buzzing either way.
Cricket! 
(See you in 45 mins when we’re 23-5)
Might be quicker than that at this rate.
I don’t know why my brain won’t accept that Kemar Roach is a top level test fast bowler. 193 wickets at 27 is a brilliant career. I would have guessed he average between 35 and 40 if I hadn’t just seen it.
Yeah apologies for the overly optimistic prediction there.
Test match cricket with a county cricket attendance