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The Ashes 2023

I think it's because you've got Bairstow now in the top six but still keeping wicket which looks a potential weakness, plus then Moeen who, particularly at this stage in his career and with licence to swing at it, looks good for a nice looking 15-20 most likely. They're both a place too high I'd say (or Bairstow would be fine with Foakes keeping at seven).

It looks to me like the extra bowler has been crowbarred in a bit because they don't trust the fitness of Stokes and/or Moeen to bowl.

ETA: It's Woakes who stands out as a bit of a fudged selection I think. It looks like they're hoping he can do enough batting and bowling to just about cover for the gaps elsewhere IMO.
I guess I'm used to the traditional lineup of 6 batters, wk, 4 bowlers; no.8 can bat, no.6 can bowl. It strikes me as a very "Bazball" veer away from the normal - have multiple bowling options, and potential to contribute with the bat all the way to 11.
 
The more I look, the more I don't like it. Why now for Woakes, where Headingley is not a great ground for him? He could have been at Lords where his record is excellent (as it is at Old Trafford and the Oval).

Bairstow gets rewarded for being a dick with more responsibility.

Moeen? No. Not Headingley.
 
Woakes is an excellent player and must have been gagging to get into the new regime's style. He'll be desperate to prove he's capable of it. I wouldn't play Moeen though. He's not a red ball cricketer anymore.

But having Mark Wood back, yes :cool:
 
I would have preferred to have kept Tongue in the side. He looked right at home bowling and batting!

Say goodbye to Robinson. Broad then can still open the bowling with a worthy Anderson understudy, Woakes.
 
3 nil to the Ozzies then?
England's Women won tonight, really good T20 performance. First time the Aussies have lost a T20 in, I think, 24 games they said.

But on the men's, yes, I'd have thought so. Aussie performance won't be affected by Stumping-gate (has anyone called it that yet? :hmm: Bet they have). I suspect England will be affected and that could go either way.
 
Bit of booing for the Aussie anthem by the still sober crowd. Could get 'lively'. Well, it will get lively.
 
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