08-07-2019, 03:37 AM
The interesting thing when you line up the 2 sides today it feels to me like the Aussies have a much stronger and more balanced squad. This will count for a lot in a 5 test series.
One way to think about it is on Sunday when the English selectors sit down to pick their side for the 2nd test, if the Australian 'bench' was available almost all of them would be walk up starts to the English team. Right now Hazlewood, Starc, Harriss, Carey & probably Labuschange would all get into the English 11. Root and Stokes are the only test quality batsmen in form, and Broad is there only bowler who threatens on a flat deck.
Archer is going to have to do something amazing to get them back into the series as without Anderson or a half decent spinner the bowling is too thin.
One way to think about it is on Sunday when the English selectors sit down to pick their side for the 2nd test, if the Australian 'bench' was available almost all of them would be walk up starts to the English team. Right now Hazlewood, Starc, Harriss, Carey & probably Labuschange would all get into the English 11. Root and Stokes are the only test quality batsmen in form, and Broad is there only bowler who threatens on a flat deck.
Archer is going to have to do something amazing to get them back into the series as without Anderson or a half decent spinner the bowling is too thin.