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England announce Ashes squad for first Test [Anderson injury update #49]

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England National Cricket Selectors have named a 14-strong squad for the 1st Specsavers Ashes Test match against Australia at Edgbaston starting on Thursday, August 1.

England first Test squad versus Australia:

Joe Root (Yorkshire) captain
Moeen Ali (Worcestershire)
Jimmy Anderson (Lancashire)
Jofra Archer (Sussex)
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Rory Burns (Surrey)
Jos Buttler (Lancashire)
Sam Curran (Surrey)
Joe Denly (Kent)
Jason Roy (Surrey)
Ben Stokes (Durham) vice-captain
Olly Stone (Warwickshire)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)

After impressing in England’s successful ICC Cricket World Cup campaign, Sussex fast bowler Jofra Archer is called up to the Test squad for the first time. The 24-year-old returned to action for Sussex last night in the Vitality Blast after a sore left side. His readiness for five-day cricket will be assessed at Edgbaston. Since making his senior debut in 2016, Archer has played 28 first-class matches taking 131 wickets at 23.44.

Lancashire batsman Jos Buttler and Durham all-rounder Ben Stokes return to the Test squad having been rested for the Ireland Test at Lord’s.

Somerset’s Lewis Gregory and Jack Leach miss out having been selected in the Test squad for the victory over Ireland this week.
Leach, who is not part of Somerset’s Vitality Blast squad, will train with the Test squad in the run-up to the Edgbaston Test.

Lancashire seamer Jimmy Anderson is making good progress in his rehabilitation from his right calf injury and is expected to be fit for the first Test.

Meanwhile, Colin Graves, Chairman of the ECB, has approved the reappointment of Ben Stokes as Test vice-captain following the recommendation from Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket Ashley Giles and ECB Chief Executive Tom Harrison. Stokes returns to the role for the first time since September 2017 and assumes responsibility from Jos Buttler.

Commenting on the selection of the squad, National Selector Ed Smith, said:

“Though it is unusual to select a squad of 14 for a home Test, there are compelling reasons to do so here. Several bowlers are recovering from injuries or niggles. In addition, some bowlers who played in the World Cup are being closely monitored to assess their preparation for Test match cricket.

“The wider circumstances - a successful home World Cup campaign followed so quickly by a home Ashes series - are unprecedented. It feels sensible to select an expanded squad and leave a number of bowling options open for the final team selection.”

The squad will report to Birmingham on Monday.

England Specsavers Ashes Test Series Schedule:

1st Specsavers Ashes Test match, England v Australia, 1-5 August 2019, Edgbaston, Birmingham
2nd Specsavers Ashes Test match, England v Australia, 14-18 August 2019, Lord’s, London
3rd Specsavers Ashes Test match, England v Australia, 22-26 August 2019, Emerald Headingley, Leeds
4th Specsavers Ashes Test match, England v Australia, 4-8 September 2019, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
5th Specsavers Ashes Test match, England v Australia, 12-16 September 2019, Kia Oval, London
 
Jack Leech should have at least been in the squad.

Interesting Stokes is named as VC.
 
Leach should have been in the squad. I know he's not in the team for his batting so the 92 can be put as a one off fluke, but he deserves to be there over Moeen Ali
 
Moeen has been poor for a while now and should have been dropped. Why has leach been dropped? :facepalm:
 
No Leach?

Nonetheless a strong squad.

Ashes should be interesting!
 
Is making Stokes vice captain a move just to reward him for his world cup heroics? A bit unfair on Buttler who hasn't done anything wrong to be replaced
 
Moeen Ali has the most wickets for any bowler in Test Cricket in the last 12 months - 45 wickets at an average of 23. He’s still the best spinner England have so good to see them backing him again.
 
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Denly should open with Roy instead of batting at 3. Burns needs to be benched.
Best team England can play atm would be:

1. Roy
2. Denly
3. Root
4. Bairstow
5. Stokes
6. Butler
7. Ali
8. Woakes/Archer
9. Curran
10. Broad
11. Anderson
 
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Roy isn’t going to last as an opener in Tests. Nasser Hussain is right that Roy should only really bat in middle order.

Burns
Denly
Root
Roy
Stokes
Bairstow
Buttler
Moeen
Woakes/Broad
Archer
Anderson
 
Moeen has to play as a pure spinner . The guy hasn't done anything wrong in tests even if he has been a dud in ODIs .
 
England National Cricket Selectors have named a 14-strong squad for the 1st Specsavers Ashes Test match against Australia at Edgbaston starting on Thursday, August 1.

England first Test squad versus Australia:

Joe Root (Yorkshire) captain
Moeen Ali (Worcestershire)
Jimmy Anderson (Lancashire)
Jofra Archer (Sussex)
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Rory Burns (Surrey)
Jos Buttler (Lancashire)
Sam Curran (Surrey)
Joe Denly (Kent)
Jason Roy (Surrey)
Ben Stokes (Durham) vice-captain
Olly Stone (Warwickshire)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)

After impressing in England’s successful ICC Cricket World Cup campaign, Sussex fast bowler Jofra Archer is called up to the Test squad for the first time. The 24-year-old returned to action for Sussex last night in the Vitality Blast after a sore left side. His readiness for five-day cricket will be assessed at Edgbaston. Since making his senior debut in 2016, Archer has played 28 first-class matches taking 131 wickets at 23.44.

Lancashire batsman Jos Buttler and Durham all-rounder Ben Stokes return to the Test squad having been rested for the Ireland Test at Lord’s.

Somerset’s Lewis Gregory and Jack Leach miss out having been selected in the Test squad for the victory over Ireland this week.
Leach, who is not part of Somerset’s Vitality Blast squad, will train with the Test squad in the run-up to the Edgbaston Test.

Lancashire seamer Jimmy Anderson is making good progress in his rehabilitation from his right calf injury and is expected to be fit for the first Test.

Meanwhile, Colin Graves, Chairman of the ECB, has approved the reappointment of Ben Stokes as Test vice-captain following the recommendation from Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket Ashley Giles and ECB Chief Executive Tom Harrison. Stokes returns to the role for the first time since September 2017 and assumes responsibility from Jos Buttler.

Commenting on the selection of the squad, National Selector Ed Smith, said:

“Though it is unusual to select a squad of 14 for a home Test, there are compelling reasons to do so here. Several bowlers are recovering from injuries or niggles. In addition, some bowlers who played in the World Cup are being closely monitored to assess their preparation for Test match cricket.

“The wider circumstances - a successful home World Cup campaign followed so quickly by a home Ashes series - are unprecedented. It feels sensible to select an expanded squad and leave a number of bowling options open for the final team selection.”

The squad will report to Birmingham on Monday.

England Specsavers Ashes Test Series Schedule:

1st Specsavers Ashes Test match, England v Australia, 1-5 August 2019, Edgbaston, Birmingham
2nd Specsavers Ashes Test match, England v Australia, 14-18 August 2019, Lord’s, London
3rd Specsavers Ashes Test match, England v Australia, 22-26 August 2019, Emerald Headingley, Leeds
4th Specsavers Ashes Test match, England v Australia, 4-8 September 2019, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
5th Specsavers Ashes Test match, England v Australia, 12-16 September 2019, Kia Oval, London

No Leach? No Rashid (has been so poorly handled in tests)? Still no call up for Porter?

Not the best squad they could have gone for but it is what it is. I'm surprised there isnt another specialist batsman in there.

The team and order I'd like to see in the first test is -

1. Rory Burns
2. Jason Roy
3. Joe Root
4. Johnny Bairstow
5. Jos Buttler wk
6. Ben Stokes
7. Moeen Ali
8. Chris Woakes
9. Sam Curran
10. Stuart Broad
11. James Anderson

The team and order that will play -

1. Rory Burns
2. Jason Roy
3. Joe Denly (pointless)
4. Joe Root
5. Johnny Bairstow
6. Jos Buttler wk
7. Ben Stokes
8. Chris Woakes
9. Sam Curran
10. Stuart Broad
11. James Anderson

I think Ali has had his time and with the ikes of Curran and Woakes performing, they don't really need part time spinner/batsman.
 
No Leach? No Rashid (has been so poorly handled in tests)? Still no call up for Porter?

Not the best squad they could have gone for but it is what it is. I'm surprised there isnt another specialist batsman in there.

The team and order I'd like to see in the first test is -

1. Rory Burns
2. Jason Roy
3. Joe Root
4. Johnny Bairstow
5. Jos Buttler wk
6. Ben Stokes
7. Moeen Ali
8. Chris Woakes
9. Sam Curran
10. Stuart Broad
11. James Anderson

The team and order that will play -

1. Rory Burns
2. Jason Roy
3. Joe Denly (pointless)
4. Joe Root
5. Johnny Bairstow
6. Jos Buttler wk
7. Ben Stokes
8. Chris Woakes
9. Sam Curran
10. Stuart Broad
11. James Anderson

I think Ali has had his time and with the ikes of Curran and Woakes performing, they don't really need part time spinner/batsman.

No room for Archer?
 
I think he is injured for the firs ttest at least. The last report I read, which was a while ago, he was supposed to miss 3 tests. Is he fully fit now?

If so, I'd take him over Curran.

He played in the T20 Blast for Sussex last night (the match was tied!), so I assume he is fit. He is in the squad for the first Test, but they've named a 14-man squad just in case as both Archer and Anderson have been injured recently.
 
Appalling treatment of Jack Leach.

Presumably not a spinning deck so Moeen has it covered.

So....

Burns
Roy
Denly (though I see little point as he is 33)
Rooooooooot (capt)
Buttler
Stokes
Bairstow (w)
Moeen
Woakes
Broad
Anderson

It’s a conservative and uninspiring side and I would give Archer a run.
 
Moeen has to play as a pure spinner . The guy hasn't done anything wrong in tests even if he has been a dud in ODIs .


He has 177 test wickets - more that any English specialist spinner since Underwood, Swann apart.
 
Moeen Ali has no place in this squad, let alone in the XI.
 
He played in the T20 Blast for Sussex last night (the match was tied!), so I assume he is fit. He is in the squad for the first Test, but they've named a 14-man squad just in case as both Archer and Anderson have been injured recently.

That was a turn around.

If fit, he plays.
 
Moeen has pretty good in tests especially at home. His batting is rubbish these days but he still has something to give with the ball.
 
I honestly wish Foakes was in the squad ahead of Bairstow. Much better keeper and doesn't need to be riled up to perform at his best.
 
Moeen Ali has no place in this squad, let alone in the XI.

Yes leading wicket taker in the world in Test cricket in the last year deserves no place in squad. Good one mate.
 
Yes leading wicket taker in the world in Test cricket in the last year deserves no place in squad. Good one mate.

He was England's worst player in the last Ashes series and in the WC. He chokes on the big state.
 
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He was England's worst player in the last Ashes series and in the WC. He chokes on the big state.

Moeen is rubbish away from home, but he has been a good Test player in England. He has been in abysmal touch with the bat, but the Test format could help him get his form back.

He is not the great player his irrational supporters think, but England don’t have a replacement for him yet.
 
If Anderson is fit for the first Test, Sam Curran has to sit out for Archer. Sam Curran is terrific and feisty, but Archer has to play.
 
I will go with this XI:-

Burns
Roy
Bairstow
Root(c)
Stokes
Buttler(wkt)
Moeen
Woakes
Broad
Archer
Anderson

But knowing Bairstow, it wont happen. So, it should be:-

Burns
Roy
Root(c)
Buttler
Stokes
Bairstow(wkt)
Moeen
Woakes
Broad
Archer
Anderson
 
It's genuinely pointless playing burns, he will fail miserably.
May as well play Ali up there if u are thinking about burns, that's how pointless it is
 
Open with Roy and Bairstow just like ODIs it can’t possibly be worse than burns
 
He has 177 test wickets - more that any English specialist spinner since Underwood, Swann apart.

Quality over quantity . Picking bits and pieces cricketers seems to work in English conditions and moeen deserves to play on merit . But on difficult away tours, England should back the likes of leach and crane. Moeen will be a complete liability while touring.
 
Quality over quantity . Picking bits and pieces cricketers seems to work in English conditions and moeen deserves to play on merit . But on difficult away tours, England should back the likes of leach and crane. Moeen will be a complete liability while touring.

Moeen is the best spinner available. ECB does not produce real spinners any more - I think Swann and Panesar were flukes.

As for Crane, I think the last genuine England leggie was Johnny Wardle in the 1950s. It’s a lost art and nobody knows how to coach it.
 
Moeen is the best spinner available. ECB does not produce real spinners any more - I think Swann and Panesar were flukes.

As for Crane, I think the last genuine England leggie was Johnny Wardle in the 1950s. It’s a lost art and nobody knows how to coach it.

Leach outbowled moeen when England toured Lanka last year and is a better option on bowling ability alone.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Interesting decision by Edgbaston to keep this scoreboard up for the Aussie team for training today.....<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ashes2019?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ashes2019</a> <a href="https://t.co/AyL2Jcmmqs">pic.twitter.com/AyL2Jcmmqs</a></p>— Jason Gillespie &#55356;&#57137;&#55356;&#57096; (@dizzy259) <a href="https://twitter.com/dizzy259/status/1155793734581313536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Leach outbowled moeen when England toured Lanka last year and is a better option on bowling ability alone.

The Ashes are in England. Moeen has a good record here, particularly in the last innings. His role will be to keep it tight for the seamers in the first innings and run through the Aussies in the second. He has done it many times.
 
England's XI for first Test: Rory Burns, Jason Roy, Joe Root (c), Joe Denly, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, James Anderson
 
Moeen is rubbish away from home, but he has been a good Test player in England. He has been in abysmal touch with the bat, but the Test format could help him get his form back.

He is not the great player his irrational supporters think, but England don’t have a replacement for him yet.

Sorry for the late response, I've been super busy in the asset management world.

I'm well aware of his decent stats at home (touch under 40 with the bat and a touch over 30 with ball), so he's obviously been a key player at home.

However, he is also a confidence player and it's obvious he's short in confidence. He needs to take his mind off cricket, this worked for him (and England) when they dropped him after the last Ashes series. When he was recalled he went on to perform in the summer of 2018.

I think Jack Leach or Adil Rashid should take his place in the side. They might be inferior (both with bat and ball) but Moeen in current form just needs a break away from the game at the very least.
 
England's XI for first Test: Rory Burns, Jason Roy, Joe Root (c), Joe Denly, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, James Anderson

So no Archer also
 
Didn’t think Root would bat at 3. Would have liked to see have seen Bairstow at 3 and someone else take the gloves.
 
All this baying for Joe Root to bat at 3 when all you're doing is transferring the batting problems from 3 to 4.

I'm with Mark Butcher on this - you're weakening a strength.
 
England seam bowler Jimmy Anderson, who left the field during the first Specsavers Ashes Test match against Australia at Edgbaston on day one (Thursday August 1) due to tightness to his right calf, underwent an MRI scan this week.

The MRI confirmed that Anderson has suffered a calf injury. As a result of the injury, he will commence a rehabilitation programme working with the England and Lancashire medical teams.

Anderson will miss the second Test match, which starts at Lord’s on Wednesday August 14.

He will be reassessed on an ongoing basis regarding his availability for the rest of Specsavers Ashes series.
 
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