The Ashes; First Test, Cardiff, July 8-12

[Aidan11]

Squad announcement 1.30pm today.

[Aidan11]

Maybe Watson kicked Wood's horse.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Is this not just the squad?

[Gingerfinch]

Rashid in. two spinners?

[The Waugh Twins]

So Watson is been given another chance, this has to be his last. Needs at least 150 IMHO and it better look good.

[Aidan11]

Rashid in. two spinners?

Moeen Ali might start to sweat a little bit....and nothing to do with the heatwave either.

[The Waugh Twins]

So the England squad has been named and there are plenty of excellent names to make a decent meal out of in Downton Abbey.

We have the cook, and I see a little shark finn soup being served up with root vegetables. The butler hears the door bell ring and here come the guests. More wood to stoke the fire, the music sets the balance and the party begins. Darn that rashid between me legs else it would be a perfect night.

[The Waugh Twins]

Watson batting like a bloke that already knows he hasn't made the team.

[Gingerfinch]

You forgot the Broad beans!

[The Waugh Twins]

Out from 50 deliveries. He will be praying Australia get out cheaply so he gets another go, or be fit enough to bowl and take a bag of wickets.

[The Waugh Twins]

You forgot the Broad beans!

Darn it that's a good one.

[The Waugh Twins]

You forgot the Broad beans!

Darn it that's a good one.

Would have complemented the root vegetables perfectly and with a few red rashids throw in.

[The Waugh Twins]

So Mitch Marsh you have probably seen your main competition pass you on the field. What can you do to find a place in this test squad?

[ianp1970]

Ambitious line up for Cardiff:

Cook
Lyth
Ali
Bell
Root
Stokes
Buttler
Rashid
Broad
Wood
Anderson

Not sure how much turn there'll be, wouldn't be tried anyway, and not sure if I'd pick this side anyway for the first match of
a series...

[Aidan11]

I think they'll still give Ballance a chance.