Is this Test squad meant to be a joke? Shoaib Bashir gets picked off the back of conceding 38 runs in an over when even his county don't think he's the best England qualified spinner available. Jamie Smith is a very promising batsman but I have never seen him keep wicket and I wonder if Brendon McCullum has. Again, his county don't think he's the best option.
We should have enough talent to beat the West Indies over 5 days if we just pick guys of known quality and play sensibly. There's no need for hunches and gimmicks: we tried that against Australia last year and ended up failing to win a series that was there for the taking. Come on: get serious.

Jamie Smith plays second fiddle to Ben Foakes in the Championship, he keeps wicket for T20 & one day matches. I thought Foakes kept wicket superbly in India, and his batting was pretty decent as well. It seems McCullum & Stokes are obsessed with players who can smash the ball about a bit, but as we saw in India that doesn't always work, particularly in test cricket. Surprised by both Woakes & Bashir being selected, given their lack of cricket so far this season. And why do they constantly select Dan Lawrence in squads but never play him? Lawrence must now surely hold the record for carrying the most drinks out in test cricket history!

From his interviews Stokes is implying that this selection is purely to take a look at options for the Ashes. It’s a dangerous game to play if the team selected then gets beaten and you look pretty foolish.
I’m a great believer in always putting out your best team to win the game.

Two day test match does not bode well for cricket.

A morning at most tomorrow and that’s it for the match I think

Jetting in players to play unprepared is not realistic

Hope Edgbaston has an adequate insurance policy in place for an early end

It's all about making money, from TV and spectators, and so little about competitive games

Good to see Chris Woakes taking a few wickets, hopefully he can regain some form now. I like the look of the West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seales, he's only 22/23 & i wonder if we could get him for next season in the Championship? We desperately lack a real quickie in our line-up, and I know he would be more costly than the usual overseas bowlers we normally end up with, but it would be great to sign someone of his calibre, it would be a real boost to us if we could land him.

Jayden Seales was with Sussex for the first half of the season and I believe he is keen to return there next year. He was due to join them in 2023 but was injured.

Inside-edge wrote:

Jayden Seales was with Sussex for the first half of the season and I believe he is keen to return there next year. He was due to join them in 2023 but was injured.

Thanks for the info and fair play to Sussex for signing him up. We could do with a young, quality fast bowler for next season.

An overseas player that was fit to play most games and made the side better would be an improvement.

Anyone else offended by the disrespect shown by a player chewing gum during the National Anthem and being the only one not singing?

Inside-edge wrote:

Anyone else offended by the disrespect shown by a player chewing gum during the National Anthem and being the only one not singing?

Who was that I'm intrigued?

ExiledBrummie wrote:

Inside-edge wrote:

Anyone else offended by the disrespect shown by a player chewing gum during the National Anthem and being the only one not singing?

Who was that I'm intrigued?

Shoaib Bashir

I'd probably cut the kid some slack. As a republican atheist, the words of God save the King have never meant a lot to me (apart from the bit about crushing rebellious Scots, but we don't get to sing that any more). In my bolshie youth, I might well have not sung along as a silent protest against a rather naff anthem but it would not have signified any lack of patriotic feeling.
These days, I am happy to mouth along to it as I know people get wound up about not singing.

Read an interesting stat today that no Warwickshire player (domestic or overseas) has ever scored a Test Match 100 at Edgbason.

Apparently Brian Lara got the closest with 95.

In an example of the commentator's curse, that stat was used by Andy Saltzmann on TMS today when Chris Woakes was on 62. He was immediately out.
Hamza Shaikh maybe?

A win for England today. After this afternoon's fireworks from Wood (with the ball) and Stokes (with the bat), I would imagine most if not all the spectators will come back for more when England play next at Edgbaston.