Stronger lower order batting

All (both) these references to a green top when we all know it’ll look like the M40 when England actually get a bowl.

Jimmy’s record at Brisbane is dire. 925 deliveries, 526 runs, 7 wickets. That’s a bowling average above 75 runs per wicket, a strike rate above 132 deliveries per wicket and an economy rate of 3.41.

Saving Jimmy for Adelaide in these back-to-back test circumstances would make sense to me, niggle or no.

Woakes should enjoy the conditions if it is perchance a Gabba green top that swings.

When is a ‘niggle’ an injury?

Best bowler in the world, on a green top, when it’s been raining, and Australia haven’t played a Test for almost a year.

If he’s fit to play, play him.

BBC are reporting that he is being ‘rested’, which takes the “what are you being rested for that’s more important than this?” argument to a new level. Surely he is injured

I’d save Jimmy for Adelaide for tactical reasons and there are reasons to believe that this is truly a tactical move. Chris Woakes could be just as effective or more effective than Jimmy with the ball at the Gabba and the stronger lower-order batting might be just the ticket.

There’s a bit of weather around at Brisbane too.

As for the fifth test, KC – I can hardly think beyond next Friday, let alone envisage mid-January,