Hopefully it'll get sorted soon, because our bowling attack is seriously weird.
One injury prone quick, one injury prone spinner and two kids right now?
I know pickings are slim, but that doesn't fill me with confidence.
Its a bit unbalanced without Stokes being able to bowl, but hardly weird. For the majority of circumstances we will have 2 of the 4 quicks (Jimmy, Wood, Atkinson, Robinson) and 2 of the specialist spinners (Leach Ahmed Hartley Bashir) with Root to be the 5th bowler / 3rd spinner. Leach I'd expect to play most games if fit, so its one for the other 3. Without Stokes bowling, going in with 1 quick and 3 specialist spinners is way too risky, which as shame as Ahmed is a real point of difference and an attacking spinner, but I cant see him having the control to bowl long spells, which puts a bit of pressure on Root.
Hartley and Bashir are both tall, the theory is their extra bounce will be an asset as although India pitches tend to turn, its often slow turn and the Indian batsmen are strangely
good at playing spin.
I think Ahmed may well play 1st test, not least because Bashir is stuck in England and Hartley is a SLA, same as Leech (albeit a good bit taller)
edit to add: we're gong with Wood and 3 spinners! Gulp. I guess this new england dont take the safe option!
