Obviously have to pick from players we have out there, which is very limiting. It's outrageous that players like Ben Foakes and Jack Leach have been discarded, and to an extent a player like Sam Cook, who would have done what Neser did in the last test. There are so many players who deserve to be dropped, but that's probably a topic, for another day.
For this test, I would drop Smith. Very poor at the moment with the bat and behind the stumps, and offers virtually no encouragement or noise to bowlers or captain. I grew up on hearing Alec Stewart and Jack Russell chipping away all game.
I would give the gloves to Pope and move him down the order to ease pressure on him. He seems too jittery to be a number 3.
Bethell in at 3.
Tounge and Potts in for Carse and Atkinson to pitch it up, and stop obsession of the constant short pitched bowling.
I would keep Jacks for his batting and off spin (and fielding!),
My last choice would be between Archer, and Bashir, depending on the pitch, but would lean towards Archer, with Bashir's poor form, and that Root land Bethell can turn their arms over.
Z.Crawley
B.Duckett
J.Bethell
J.Root
H.Brook
O.Pope (w)
B.Stokes (c)
W.Jacks
M.Potts
J.Archer
J.Tounge [Post edited 13 Dec 13:53]
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