The final test selection seemed bonkers

Dropping Hameed, who hadn't been doing great, for Burns, who hadn't looked any better...

Playing Stokes (and possibly Robinson) despite them not being fit...

Ditching Leach for an all seam attack, but then needing to rely on Root as a spin bowler, on the first day!

The whole bunch just looked like they didn't want to be there, except Billings, who, australian first innings in particular, showed that having a chippy unbeat character behind the stumps was much better than having Buttler fretting about his batting, keeping and all aspects of his game.

No idea why Anderson didn't play? (not fit?) as if he's not playing in those conditions, not sure why we brought him. Particularly as Robinson seemed to be carrying an injury on day one!

The seeming potluck approach to team selection makes it hard to judge on the other points, in my opinion. You'd hope that the squad members have a clear idea of why they are being brought in and out of the match day side, but from interviews, it seems that's not really the case, and, alarmingly, that the players themselves don't really seem to know what role they are being asked to fulfil.

It's all foundational stuff and really, I'd like to see the team management completely overhauled and Root stepping back from the captaincy.

Posted By: Cardiff Canary, Jan 17, 12:38:22