Hard one this. I’d have gambled on Wood’s fitness but they mustn’t think he’s ready. Got a lot of fitness worries with the bowlers - Anderson’s age and not quite 100% yet, Stokes can’t really bowl, Root isn’t a bowler, Robinson’s broken down in tests before, obviously Ali’s finger. I can see why they’ve gone for the young lad who should be able to bowl all day rather than risk having another bowler break down, which can be a death sentence considering these Australians can bat for days. Team could use a steady eddie workhorse seamer or a fifth bowler, but I also feel like it could use another strike bowler like Wood because I don’t think that’s Ollie Robinson’s game.
Coming into an Ashes series at 1-0 down for your second cap after Ireland is a hell of a cauldron though.
Bit of a nightmare that Starc is coming back. He can really bat, their tail just got a lot shorter.