Ben Foakes called up as cover for Jonny Bairstow

[Andy]

I thought at the time that Foakes doing well in Sri Lanka was not really a great thing as in conditions outside the sub continent, where we need more seamers, having him in the team unbalances it.  We looked a very well balanced side when we beat the best team in the world, India, 4-1 with 4 seamers and 2 spinners and now we are basically leaving our 2nd best bowler out in order to pick a wicketkeeper to bat at 8 when there are already 2 keepers in the side already.  Of course it's not Foakes fault we were 77 all out but Broad would have bowled well on that pitch and Curran is a better batsman than a bowler and should be batting higher than 9 anyway.

Pity Foakes didn't get more runs...might have made JB and JB look to their laurels: although the innings as a whole was a bit more Chuckle brothers than Laurel and Hardy.

That's another fine mess you've got us into, Rooty.

Boom, boom!

[IlfordEagle]

Amazing that Eng have arguably the best WK (Foakes) in their team but he unbalances the side, agree that Curran should bat higher certainly at 8 & probably 7 as he does for Surrey, maybe the solution is to drop Mooen, his 'runs' won't be missed or Rashis whose bowling won't be either!