England make a huge squad for Friday’s first Ashes Test at Edgbaston as Moeen Ali comes straight back against the Aussies after answering Ben Stokes’ SOS call
England made their big Ashes selection call today as they named Stuart Broad to play Australia at Edgbaston on Friday, leaving out Mark Wood.
Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum faced a major dilemma between the veteran always rising for the big occasion in Broad and the all-important point of difference Wood brings with his extra pace.
But once England confirmed that Jimmy Anderson and Ollie Robinson had recovered from minor injuries and were fit to play, they made the decision to go with the experience and sense of opportunity that Broad brings.
Moeen Ali, meanwhile, was confirmed as England’s rotating replacement for the injured Jack Leach and will make his first red ball appearance at his home ground in two years after answering England’s SOS call.
The decision leaves England with three bowlers of similar medium-fast pace in Anderson, Robinson and Broad on what appears to be a flat Edgbaston pitch.
England chose Stuart Broad (left) over Mark Wood (right) for the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston
Broad will partner England’s leading wicket taker James Anderson (left) in attack.
Moeen Ali has also been selected, having answered England’s SOS call following Jack Leach’s injury
That means there will be none of the extreme pace, with Jofra Archer and Olly Stone injured and Wood out, which Stokes deemed crucial to England’s Ashes hopes.
But it’s an understandable call because of what Broad brings. He cheaply sacked Australia’s David Warner seven times out of ten in England’s last Ashes four years ago and now has the perfect opportunity to once again set the tone against the pressured Australian at the top of the league for a rowdy Edgbaston- audience .
Broad took the 20th five-wicket haul of his Test career in Ireland’s comprehensive defeat at Lord’s and is enjoying the kind of challenge Australia will provide in the most highly anticipated Ashes series since 2005.
And it looks like Stokes himself will be fit to play at least part of the ball in Friday’s first Test after completing his longest stint yet at Edgbaston, both on the outfield and in the aftermath. nets.
England – Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes (captain), Bairstow (goalkeeper), Moeen, Broad, Robinson, Anderson.