England selectors take novel approach of selecting 12 fit players for 2nd test

It looks like England might actually have a chance in this second test, given the fact that the England selectors have a cunning plan.

Reminiscent of something that General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchett would have drafted up to catch the villainous Hun completely by surprise, they’ve managed to manifest the quite frankly ridiculous strategy of picking 12 players who could actually take part in the entire match.

Step aside W.G.Grace. Stand back Bradman. Settle down there Tendulkar. This clever, clever decision is something that Sherlock Holmes would have been proud of. For some reason, plan A of selecting a half-fit James Anderson to bowl 4 overs and not be able to run when batting – relying of course on his known prowess as a tailend slogger – hadn’t worked.

Who knew?!

Additionally, this tactic also meant that England approached the game with a scheme of wearing down the Australian batsman with a progressively knackered Broad/Woakes combination, 2 x part time spinners in Denly and Root, and a Moeen Ali who, I’m pretty sure, is actually an imposter with the real Ali off on holiday at a Centre Parcs somewhere.

And we wonder why Steve Smith had such a fun time swatting our potent attack of medium pace and “spin” away like a german tourist bapping wasps off from his Beer and Schnitzel with a fork.

Promisingly, by error or by default, it does now mean that the Selectors have managed to end up with Archer on their team sheet, who’s pace could actually cause the otherwise comfortable Australian batsman some concern, and Leach in place of the gone-missing Ali, who should be able to at least give the hint of tying up an end with his spin and, crucially, chip in with some important runs.

Not in a dissimilar fashion to Melchett, the Selectors may have a chance of winning this war of attrition through no actual skill of their own.