BREAKING NEWS: Stuart Broad is picked over Mark Wood for England’s first Ashes Test at Edgbaston – with Moeen Ali straight back in against the Aussies after answering Ben Stokes’ SOS call
England made their big Ashes selection call today when they named Stuart Broad to face Australia at Edgbaston on Friday and left out Mark Wood.
Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum had faced a major dilemma between the veteran who always rises to the big occasion in Broad and the all-important point of difference that Wood brings with his extra pace.
But once England had confirmed that Jimmy Anderson and Ollie Robinson had recovered from minor injuries and were fit to play they made the call to go with the experience and sense of occasion that Broad brings.
Moeen Ali, meanwhile, was confirmed as England’s spinning replacement for the injured Jack leach and will make his first red-ball appearance for two years on his home ground 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 looks like a flat Edgbaston pitch.
England picked Stuart Broad (left) over Mark Wood (right) for the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston
Broad will be partnered with England’s leading wicket-taker James Anderson (left) in the attack
Moeen Ali has also been picked, having answered England’s SOS call after Jack Leach’s injury
That means there will be none of the extreme pace, with Jofra Archer and Olly Stone injured and Wood left out, that Stokes had considered crucial to England’s Ashes hopes.
But it is an understandable call because of what Broad brings. He dismissed Australia’s David Warner cheaply seven out of 10 times in the last Ashes in England four years ago and now has the perfect opportunity to set the tone again against the under-pressure Australian at the top of the order in front of a raucous Edgbaston crowd.
Broad took the 20th five-wicket haul of his Test career in the comprehensive defeat of Ireland at Lord’s and relishes the sort of challenge Australia will provide in the most eagerly anticipated Ashes series since 2005.
And it does look as though Stokes himself will be fit to play at least some part with the ball in Friday’s first Test after completing his longest stint in practice yet at Edgbaston today both on the outfield and then in the nets.
England – Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Root, Brook, Stokes (captain), Bairstow (keeper), Moeen, Broad, Robinson, Anderson.
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