I think Stokes long term could give us a better balance as a side.
England team v WA Chairman's XI: Root, Carberry, Trott, Bell, Ballance, Stokes, Prior (capt & wk), Rankin, Tremlett, Finn, Anderson. I'd like to think they agree with my Stokes idea, but I'm not kidding myself. Five quicks and one part time spinner, it's a statement of intent - thanks for preparing strips our bowlers love!
England team v WA Chairman's XI: Root, Carberry, Trott, Bell, Ballance, Stokes, Prior (capt & wk), Rankin, Tremlett, Finn, Anderson.
I'm not overly worried by those bowling figures, only Jimmy of those is a genuine frontline bowler for us and his figures are good on a slow pitch. Swann and Broad will be in when the games matter so really the others are competing for the last spot in our 4 man attack. These are the type of games where you want the fringe bowlers to earn a spot in the tests, none of them has done that today which is a shame but it's also nothing to be concerned about.
Shane Warne flapping his gums about Cook and his best buddy Clarke in the media today. He says Clarke is the best captain in the world, which is a tough sell at the moment given their record.