NO MO... BUT ONE MORE GO FOR JOE!
Joe Denly is set to be given one last chance when england’s selectors meet today to discuss their plan to hit back in the Ashes — but Moeen Ali could well be taken out of the firing line.
The panel will lick their wounds after the first Test thrashing by Australia. They must then decide whether to stick with the policy of providing players with extended chances or act before it may well be too late.
The one enforced change in the side who will take the field at lord’s on Wednesday will see Jofra Archer — hugely impressive on his return from injury for Sussex seconds this week — replace the injured Jimmy Anderson and provide that all-important extra pace in the england attack.
But the selectors have tough decisions to make over the poor performances of two players who frankly do not look likely to make any sort of impact against Australia if they are retained for the second Test.
Denly will almost certainly escape the axe, at least in the squad, because england believe it is not fair to drop someone after only four Tests, even if he is averaging 21 and, aged 33, does not have too much potential for growth.
The only way the Kent man might miss out is if he is included in a squad of 12, but then left out in favour of Sam Curran when the selection is handed over by national selector ed Smith to captain Joe Root and coach Trevor Bayliss to pick the final XI. england desperately want to back the highly popular Moeen but he has reached the point where he looks so bereft of confidence with bat and ball that they would merely be prolonging his agony by including him again for the second Test.
The fact that Steve Smith has a significantly inferior average against left-arm spin than any other type of bowling also points to a return for Jack leach to the lord’s ground where he made 92 as nightwatchman against Ireland in england’s victory two weeks ago.