Just who would make way for Stokes?
If Ben Stokes makes an immediate return for England against India on Saturday, who would make way?
Here, we look at the options. Chris Woakes The man who deputised for Stokes at Lord’s in the second Test made a significant impact, taking the key wicket of India captain Virat Kohli in the first innings before a timely maiden international century. Dropping Woakes seems unlikely. Sam Curran The left-handed bowling all-rounder had a four-wicket haul and made a combative half-century in just his second Test in the series-opener. But at this stage in his career, Curran is an inferior first-change bowler to Woakes so it could be that England take a pragmatic view and leave out the Surrey youngster. Adil Rashid The leg-spinner was a virtual bystander at the Home of Cricket, where he did not bat, bowl or take a catch. It would not be a complete shock if England decided they did not need a spinner at a ground that even Graeme Swann lamented as a graveyard for tweakers. Ollie Pope England may decide to drop a batsman and new boy Pope is the most vulnerable because of his inexperience. That would mean Jonny Bairstow moves up to four and Stokes slots in at five. But would that put too great a burden on the shoulders of wicketkeeper Bairstow?
James Anderson or Stuart Broad
This five-Test series has been crammed into the space of six weeks, and Anderson, 36, and Broad, 32, both admitted the prospect of taking a breather is a possibility in an effort to keep them at optimum level. However, the series is still on the line and both men will be unwilling to sit out at a ground where they have enjoyed tremendous success in the past.