Two dreadful overs. Is that it for the boy?

Talk about a nervous start. Hopefully he'll be given another spell later if things calm down a touch.

Talk about a career flashing in by front of your eyes....



Wow. Woakes has bowled a maiden!

To be fair to Kerrigan and Woakes, they've not been the only ones who have been poor today.

Woakes' selection will need to be judged once he's batted. Think he's easily good enough to be 4th seamer/5th bowler. Just need to find if he's good enough to be 6/7th batsman.

Problem yesterday was the odd selection of Kerrigan. Means that Swann still bowling 30 overs and Broad/Anderson 19 each on day one, despite us having 5 bowlers

Must admit, I reckon Keggsy should've been given the 12th man role on this occasion. Give him time to adjust to everything, the experience of being there, the odd fielding appearance.

To put him on before lunch, with Watson in full flow, wasn't the best move to be honest. Hopefully it's not affected him too much - look at Shane Warne's start in test cricket, wasn't the best.

Watson was only in full flow once Woakes and Kerrigan were brought on.

what's the point picking 2 specialist bowlers, and then bowling Trott? Yes he has a wicket, but this selection smacks of desperation - they'd have been better off grooming Root as the 2nd spinner and playing an extra batsman!

I know Kerrigan froze yesterday, but how is he gonna feel now, not getting a bowl and Trott bowling before him? Best thing to get his confidence back is give him the ball!! Another one to add to the discarded pile methinks!!

Two Chris Schofields, there's only two Chris Schofields....

As soon as England fall even slightly behind in a game, Cook becomes inept as captain. Declaration bowling started before they'd even got to 400 today, and just let them do what they want.

Next time he loses the toss, he should just let someone else captain for that match.

Better to find out how he, and Woakes, can do now than at the Gabba?

I'd have taken him as a drinks carrier to Aus as well - maybe play him towards the end of the series if it's dead. That, to my mind, would have been better than chucking him in at the deep end. Give him a chance to soak it all in.

But what do I know?

That would be the ideal. But if Swann breaks a finger on the eve of the first test?

Then you're buggered, unless you've taken another spinner (which would be highly doubtful). You can't plan off ifs, buts and maybes, though, even if it isn't always ideal.

Exactly. You have to plan on the basis that all members of the squad are ready to play, if needed.

And he's 24. Youngish for a spinner but not exactly a babe in arms. Same age as Panesar when he was first picked.