Ben Stokes doubtful for second Test

espn.go.com/cricket/story/_/id/15641346/...ond-test-knee-injury

This would be a blow for England as Stokes gives the team great balance. If he does miss out, I would imagine that Chris Woakes would be the most likely replacement though Jake Ball would be another possibility with Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali moving up the order.

Stokes has indeed been ruled out of the second Test due to his knee injury and been replaced in he 12-man squad by Chris Woakes.

This is a big blow for England. There have been reports that Stokes' injury could force him to sit on the sidelines for up to six-weeks.

I have never been quite sold on Chris Woakes, though to be fair, he has never been given an extended run in the side. It has always been one game here, one game there. It is tough to build a rhythm when you play sporadically.

Just looking over the scorecard's from this weeks round of county championship fixtures, I see he picked up nine-wickets in an inning against Durham, finishing with figures of 9-36. I'd have to imagine he gets the nod ahead of Jake Ball for the second Test.

www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2016...t/story/1018741.html

He made a good case....Beside Lanka is a pathetic squad 

 

Now is the time to groom odda TEST players .

SL struggling with the loss of Sangakkarra and Jayawardena.

It is obvious from the 1st Test results.

I would be curious to see what happens if England do win at Durham. Would they possibly rest Broad and Anderson ahead of the upcoming Pakistan series and give the likes of Ball/Woakes/Footitt a run out? I'd also like to see more of Rashid, especially with the forthcoming tour of India and Bangladesh on the horizon.

Indeed he dos. It has just been confirmed that Woakes will replace Stokes for the second Test.

England XI to face Sri Lanka at Durham:

Cook (c), Hales, Compton, Root, Vince, Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Woakes, Broad, Finn, Anderson

Bairstow and Moeen Ali will each move up one place in the order with Woakes batting at number eight. Woakes is no mug with the bat, averaging 36.66 in First-Class cricket with 9 centuries.