The two invariables

Amongst the great selection debates and “Bazball v Pragmatic”, there are two constants: injuries and bad weather.

Thus it was yesterday – on the third day of the Edgbaston Test – that both kicked in.

Moeen Ali’s spinning finger is raw and blistered and a storm of biblical proportions took the players permanently off in mid-afternoon.

To me bad weather invalidates the argument for the 4 day Test: you simply need that extra day.

Imagine if tomorrow was the last day but – with two – there will now be a result, one way or another.

I also believe that one of the many great faults of The Hundred is that it does not cater for bad weather.

My plan yesterday had been to go to the Arundel Castle ground for the cricket Varsity Match. With heavy rains and a heavy cold, I abandoned my mission.

Sussex are not playing on the outer grounds, which is such a shame, as the Arundel week is a wonderful feature of the calendar.

There is no prettier ground surrounded as it is by trees and in the shadow of the castle.

As for the Test, I have noted criticism of Ben Stokes creeping in.

Michael Vaughan often begins with “Much as I love his captaincy, but …”, complaining of the lack of match practice.

Aggers joins the chorus, criticising  Ollie Robinson’s frequent use of the bouncer – though he yorked Usman Khuwaja.

Of one thing you can be assured, Ben Stokes will not change and has so often proved us all wrong.