So it happened. Ian Bell has been dropped. No more will we get to see those beautiful cover drives, those skips down the track to loft one to mid-off, or his most recently acquired skill of grassing everything that came near him in the slips. Pity really, always been a fan, but the moment did seem to have come. Anyway, he'll probably be back as soon as someone else is out of form.

Other squad news: Nick Compton is BACK, fresh off a reasonably solid season of county cricket and with there being literally no other openers in England. So is GazBaz. Untried left-arm quick Mark Footitt is in which could be fun to watch (if he gets picked, which he won't), Samit retains his place, but Rashid is out again. I don't suppose there will be that much need for a leg-spinner in Seth Efrica, but this is still a bit disappointing.

What else? Stokesy's in, Woakesy's in, but Woody and Finny are injured.