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Ben Stokes faces a crucial tactical test with rain on the radar, while Australia see their chance to retain the urn at Old TraffordWhen Brendon McCullum started out as England’s Test head coach, he was asked the thorny question of Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and how he might approach succession planning here. “I like to pick the best team every time,” came the reply. “My job will be to plan as if you’ll live for ever, but live as if you’ll die tomorrow.”It represented a welcome antidote to the overthink that had derailed the side the previous winter, even if it sounded like an Oasis lyric. And a year on, with England’s bucket hats in the city of the Gallagher brothers needing a win to keep Ashes hopes alive, the sentiment remains: Anderson and Broad are one half of the oldest Ashes attack for nearly 100 years and England’s first with four seamers over the age of 33. Continue reading...