England's selectors spent much of yesterday in a small, glass-fronted room in the Derby pavilion.
They were accompanied for most of the time by various other functionaries from the England and Wales Cricket Board and given that the squad for the first Test had probably been picked earlier and the winter debriefing took place last week they might have been discussing the price of fish (a bit steep, actually).
Since they all appear to have signed a pledge of discretion, it is difficult to be sure what goes on these days in the selectors' meetings. They would prefer never to reveal the names of their team, ever, in the same way that groundsmen begrudge anybody actually playing on their surfaces. They worry needlessly about opponents knowing too much.
They were accompanied for most of the time by various other functionaries from the England and Wales Cricket Board and given that the squad for the first Test had probably been picked earlier and the winter debriefing took place last week they might have been discussing the price of fish (a bit steep, actually).
Since they all appear to have signed a pledge of discretion, it is difficult to be sure what goes on these days in the selectors' meetings. They would prefer never to reveal the names of their team, ever, in the same way that groundsmen begrudge anybody actually playing on their surfaces. They worry needlessly about opponents knowing too much.