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[stevie]

What do people think the team for the 1st test will be? Personally i think it should be

1) Strauss
2) Cook
3) Shah
4)KP
5)Colly
6) Freddie
7)Prior
8)Broad
9)Sidebottom (if fit, if not anderson)
10) Harmy
11)Monty

If Freddie isn't fit enough to play i would bat colly at 6, Bell at 5 and Shah at 3. If the pitch looks like it might turn maybe put Rashid or Swann in with Prior at 6.

[nickroe92]

1)Cook
2)Strauss
3)Shah
4)Pietersen
5)Collingwood
6)Bell
7)Prior
8)Broad
9Harmison
10)Anderson/Sidebottom
11)Panesar

This is of course assuming Flintoff is out

[bucko2007]

Get rid of Bell that is for sure...

[nickroe92]

Bell has cored tons from 6 though....
admitidley against bangladesh etc.......

[mdl_1979]

Fingers crossed Flintoff is fit - totally messes up the balance of the team if he's missing.

If Flintoff is fit I'd go with:

Strauss
Cook
KP
Shah
Collingwood
Prior
Flintoff
Broad
Sidebottom
Anderson
Panesar

If he's not fit I would go with this line-up:

Strauss
Cook
KP
Shah
Collingwood
Bell
Prior
Swann
Broad
Sidebottom
Anderson

[AtBalfour]

How can Swann not be everyone's 1st choice spinner? Panesar's 4 wickets in the current practice match were against tail end batsmen in a very very poor quality side. Here is a realistic lineup- which I can't say I agree with.

Strauss
Cook
Shah
KP
Collingwood
Flintoff
Prior
Swann
Broad
Harmison
Panesar

I really disagree with the merit of having Panesar, Collingwood and Prior in there, but apart from those three, this is one strong line-up.

Ideally for the Ashes, Rashid will be the lone spinner, Vaughan will be back at 3 for Collingwood and although I am content to see Prior get another chance, Foster is the best Keeper in the country by a distance.

I predict a series whitewash for England in this one.

[Coach]

Bell has never been the first to score a 100 in a test! never steps up when needed! but also shah is knackered now!