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[Joe]

Forgot, bring Finn in for Tremlett. Finn was very effective in India and is a good, attacking bowler.

[Kaz092]

People seem to be mentioning the bowlers but what about the batting failed twice getting dismissed under 200 ??

I still think the batters should get another go all this talk of Bopara??

What you guys thinking ??

Think Monty has to play if its a flat track because it would put too much pressure on the seamers although I think that Pakistan batting is fragile and could be a domino effect

As for Pak I would seriously bring in Umar Akmal for Asad Shafi think Umar Akmal is a class act and a match winner

[Cover_Drive]

As for Pak I would seriously bring in Umar Akmal for Asad Shafi think Umar Akmal is a class act and a match winner

Most likely he will be coming in.

[Manormanic]

There is an argument that Bopara and Panesar come in for Morgan and Tremlett - Eoin is not convincing anyway, and Ravi could share the third seamer burden with Trott for one game.

[Joe]

People seem to be mentioning the bowlers but what about the batting failed twice getting dismissed under 200 ??

I still think the batters should get another go all this talk of Bopara??

People are mentioning the bowlers because there is no selection changes that can be done with the batting.

There is an argument that Bopara and Panesar come in for Morgan and Tremlett - Eoin is not convincing anyway, and Ravi could share the third seamer burden with Trott for one game.

That would be beneficial

[Manormanic]

as a one off, yeah

[Kaz092]

as a one off, yeah

Be difficult to drop Bopara if he scores a ton although have seen it happen before, and is he really a great player of spin didn't seem to have a clue against India in the ODIs last year ??

[123*]

Really do not rate Bopara at all, would much rather see someone like Steve Davies come in, although its never gonna happen I believe he's a more accomplished and more consistent batsman than Ravi.

[mdl_1979]

Can't see England panicking and making any changes.  They have had one bad Test match, and will be given the opportunities to rectify the mistakes they made.  This England side are pretty resilient and tend to bounce back pretty hard when they have a poor game.  Fingers crossed they will do so again.

[GJ]

Far too easy to start jumping on the band wagon and start lamenting the team that was selected. There have been so many rediculous statements flying about this week, Miandad for one claiming we haven't proven ourselves to be world number one, having just whitewashed the previous world number 1 side. I think the main problem with the match was how much Ajmal was bigged up and we froze against him and were not positive enough. 

I'd stick with the same side and back them to bounce back in the second test. I doubt we can force a win again in the last one if the pitch is similar. 1-1 for me.

Real shame about losing Bresnan before the series as his addition may have allowed us to play the extra spinner.

[kaustav]

Far too easy to start jumping on the band wagon and start lamenting the team that was selected. There have been so many rediculous statements flying about this week, Miandad for one claiming we haven't proven ourselves to be world number one, having just whitewashed the previous world number 1 side.

Real shame about losing Bresnan before the series as his addition may have allowed us to play the extra spinner.

Many of us neutrals unfortunately would agree with Miandad; England's whitewash of India was good but nothing great. India got overhyped as number 1 and really did not deserve it as their overseas record the last few years had not been great. If England needs to cement the respect it thinks it deserves for being world number one, it needs to win overseas as well. I don' t think England has been that successful against strong sides overseas apart from a series in Australia and a win against New Zealand in 2008.

[Johnny]

A drawn series in SA is no mean feat too.

I think England fully deserve there world no. 1 tag... That's not to say they won't now crumble under the pressure of maintaining that status

[kaustav]

A drawn series in SA is no mean feat too.

I think England fully deserve there world no. 1 tag... That's not to say they won't now crumble under the pressure of maintaining that status

I am not saying they did not deserve it; unfortunately (or fortunately), world cricket really does not have a super dominating number 1 like we had come to expect from the Aussies or the WI in the past. The relentless Aussies would surely have had more of a swagger with a reason for their repeated dominance than the present English side. Trust me Johnny, if you beat Pakistan 2-1 and then beat India and Sri-lanka in their backyards, no-one will question the dominance of England.

[PM7]

England have it all to prove now. Number one means winning all around the world. India were exposed  as unable to win outside the subcontinent and now England will have to show that they can do it abroad and they will be tested within the next few months.

I cant see England winning the series but can see Pakistan taking great strength from the opening test and drawing the others. Pakistan have done some crazy and controversial stuff but they have a seriously good  team with a point to prove!

[jw17]

is he really a great player of spin didn't seem to have a clue against India in the ODIs last year ??

Bit unfair to say that considering the runs he scored over here.