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[PedalsMcgrew]

I think you guys are missing the real reason they've picked Tredwell!

What are the chances of him playing in any of the games? Slim? Remote?

So why would they take Borthwick, Briggs etc at a time when their counties are well into pre-season, knowing that all they will do is carry drinks around? That's not going to help their development at all...

Tredwell has got a grooved bowling action, he's a lot better than some on here are giving him credit for and a few weeks carrying the drinks and bowling in the nets at the England batsmen isn't going to do his 'development' any harm at all!

[The_Bird]

Taylor is still only 22 also, 4500 runs in 63 FC games is better than most. I've never understood why players have carried drinks when they could've played in county cricket or lions games to gain form or enhance their reputation for a senior call up. Who do you guys think will open when Strauss goes?

[essexarsenal]

Who do you guys think will open when Strauss goes?

Hales or Jason Roy. But thats a good few years away and anything can happen.

[mdl_1979]

Neither Hales nor Jason Roy will play Test cricket.  I think Joe Root will have a good chance of a top order spot.  What would be more likely is that Trott woud move up to open, Bell to number 3 and a new middle order player will come in.

[Manormanic]

So why would they take Borthwick, Briggs etc at a time when their counties are well into pre-season, knowing that all they will do is carry drinks around? That's not going to help their development at all...

Rashid had three bloody winters of carrying the drinks!

[Manormanic]

Hales or Jason Roy. But thats a good few years away and anything can happen.

More likely Joe Root, Adam Lyth or Daniel Drummond-Bell than either of these two!

[Alvaro]

Rashid had three bloody winters of carrying the drinks!

#idle conjecture alert#
And a gobby Father who may not have done him any favours...

[Manormanic]

Hmmm...not sure how you figure that!

[legger123]

My team for the first test would have to be;

Cook
Strauss
Trott
Pietersen
Bell
Patel (Pretty good stats in FC cricket, and I think he could make the step up to test cricket)
Prior
Bresnan
Broad
Swann
Anderson

Although knowing that James Taylor isn't going on the tour, I still think that if he was i'd replace Bell with him.

[Alvaro]

Cook
Strauss
Trott
Pietersen
Bell
Bopara
Prior
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Monty

[PedalsMcgrew]

Rashid had three bloody winters of carrying the drinks!

And look how well he has developed...........or not. He hardly even gets a mention these days.

[Manormanic]

And look how well he has developed...........or not. He hardly even gets a mention these days.

Wisden had it best in their 2011 issue - "as he develops into an increasingly rounded cricketer, so England's interest in him wanes"

If he played for Slurry, Middlesex or Gileshire, he's have been first choice two years ago.

[PedalsMcgrew]

Since when has playing for Yorkshire been a barrier to playing for England?

[Vic Nicholas]

Neither Hales nor Jason Roy will play Test cricket.  I think Joe Root will have a good chance of a top order spot.  What would be more likely is that Trott woud move up to open, Bell to number 3 and a new middle order player will come in.

Oh please!

All this needless speculation fails to grasp what will REALLY happen.

The ECB scouts in Cape Town are as we speak scouting Saffers feverishly to shore up Englands batting as stalwarts start to retire.

No need to concern yourself with the form of young English lads in the ECCC, because there will be a superior Saffer who will have a speck of British DNA in his Afrikaans blood stream that will qualify him ahead of Root, Hildreth, Taylor et al when the time comes.

Fear not, the ECB talent scouts in Cape Town have everything under control!

[Johnny]

Oh please!

All this needless speculation fails to grasp what will REALLY happen.

The ECB scouts in Cape Town are as we speak scouting Saffers feverishly to shore up Englands batting as stalwarts start to retire.

No need to concern yourself with the form of young English lads in the ECCC, because there will be a superior Saffer who will have a speck of British DNA in his Afrikaans blood stream that will qualify him ahead of Root, Hildreth, Taylor et al when the time comes.

Fear not, the ECB talent scouts in Cape Town have everything under control!

ZZzzz...