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[Buzz]

this is why I think Ian Bell should open and have a bit of freedom to attack - the Cook Bell ODI partnership has worked ok - I think this a much better idea than trying an uncapped opener.

[ajm90]

this is why I think Ian Bell should open and have a bit of freedom to attack - the Cook Bell ODI partnership has worked ok - I think this a much better idea than trying an uncapped opener.

Id like to see Ian Bell opening and Morgan slotting in at 5.

[Ayrtek Cricket]

Bairstow scoring a few with the slaz retro range and putting in a strong efforts to make the team for the 1st test I think

[Manormanic]

Its interesting that there are all of a sudden so many people with a genuine claim to a spot int he England side yet so little clarity about who should be selected.  To whit, there is a spot opening and one at six that are totally up in the air, as well as the bowling slots - and its interesting that depsite 95 and 54 in the last South Africa test almost noone thinks that Bairstow should be given the nod.

What would I do?  Well, I would be inclined to go left field.  Bell is not going to play the second test and is weak against spin so why pick him for the first when a line up of:
Cook
Root/Compton
Trott
Pietersen
Morgan
Patel
Prior
Broad
Swann
Finn (if fit - if not Bresnan)
Panesar

might do the job better.  I appreciate that leaving Anderson out is not going to happen in the real world, but I do not feel that five overs with the ball swinging a bit will off set his lack of overs/threat for the remainder of the innings.  Plus he can be rested for tests that do need his brand of skills.   

[alba caerulea]

Interesting but unrealistic. If Bell wasn't going to play in this test he wouldn't have flown out yet. And Anderson will undoubtedly play the 1st match at least

I do like your team set-up though with Patel as the 3rd spinner not the 2nd. And a middle order including KP, Morgan and Prior gives England real potential to accelerate after a steady start from the usual suspects at the top. Bairstow is an interesting one, if the selectors are consistent he must be above Morgan in the pecking order?

[uknsaunders]

I think it's shaping up for this:-

Cook
Trott - might as well he's been doing that job so far thanks to Compton
Bell
Pietersen
Bairstow
Patel
Prior
Bresnan
Broad
Swann
Anderson

[Johnny]

Really like that team Buzz!

[Johnny]

Except Finn ahead of Bresnan if fit

[Manormanic]

Interesting but unrealistic. If Bell wasn't going to play in this test he wouldn't have flown out yet. And Anderson will undoubtedly play the 1st match at least

I do like your team set-up though with Patel as the 3rd spinner not the 2nd. And a middle order including KP, Morgan and Prior gives England real potential to accelerate after a steady start from the usual suspects at the top. Bairstow is an interesting one, if the selectors are consistent he must be above Morgan in the pecking order?

I didn't say it was necessarily realistic, but it is how I would look at things; I don't see that much point in playing three seamers when the number of threatening overs they can bowl is capped at around 30 per day - even allowing for a bouncer burst at some of the Indian middle order players.  Three spinners is a much better way to go.

As for Bairstow, I suspect that there is a bit of reluctance to over expose him given that he has struggled with spin in the past - he'll almost certainly come back into the side in NZ immediately afterward.

[Manormanic]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india-v-england-2012/engine/current/match/565802.html

Bairstow in the runs - Morgan and Fat Sammy too.  Compton failed again, and Bell struggled...

[cricketbadger]

Cook
Root
Trott
Kp
Patel
Bairstow
Prior
Swann
Finn (Bresnan)
Anderson
Panesar

Compton has failed, and isnt an opener. he scored all his runs last year at 3 or 4 unless im mistaken
Bairstow should be ahead of Morgan after the SA series
Realistically i dont think theyd select Patel as high as 5, and Bell would probably fit in there somewhere instead.
And they wont drop Broad as he's vice captain and seemingly untouchable
But this is the side id like to see
Trott, Root and KP can bowl a few overs if required

[cheese]

Feel sorry for Compton he played so well in the County Championship, people need to realise that India is a very different place to England the conditions are at the other end of the scale. I do think the neither Root or Compton should open my team would be,

Cook
Trott
Bell
Pietersen
Bairstow
Patel
Prior
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Finn

[alba caerulea]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/20313758

The Wall has spoken

[legger123]

Tbh I'd play Panesar, Swann, Patel, Broad and Anderson anyway!

[The_Bird]

Cook (c)
Compton
Trott
Pietersen
Bell
Patel
Prior (wk)
Broad
Swann
Panesar
Anderson


This should be the team but I can't see England being that brave unfortunately.