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[Nickauger]

England's strongest sides....hmmm...tough one that.

Tests, I'd go for: Cook, Root, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Bairstow, Prior, AN Other, Swann, Finn, Anderson (AN Other because none of Broad, Bresnan and Onions have quite convinced me on this point)

ODIs: Cook, Bell, Pietersen, Morgan, Bairstow, Buttler, Wright (though I'd like to see Stokes tried), Bresnan, Broad, Swann, Finn 

T20: Hales, Pietersen, Wright, Morgan, Buttler, AN Other, Bairstow, Bresnan, Broad, Swann, Finn - the AN Other should be someone who can share bowling duties with Wright...

No place for Compton, think thats a tough call!

[Manormanic]

No place for Compton, think thats a tough call!

I assume you mean in Tests. 

If so....it is, but there are six candidates for seven batting places and on balance, he is the one that deserves to miss out.  Obviously Cook, Trott and Pietersen are nailed on certainties, and Bell (for all that I could make an argument that he has been rubbish this last year) saved his spot with that ton in the Fourth Test, and is safe in the knowledge that he has 18 months of relentless Aussie bashing ahead of him.

That leaves two spots between Compton, Root and Bairstow.  Root is obviously the first choice for one of them, so well did he bat on debut - not to mention his fielding and useful off spin.  From there - Bairstow was unlucky not to be a starter in India, so well did he handle the mighty Yarpies last Summer, and whilst not technically the incumbent, I think that he showed more in that game that Compton did in his three Tests in India, where he looked willing to graft but short of the necessary class to score runs at the highest level.

I also took into account the balance of the side - if Compton opens and Root bats six, then you have three plodders at the top of the order together with Bell, and a young man making his way at six - there is the potential for that order to get bogged down and go nowhere if KP fails.  With Root opening, Bairstow adds impetus and class at six.

[ajm90]

Cook doesn't really strike me as a plodder anymore, he seems to have gone along at decent strike rates recently, maybe not as fast as KP but fast enough for test cricket.

[Manormanic]

You would still, surely, feel that an order featuring him, Compton, Trott, Bell and Root was somewhat one paced, surely?

[ajm90]

Maybe 1/2 years ago but cook and bell open in ODIs so they can go pretty fast if needs be and Root has the ability to pick the speed up if required as well. Could quite interesting to see how it goes but I think that they could do pretty well.

[ajm90]

Would love to see Bairstow in though as he looks like a great player.

[Manormanic]

I think thats the key point - Compton looks functional enough, but not a great player, nor even one who might potentially be great.  Bairstow seems to me a class apart.

That said, Compton can fight for the batting reserve spot with Taylor et al...

[ajm90]

By the time of the Ashes next year Id love to see Root opening with Bairstow at six, but for the New Zealand tour Id like to see Compton opening with Root in the middle order to let him get more used to test cricket.

[Manormanic]

But that deprives Bairstow, who we all agree is the long term option, of the same chance to get used to Test cricket.  I also think that the likelihood of cheap runs in that series (assuming that the Kiwis don't get their acts in gear quick sharpish) might cloud the issue.

[The_Bird]

But that deprives Bairstow, who we all agree is the long term option, of the same chance to get used to Test cricket.  I also think that the likelihood of cheap runs in that series (assuming that the Kiwis don't get their acts in gear quick sharpish) might cloud the issue.

Bairstow will be Prior's replacement (not for a long time yet mind) so if he can forge a good test career as just a batsman for the time being, he will be a huge asset for England in the future.

[Manormanic]

I don't think Bairstow will ever be Prior's replacement.  He is (a) too good of a front line batsman and (b) not a strong enough wicketkeeper.  I suspect that he may play the odd test there, as AB De Villiers has done, but that the intention would be to bring through one of a number of other specialist keepers in addition.

[procricket]

I think people are making massive assumptions about players they have not realy seen enough off.

Name a specialist keeper in England right now to keep wicket it just not the way modern cricket is going.

Look around one the world it took arguably the best keeper in the world till Sangga gave up the gloves to prolong his career to et a game.

There not one specialist keeper in England good enought with the bat to do that I see either Buttler or Bairstow to do it.

We all have our pre conceived favourites and look at crickinfo at stats but some must be talented to be selected for sure.

[The_Bird]

I think Prior has improved massively over the last 3 years and who could've thought that he would be by far the best w/k batsmen in test cricket as a complete package. No one would've said that when he started. Buttler doesn't look as good enough and won't be playing test matches and no one else in county cricket is scoring the weight of runs that Bairstow has the last two years. Nearly 4k runs @ 46 in FC matches is miles ahead of most young batsmen let alone keeper batsmen. He'll have the ECB's investment for the next 3/4 years for sure

[ajm90]

I think Bairstow is good enough to both be a front line batsman and a keeper, his keeping is not bad and he's showing signs of being a very good batsman under pressure as well.

[Manormanic]

I think I've seen a fair amount of Bairstow's cricket and I am confident that he will never become a regular test keeper - his levels are so low and the potential returns of his batting so graet that it would be a decidedly odd decision on the past of the management to go down that route (aside from which, he is tall for a keeper which may well lead to injury issues).  In any event, he would need to improve massively, and the chances of him doing any keeping at all in the next 3-5 years are kippered by Prior being there...

Of current keepers who are under 27 and not muppets with the bat, I suspect that Davies and Kieswetter are better bets for the gloves, whilst Buttler is more likely to have the time invested in him because he is unlikely to make the pure batting level.  There are other youngsters who would also be in contention...