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[alexhilly1492]

1)Cook *
2)Compton
3)Trott
4)KP
5)Root
6)Taylor
7)Prior +
8)Woakes
9) Swann
10) anderson
11) Finn

rest of squad:

Bresnan, bairstow, hales, bell, onions, panesar.

[The_Bird]

What do the Aussies think of George Bailey for an ashes call up?

Experienced, Grit, Appears to be competent with the bat. I think clarke's problem might be the lack of experienced cricketers around him to back him up.

[Number4]

What do the Aussies think of George Bailey for an ashes call up?

Experienced, Grit, Appears to be competent with the bat. I think clarke's problem might be the lack of experienced cricketers around him to back him up.

I don't rate him to be honest..

I'd like to see Doolan given a call up

[Johnny]

Nice situation to be in that we seem to have so many to choose from.

I thin kmy team is the same as many have already listed.

Cook
Compton
Trott
Pieterson
Bell
Root
Prior
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Finn

I think Compton is only keeping the openers slot warm for Root - if Compton is shocking in NZ AND if Root continues to do well, then he might open v Australia, but I think that's 2 quite big ifs.

Personally I think it's pretty helathy to be getting international exposure at 6 with a view to him moving up the order at a later stage. If Compton does go, then I think JB should be nailed on as the next spot.

Bowling wise I think they'll stick with Broad if fit, but he must be running out of credit. I think a fit and in form Bresnan would be great, but will it happen? If not, I really rate Woakes and would love to see him involved.

Tremlett needs a season of County Cricket before he can challenge again in my eyes - look how long it took Onions to get back into contention! Would defineitly like to see Bunny get a game before the Goober.

[Number4]

I think Broad must have photos of someone at the ECB doing inappropriate things to chickens

[Manormanic]

I know what you mean about Tremlett getting time under his belt but, well, lets be realistic - he may never be the kind of guy who plays year in year out, so we should perhaps make the bes of him whilst we can.

[The_Bird]

I don't rate him to be honest..

I'd like to see Doolan given a call up

He's pro for Kendall in northern premier this year so he should be used to the green seamers by june

[Manormanic]

Australia have far more questions to consider than England.  I suspect they're probably looking at Warner, Cowan, Hughes, Watson, Clarke, Khawaja, Wade as their top seven with Lyon to chuck pies and some permutation of Pattinson/Siddle/Starc/Hilfenhaus/Bird/Johnson/Cummins/Hastings/Hazlewood as the seamers, but there is no clear plan for back up batting, nor for whether they stick with a non bowling Watson, and if so whether they go for his preference of opening or not...

[Number4]

He's pro for Kendall in northern premier this year so he should be used to the green seamers by june

Maybe there is a reason for him signing ... Experience on the green tops

[Number4]

Australia have far more questions to consider than England.  I suspect they're probably looking at Warner, Cowan, Hughes, Watson, Clarke, Khawaja, Wade as their top seven with Lyon to chuck pies and some permutation of Pattinson/Siddle/Starc/Hilfenhaus/Bird/Johnson/Cummins/Hastings/Hazlewood as the seamers, but there is no clear plan for back up batting, nor for whether they stick with a non bowling Watson, and if so whether they go for his preference of opening or not...

I actually think that's a pretty strong looking squad to choose from there.... With most bowlers batting quite acceptable as well.... Lyon is the worry though

[Manormanic]

I actually think that's a pretty strong looking squad to choose from there.... With most bowlers batting quite acceptable as well.... Lyon is the worry though

Their seamers should keep them competitive but Lyon is weak and the absence of a back of bowler amongst the batsmen will prove problematic given the poor injury records of most of those quicks.  As for the batting - you couldn't call it strong really as, apart from Clarke, they're all players who'll manage one good knock a series against a top side.

[Bruce]

Maybe there is a reason for him signing ... Experience on the green tops

Sounds similar to what happened with Phil Hughes, look where that got him that year!
That said he is looking a much more solid player now, Last 'summer' over here helped him I think

[Number4]

Sounds similar to what happened with Phil Hughes, look where that got him that year!
That said he is looking a much more solid player now, Last 'summer' over here helped him I think

I think Hughes is looking far better going by his last couple of outings

[Alvaro]

The thing is, Meaker doesn't get wickets for Surrey and never really has.  He's a bit short of the finished article at this stage I'd say.

As for Bairstow - if he isn't ready, how do you explain his performances against South Africa?

I think there's merit in picking a raw young quick that the Aussies won't have seen much of, if nothing else to add something different.

Bairstow, hmm, I'm just not sure. He played well against the Saffers in that one game, but he's still rough around the edges for a consistent top order batting spot.

[alba caerulea]

Personally I'd love to see Tremlett back fit and firing and would have him in my eleven if he was. Onions is also a viable option particularly in English conditions. Again Meaker presents a wicket threat. I'd be wary of playing Finn and Meaker in the same team however. You don't want to have to ask one of them to take on a holding role, they are both strike bowlers in my opinion and should be used as such

The selectors don't like to turn their back on players though so Broad and Bresnan will still be in the mix. Overall good options for England! If you throw Swann and Panesar (and possibly even Tredwell) into the mix aswell I would say this is as strong a group of bowlers as England have had for a very long time

I think the selectors will stick with Compton short-term which is fair enough. Will do Root no harm atall to get some experience at 6. And then when he does replace Compton at the top it opens up the 6 spot for whichever of the younger batsmen has impressed the most at the time

Bopara I never want to see near an England squad again in any format. He has had plenty of chances and not taken them and with Bairstow, Taylor etc coming through his time has passed