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[Manormanic]

Having had "enough" of the hit and giggle stuff, England now face a potential banana skin of a trip to the West Indies as they kick off a nine month period that sees them play 17 test matches including an Ashes series and a tour to South Africa.  Noises coming out of the ECB seem to suggest that the batting unit will remain unchanged, with Jonathan Trott being the annointed extra man, though there have since been injuries to Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes that will affect the make up of a tour party that will have to play on some pretty flat wickets.

Time to play "If I Were James Whitaker"

My starting line up would be:

Ali Cook (c, reluctantly)
Adam Lyth
Gary Ballance
Ian Bell
Joe Root
Ben Stokes
Jos Buttler
Adil Rashid
Liam Plunkett
James Anderson
Mark Footitt

In addition to the 11 above, I'd take James Vince as the back up batsman, Adam Riley for the experience and Stuart Broad and Mark Wood as back up seamers.  Trott needs to do a bit more to come into contention for me - just bringing him back on the basis of one innings for the Lions would smack of the old boys network, and the fact is that Lyth's volume of runs over the last eighteen months - not to mention his stylsh play and exceptional hands int eh slips - mean that he has got to be given a shot.

[Buzz]

Trott isn't coming back on the back of one knock, he scored very heavily in the championship in the back end of the season

[Gelds]

I would like them to pick a side something like:

Cook
Lyth
Balance
Root
Bell
Ali (if fit)
Buttler
Rashid
Woakes (if fit)
Broad
Anderson

with Taylor, Stokes, Finn and Footitt in reserve.

Think that side gives us a nice balance of youth and experience. Gone with 2 spinners as pitches will be flat. As mentioned above Lyth has earned the right to open the batting for the next 6-8 tests.

[Manormanic]

Trott isn't coming back on the back of one knock, he scored very heavily in the championship in the back end of the season

620 at 47 is good but hardly remarkable - its some way behind Lyth but also less than "one day specialist" Alex Hales managed...

[19reading87]

I think the ECB will go for experience over anything else and will look at the West Indies tour as building stability ahead of this years ashes following a disastrous World Cup.

I can see Trott in there opening the batting for the tests 100%

[SLC]

If lyth isntbin the team, somethings gone seriously wrong with the selectors.

[Manormanic]

can see Trott in there opening the batting for the tests 100%

If that happens, I've had it with English cricket.  Picking a guy well into his 30s who has previously left a major tour due to stress in a role that he has never performed before over younger, more talented and experienced openers would be a travesty. 

[ProCricketer1982]

My Starting xi

Cook - Picked because he's still capt and deserves this WI/NZ test to save his career
Trott - I am picking him because he appears to be 'better' and was the unsung hero of England when they were good. Also, I'm a firm believer is blooding your new players (even openers) at six for a few series so trott can open for 2 more years hopefully and provide stability, experience etc
Ballance - I'm sticking with Ballance because he's done well at 3 and deserves to keep his place
Root - This lad appears to be our best player able to adapt playing top order style and stroke making middle order style. Also had a good 12-18 months overall so keeps his place
Bell - Classy test batsmen. Ok, I don't rate the guy enough to push him up the order because I don't think he delivers under pressure enough but at 5. he's nailed on.
Lyth - This is my 'looking to the future' pick. He's the next test opener potentially off the rank so to speak and with cook out of form and trott 33 England need to blood another opener (proper one!) so that by the end of 2015 he is mentally used to test cricket
Prior - IF fit and does well in the early county games I'd have him back. Why over Buttler?? Because Buttler is NOT a test player and Prior is. I don't really care about the ages because I want a TEST quality keeper/batsmen. Buttler isn't as good behind the stumps or with the bat.
Ali - if fit. He's able to contribute with the bat but his spin is coming on really well
Liam Plunkett - under rated bowler for England. pace, bounce etc
Mark footitt - pace etc. time to give some new lads a go
Anderson - still our best swing bowler although IF the wickets etc don't offer the swing then maybe look to withdraw him and play Stokes. Yes he's not a full frontline bowler yet but tbh, it's WI and he should be good enough and it'll keep bringing him on.

Should KP come back for the ashes.. now that would really pile the pressure on Cook as we could push Bell/Root to open and slot KP in at 5

[jamielsn15]

With Downton, Whitaker and Moores under pressure, they are going to go for the safe options.  They've always gone with what they know and I don't see that changing.

Given the (relative) lack of success with Compton, Carberry and Robson and the scale of the opposition this year, I think they'll go with Trott, in the same way the Aussies went with Rogers (illness aside).  They will view the Lions tour for Trott as a success and who knows they may well find it's the right decision.

I think Lyth will tour and has to be an option moving forward.  I don't think he'll be the front runner for the opener slot in the Windies though, the selectors are too risk-averse.
Whether the current selectors, MD and coach are around to select the NZ and Ashes squads is anyone's guess...

[Manormanic]

My Starting xi

Cook - Picked because he's still capt and deserves this WI/NZ test to save his career
Trott - I am picking him because he appears to be 'better' and was the unsung hero of England when they were good. Also, I'm a firm believer is blooding your new players (even openers) at six for a few series so trott can open for 2 more years hopefully and provide stability, experience etc
Ballance - I'm sticking with Ballance because he's done well at 3 and deserves to keep his place
Root - This lad appears to be our best player able to adapt playing top order style and stroke making middle order style. Also had a good 12-18 months overall so keeps his place
Bell - Classy test batsmen. Ok, I don't rate the guy enough to push him up the order because I don't think he delivers under pressure enough but at 5. he's nailed on.
Lyth - This is my 'looking to the future' pick. He's the next test opener potentially off the rank so to speak and with cook out of form and trott 33 England need to blood another opener (proper one!) so that by the end of 2015 he is mentally used to test cricket
Prior - IF fit and does well in the early county games I'd have him back. Why over Buttler?? Because Buttler is NOT a test player and Prior is. I don't really care about the ages because I want a TEST quality keeper/batsmen. Buttler isn't as good behind the stumps or with the bat.
Ali - if fit. He's able to contribute with the bat but his spin is coming on really well
Liam Plunkett - under rated bowler for England. pace, bounce etc
Mark footitt - pace etc. time to give some new lads a go
Anderson - still our best swing bowler although IF the wickets etc don't offer the swing then maybe look to withdraw him and play Stokes. Yes he's not a full frontline bowler yet but tbh, it's WI and he should be good enough and it'll keep bringing him on.

Should KP come back for the ashes.. now that would really pile the pressure on Cook as we could push Bell/Root to open and slot KP in at 5

Some interesting thoughts...but would an attack of Anderson, Footitt, Plunkett and Ali give you enough bowling really?

[FattusCattus]

Do we specifically know what the Ali and Woakes injuries are, and how long they are out for - as I would have both of them in my side?

Also, a like for like replacement for Ali might possibly be Borthwick?  Difficult though, as Rashid is the better bowler, and Borthwick the better bat

[Manormanic]

Do we specifically know what the Ali and Woakes injuries are, and how long they are out for - as I would have both of them in my side?

Also, a like for like replacement for Ali might possibly be Borthwick?  Difficult though, as Rashid is the better bowler, and Borthwick the better bat

Got the impression that Woakes was a stress fracture and out until NZ at least.

Can't agree that Borthwick is the beter bat of the two though - he may bat higher for Durham than Rashid does for Yorkshire, but their records would support Rashid.

[jamielsn15]

I'd certainly give a test or two to some new bowlers and an opener.  I'd rather draw a couple of tests in the WI than lose the dangerous series vs NZ directly before the Ashes.

The talk is of resting bowlers in particular - give Anderson and Broad at least one of three tests off - preferably the second or third so they can fly home and prep for the summer (if they HAVE to rest...) and get used to English pitches again.

[ProCricketer1982]

Some interesting thoughts...but would an attack of Anderson, Footitt, Plunkett and Ali give you enough bowling really?

3 seam
1 spin
then you have

Part time  Root, Trott if you need a few overs. IF you made me fit another bowler in there then Bell would be dropped for Stokes. Reasoning is that I'd rather blood lyth against WI (who are pretty crap), and we know what Bell can do so having him there isn't really achieving anything.

[Manormanic]

3 seam
1 spin
then you have

But of your four, one is a converted part timer, whilst two are most used to the raw paceman's role.  That could lead to Anderson bowling way more overs than would be ideal in the circumstances...