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[ProCricketer1982]

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...

It's the WI, if these guys aren't up to taking out them then tbh, they probably aren't good enough and should be discarded for a few years to mature more. you have to throw people in and see what happens. I'd rather they do that and we lose/draw the series than persist with Broad and co blindly.

ali is improving in fairness, I grant you he isn't a 'frontline' spinner yet but he's getting there.

[WalkingWicket37]

Could England do something really drastic and go for something like:

Lyth
Vince
Ballance
Root*
Taylor
Hales
Butler+
Moeen
Stokes
Plunkett
Finn

[ProCricketer1982]

Could England do something really drastic and go for something like:

Lyth
Vince
Ballance
Root*
Taylor
Hales
Butler+
Moeen
Stokes
Plunkett
Finn

why buttler? What's he done to show he's the best keeper or even a test batsmen? Finn is bowling plod too, he needs sacking off until he bowls 90+ again

[WalkingWicket37]

why buttler? What's he done to show he's the best keeper or even a test batsmen? Finn is bowling plod too, he needs sacking off until he bowls 90+ again

Butler because he is the established gloveman right now. Maybe Sam Billings or Michael Bates (yes I know he is without a county at the moment) instead.

And as for Finn, what better way to get some confidence back in your bowling than to actually bowl?

[ProCricketer1982]

Butler because he is the established gloveman right now. Maybe Sam Billings or Michael Bates (yes I know he is without a county at the moment) instead.

And as for Finn, what better way to get some confidence back in your bowling than to actually bowl?

bowl in county cricket, club cricket too. if not more

[Rob580]

What is with people's insistence in getting Ben Stokes in the team and then always putting him down at 8 or 9?
He's not a frontline bowler, far from it, he's a batsman who can bowl. He's more in the Jaques Kallis mould than the Freddie Flintoff (although i appreciates he's nowhere near the class of Kallis) 

Bat him at 6 and have his influence on the game that way. His bowling should be seen as a bonus on top of his batting, not the other way round.

For the record i'd go:

Cook
Lyth
Ballance
Root
Bell
Ali / Stokes (Pitch Dependant)
Butler
Rashid
Footitt
Anderson
Marc Wood

With the spare 4 as Taylor, Broad, Plunkett and whichever of Stokes or Ali isn't playing

[Manormanic]

Butler because he is the established gloveman right now. Maybe Sam Billings or Michael Bates (yes I know he is without a county at the moment) instead.

erm, Bairstow?  Wheater?  Foakes?  Davies? Surely all ahead of BAtes and probabaly Billings too, at least in tests.

[WalkingWicket37]

erm, Bairstow?  Wheater?  Foakes?  Davies? Surely all ahead of BAtes and probabaly Billings too, at least in tests.

You get the idea, someone young enough they'll be in the side for years! Wheater is a good shout 

[ppccopener]

some interesting posts on here re the test side..it's actually fairly settled,there are not really many places up for grabs.I think we can say Prior is not going to come back and Buttler will be the keeper going forward

guys like liam plunkett im sure will get on the tour,and maybe Rashid.

I think myself the opening spot is the one that will show whether England are prepared to move forward(for the one dayers I genuinely believe the world cup was a watershed)

for me it's Lyth or Lees from Yorkshire in place of Robson. Should England overlook those two and go for Trott instead?
I would have either Lyth or Lees first choice to move forward maybe with Trott as a back up batsman.

The next big question is what to do with Ben Stokes......it's time to put him in and leave him in,that's the only way to develop....
What I want to see now as an England fan is backing for younger guys with talent, and STICKING with them.That's going to take long term planning and a bit of guts from the selectors

[uknsaunders]

I think England need to start planning for the summer in these 3 windies tests. To beat NZ and Aus, their best bet is to produce slow turning surfaces to nullify the oppo pace attacks - pretty much what the Windies have been producing for a while. This means 2 spinners and 3 seamers. Anderson, Broad +1 on the seam front and Ali+ 1 on the spin front. Has to be somebody who turn the ball away and ideally score runs with the bat when it's not turning. Rashid would be my punt. Batting wise, Trott for Robson.

Cook
Trott
Ballance
Root
Bell
Ali
Buttler
Rashid
Plunkett
Broad
Anderson

I would take Stokes for the seam friendly decks, Lyth as backup opener, Finn as a backup for Broad/Anderson. Given it's a fairly tight schedule with 1 or 2 warm up games, I think anybody else would be wasted and get little or no game time. Probably worth a punt on a couple of young players for experience. Footit isn't young but has pace and is a leftie and perhaps Billings as a backup gloveman/middle order batter. Best indicator is to look at who performed on the "A" tour.

[ppccopener]

Trott is an interesting choice....I have to say me personally I would look forward, the guy has been a very good player for us but the way he left the Ashes tour did not seem quite right.If he has a stress illness then needs all the support he can get-and I hope he does recover fully...

but it's whether England now look to the future,if Balance or Root were struggling I might think differently but both are quality and bat (balance does anyway) in Trott's old position.....

I think England will name Trott in the tour party on Wednesday but unless he opens there's no spot.

[Manormanic]

if he opens it just sends the wrong message to any potential England aspirants in the county game - "work your nuts off, improve, score loads of runs...and we'll still parachute a washed up guy with a checkered past in out of position ahead of you just because he's one of the gang".

[Stuey]

if he opens it just sends the wrong message to any potential England aspirants in the county game - "work your nuts off, improve, score loads of runs...and we'll still parachute a washed up guy with a checkered past in out of position ahead of you just because he's one of the gang".

washed up...checkered, I don't think these words correctly reflect Trott. I expect he is working just as hard as everyone else and has done so throughout his career.

[Andythomo21]

England selection should go on form for your county. If Adam Lyth doesn't get a shot after last season then there is something seriously wrong.  Give him the chance, it is then upto him to justify his selection!

[19reading87]

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.

Trott is the same age as Michael Clarke, Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson..... They all played u19s against each other. They seem to be doing ok