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[FattusCattus]

Not much interest in this chaps?  No real speculation on here - do we think a strong Kiwi side is going to mince us?

I think the new look English side might actually surprise a few people.

Any idea on a starting line-up?

[iand123]

A journo on twitter Sam Billings was making his debut and would bat 7

[smilley792]

Hales
Roy
Taylor
Root
Morgan
stokes
Billings
Buttler
Rashid
plunkett
Wood


That's would mean root has to bowl 10 overs.
Unless they drop buttler to fit billings in and play another bowler?

[iand123]

I'd doubt that Billings and Buttler would play in the same team, should find out pretty soon with 55 mins until the start.

[Rob580]

Hales
Roy
Taylor
Root
Morgan
stokes
Billings
Buttler
Rashid
plunkett
Wood


That's would mean root has to bowl 10 overs.
Unless they drop buttler to fit billings in and play another bowler?

Reckon they'll play Willey instead of Taylor and go for

Roy, Hales, Root, Morgan, Stokes, Buttler, Billings, Willey, Rashid, Jordan & Plunkett/Wood

Not that i would agree with dropping Taylor...

[smilley792]

When I saw the squad. I thought buttler would play first 3. Then be rested and billings get some experience.

But if there starting with him? Buttler really has to be dropped. As if mull gets hold of any bowler, You really want a back up.

[FattusCattus]

We surely can't be considering dropping Buttler under any circumstances?

Hales
Roy
Taylor
Root
stokes
Morgan
Buttler
Rashid
Willey
plunkett
Wood

Bat down to 9 and 6 bowlers.

[ppccopener]

buttler has got to be one we build a side around surely for the next big tournament?

great to see some new faces, I reckon most of us know we are now rebuilding and the old way of playing has not worked.....so give them time please to get better

it wont be done overnight

[iand123]

TMS reporting no Willey, Wood or Taylor

[iand123]

England: Hales, Roy, Root, Morgan (c), Stokes, Buttler (wk), Billings, Rashid, Jordan, Plunkett, Finn

[smilley792]

Abit flabbergasted taylor is dropped. 

[Rob580]

Thats just standard Taylor treatment right there.

'Oh i see you're doing really well. Better drop you / ignore you / say you're too short then'

[iand123]

Taylors admission is quite strange given he came out of the winter with his reputation enhanced (in my opinion anyway).

Really pleased for Sam Billings though, hes a top lad. I sponsor his shirts at Kent, wonder if he'll give me a signed England one too!

[FattusCattus]

Ok - didn't see that XI coming!!

Can understand Wood and Willey I guess through rest and injury, but a bit harsh on Taylor.

Finn could be a huge, huge risk if he doesn't click (although I personally hope he has one of his fast and nasty days and sticks it up a couple of Kiwis!)

[smilley792]

Well that wasn't the start we wanted!