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[Buzz]

The squad is announced tomorrow but as far as I can tell it will be... (not what I would pick but I am not a selector)

Cook
Compton
Bell
Lyth or Taylor - I haven't had the scoop on that yet
Roooooooot
Ali
Stokes
Buttler
Bairstow
Ansari
Rashid
Broad
Anderson
Wood
Plunkett

the Lions tour could be interesting - not sure if that is announced too, but expect Hales, Lees (Lions captain), Roy, Davies, Tom Curran (Sam is at School so unlikely to be going) and the rest of the yorkshire team!!

Hales appears to have lost out on the chance after a rubbish ODI series and being found wanting against proper pace. I am totally gutted for him.

[WalkingWicket37]

Guardian reporting that Alex Hales will replace Adam Lyth and James Taylor will replace Gary Ballance...

I just came to post that link, looks like I was too slow!

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/sep/14/alex-hales-england-test-squad-pakistan-adam-lyth

[ppccopener]

Compton? Are we sure...that would be a surprise-he didnt get a long enough run last tim and yes i know him and cook dont rattle the score along but techinically he is sound

Im sorry for all Hales fans but he is not a test opener.
If its not Hales ...then Lyth again.
I cant think of anyone else in county cricket to pick up top.
Lyth scores freely he just needs tightening up at the top level

[ScottParko]

Mark Stoneman probably falls in that needs tightening up at the top level bracket too. But he probably needs more tightening than Lyth. Lyth deserves to go to UAE for me.

[windyroad]

I would be pleased to see Compton back in and given a run of games.

[Alvaro]

I hope Craig Miles gets a lions spot.

[smilley792]

Hales was poor in the odi series and it may or should have cost him.


But.


Uae may be more suited to him, he could do a decent job, which could give him confidence to go out to South Africa and make a half decent crack off it.


Not saying for a second that he will be able to slap steyn and co about, but with the bad stats the other openers have done recently, he only needs a below average to average series against the world no1 test side to stand out.

Which could get him the job till the next ashes. And being in the squad constantly may mean he is better against the Aussies next time.

[Buzz]

I really hope I am wrong about Hales - I think he is a superstar, but watching him against cummings was like watching a rabbit in headlights. Roy was (in Alex Tudor speak) #differentgravy.

I haven't got Finn in my squad - above, an omission from my source - sorry about that, he may be on the trip too.

[smilley792]

I agree. Roy looked to have so much time.

And the flamingo shot he produced just showed the influence off him who can't be named.......

[ppccopener]

I'd be very surprised if Compton was recalled.England are changing,and for the better,test cricket moves on faster in most places around the world...exceptional players have scored faster and played more agressively.So Hales fits that bill...but it was Roy who was going after it in the one dayers.
It doesnt solve the openers position but Morgan is a very good player of spin bowling for the tour
But Bell would need to open to fit him in...
Theres Taylor too but again Bell to move up-or Ali just for this tour,not against SA.

[northernboy1987]

I wonder if Roy would be worth a risk for if Lyth has a poor first game? I know it's not much of an indicator but (even form aside) his general technique seemed better than Hales in the ODI's. I do wonder if he'd be a better test player in the "he who shall not be named" role at 4 though rather than opening?

[smilley792]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/story/920593.html

[ppccopener]

We seem to have a lot of middle order players and short on openers.maybe that reflects how the modern game has gone cos 'back in the day' we often played 3 openers regularly.
Roy is a better player imo but its a marginal call from lyth/roy/hales
Up till the one dayers no one really had Roy as a test player
Im not convinced they will leave Lyth out myself. And if they do take him he has to play.
Whoever is picking that side is prob stratching their head right now!

[Millyjack]

Let next season go by and then I think we will see Tom Abell pushing very hard for the opening birth. Very highly rated

[ScottParko]

No major shocks in the squads

Test -Alastair Cook (Essex) captain Moeen Ali (Worcestershire)James Anderson (Lancashire)Zafar Ansari (Surrey)Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)Ian Bell (Warwickshire)Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)Jos Buttler (Lancashire)Steven Finn (Middlesex)Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire)Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire)Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)Joe Root (Yorkshire)Ben Stokes (Durham)James Taylor (Nottinghamshire)Mark Wood (Durham)

One-Day International Eoin Morgan (Middlesex) captainMoeen Ali (Worcestershire)Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)Sam Billings (Kent)Jos Buttler (Lancashire)Steven Finn (Middlesex)Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire)Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)Joe Root (Yorkshire)Jason Roy (Surrey)James Taylor (Nottinghamshire)Reece Topley (Essex)David Willey (Northamptonshire)Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)Mark Wood (Durham)

T20 International SquadEoin Morgan (Middlesex) captainMoeen Ali (Worcestershire)Sam Billings (Kent)Jos Buttler (Lancashire)Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire)Chris Jordan (Sussex)Stephen Parry (Lancashire)Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)Joe Root (Yorkshire)Jason Roy (Surrey)Reece Topley (Essex)James Vince (Hampshire)David Willey (Northamptonshire)Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)Mark Wood (Durham)

Colly and Mahela the to travel as batting consultants.