Print

[iand123]

Hales to open then by the looks of it. Understand they are resting Stokes as he plays all formats but given there is a t20 world cup soon you'd think they would want to play as much of the format as possible in the build up

[smilley792]

Hales and ansari in for lyth I see. Interesting

[WalkingWicket37]

Guessing that means Hales or Ansari to open with Captain Cook.

Wonder who will make way for Rashid (if he plays?) Bell or Bairstow maybe?

[iand123]

Im guessing Bairstow and Taylor are fighting for the same spot or both may be dropped altogether to accommodate Rashid.

[springbok45]

Cook
Ansari/Hales
Bell
Root
Taylor
Ali
Buttler/Bairstow
Rashid
Broad
Finn/Wood
Anderson

Hales most likely to get the first try and then replaced by Ansari to get an extra spinner in.

[Buzz]

for what it is worth I would pick the below as my team - as I have been saying for a while

Cook, Hales, Bell, Roooooooot, Ali, Stokes, Buttler, Ansari, Rashid, Broad, Anderson

you need the 3 spinners because Ansari will do a holding role with Moeen - Rashid bowls too many pies to be a consistent bowler. He will take wickets but would be a nightmare for a skipper from time to time.

[WalkingWicket37]

Ansari at 8, Buzz?
Isn't he an opening batsman who bowls, rather than a frontline spinner?

[Johnny]

what happened to the Moeen opens plan?

Cook
Ali
Bell
Rooooooot
Bairstow
Stokes
Buttler
Rashid
Broad
Wood/Finn
Anderson

[smilley792]

Cook
Hales
Bell
Root
Stokes
Ali
buttler
Rashid
Broad
Finn
Anderson

Is how I think they line up

How is line them up

Cook
Hales
Taylor
Root
Stokes
Ali
Bairstow
Rashid
Finn
Broad
Anderson

[Buzz]

nope he is a front line spinner who got asked to open the batting. He is very good at batting long periods of time. Not the same as an opening batsman in my view and will benefit from playing in the middle order for Surrey.

[Johnny]

Ansari won't open for England in the immediate future

[iand123]

Cook
Ansari/Hales
Bell
Root
Taylor
Ali
Buttler/Bairstow
Rashid
Broad
Finn/Wood
Anderson

Hales most likely to get the first try and then replaced by Ansari to get an extra spinner in.

No stokes?

[ppccopener]

looks like it's all the eggs in the Hales basket.

I hope he takes his chance I really do, I just can't see it long term working.
I hope i'm wrong.

Ballance faces a long road back I would say now.....

[cricketbadger]

looking at it positively that Hales has been picked, he'l go to UAE, get found out majorly, and then england will hopefully never pick him in any form again

[uknsaunders]

To me it's obvious:-

Cook
Ali
Bell
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Buttler
Ansari
Rashid
Broad
Anderson

3 spinners, 3 seamers and plenty of batting (though maybe not quality). Lyth opened the door for Ali. Hales ODI showing has maybe set him back a little, though not a proper form guide for red ball cricket. I guess it will depend how Bairstow starts in the UAE as to whether Hales gets a go.