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[petehosk]

I think Bell would be decent against quality pace, as he has proved in the past. So I think they are making a mistake.
But why do I think that Compton will do well - I feel it in my water!! Assuming he makes the team!

[FattusCattus]

Why do people insist on moving Root around. Leave him at 4 where he is doing well - don't rock the boat!!

[ProCricketer1982]

I'd never have dropped Bell and, listening to Cook, Michael Vaughan and Bayliss just after the UAE test series, I don't think they foresaw it.  Cook had a shocking lean run and clearly thought Bell would come through it. Bayliss was actually talking about Bell playing to SA.  Vaughan said he has to go, for his experience.

I just don't see Compton and/or Ballance coping as well.  There's a perception that Bell plays spin well.  He doesn't.  He dances down to a ball, then goes into survival mode.  He doesn't read the ball out of the bowler's hand at all well.  However, pace he can play.  Very well.  He loves the ball coming on and bouncy tracks and I honestly think he'd score runs in SA.  I genuinely don't think Compton or Ballance are better options on SA pitches against that attack.

To not even take him, even if you want to start with another player, is nonsensical.  It really is.  Maybe Root's come of age and is seen as an experienced head.  Great.  Top, top player.  But what if his back goes?  Even with him, you've got a top eight batting order with one player who's played over 40 tests.

And yet I bet you think hales, lyth, buttler, Ali will right ??

[ProCricketer1982]

Still can't understand why they've dropped Bell and picked up Ballance - what has Ballance done to prove his worth?

Best bowling attack in the world, and we're sending Ballance and Compton. Jesus.


Good timing for M&H though, coincidence?

Yet you'll happily send hales, Ali and buttler?? Ali I can't play anything quick or shirt, buttler I can't play anything but slogs and hales who tries to pull or flash drive anything full.. Yeah, so much better than Compton.

[Bats_Entertainment]

Ballance's four hundreds in fifteen Tests compares favourably with Bell's two in his last twenty-eight.

I've been Bell's biggest fan down the years (going right back to standing up for him when everyone was on his back in 2005), but I don't think he can feel too hard done by.

[kdale6]

Tough one with potentially moving root to 3, splits opinion between either having your best player at 3 or leaving a high class performer where he is

Either way, I don't envy being a selector.

My XI:

Hales
Cook
Compton
Root
Taylor
Stokes
Patel
Buttler
Broad
Anderson
Footit


If it's not the 3,4,5 above then I'd like to see Root, Taylor, Ballance

Don't see the value in Ali really - no control and he's in primarily as a bowler irregardless of his batting - Patel should offer more with the ball and is comparable with the bat

Plunkett has a right to be peeved, unless somethings gone on behind closed doors. Either way I'd like to see him go to the big bash as well

[WalkingWicket37]

Some surprise inclusions and omissions from that squad.
Surprised there's no Bell after he didn't do badly in the UAE. Also surprised Ansari didn't make the tour.

Samit Patel probably can't beleive he's got 2 free holidays this winter having been overlooked for the original UAE squad! And I can't help but feel Compton's selection has been heavily influenced by the recent media storm surrounding him.

If you're going to take them you may as well play them.
I suspect the team for the first test will be:

Cook*
Hales
Compton
Root
Taylor
Stokes
Bairstow/Butler+
Ali/Patel
Broad
Anderson
Footit

With Butler finding some kind of form with the bat in the last ODI I feel Bairstow may lose the gloves and be shafted by the selectors again.
With only one spinner it will be a toss up between Moeen and Samit, maybe flip a coin? Patel offers more control but I can't help feel neither of them is a rip through the opposition type bowler.

[FattusCattus]

Thats about it Cam - they'll go with the men in posession I think -

Cook*
Hales
Compton
Root
Taylor
Stokes
Bairstow
Ali
Broad
Anderson
Footit

[Bats_Entertainment]

Ballance before Compton, surely? He showed promise as a Tesr batsman until the World Cup fiasco.

[Bats_Entertainment]

Samit offers more control?  I think that tells you exactly where English spin bowling is at!

[sanredrose]

If it was a question of Ballance versus Bell, i would go with Bell. But i guess the selectors probably felt Bell needs a break to work on his game and get back into good form. I just hope this isn't the end of Ian Bell.

[Bats_Entertainment]

If it was a question of Ballance versus Bell, i would go with Bell. But i guess the selectors probably felt Bell needs a break to work on his game and get back into good form. I just hope this isn't the end of Ian Bell.

Agreed.

I think it's possible that Compton will play as an opener.

[rickjames]

Whitaker has stated publicly that Hales will open http://on.fb.me/1PQCgsl

[Stuey]

Ballance seriously! Am I watching a different player to the selectors?

[edge]

A thought - will the first test v SA be the first England test side to not contain a 2005 Ashes winner since that series?