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[edge]

Finn added to the England squad, hope this doesn't mean Footit won't get a chance in the first test.

[ppccopener]

i think we are going to play Footit providing he looks ok in nets/warm ups with Finn maybe a bit later on

but enough about bowling  , uptil last week Compton looked a cert to take Bells place, but lots of press about Balance coming back in now

how do we reckon is going to bat 3 now we know Hales is def going to open??

[SOULMAN1012]

i think we are going to play Footit providing he looks ok in nets/warm ups with Finn maybe a bit later on

but enough about bowling  , uptil last week Compton looked a cert to take Bells place, but lots of press about Balance coming back in now

how do we reckon is going to bat 3 now we know Hales is def going to open??

Think it will be Balance as he has test experience more recently than Compton, not sure there is much in it between them for me

[Buzz]

Pretty sure the test team was virtually announced by Bayliss in one of the press conferences.

Cook, Hales, Compton, Roooooooot, Taylor, Stokes, Bairstow, Ali, Broad, Footitt, Anderson.

I think Ballance has been included so Bayliss can get a look at him. I don't see him starting.

[Manormanic]

He certainly shouldn't - there would have been no point dropping him if he does (though he does play for Yorkshire, which more or less guarantees stupid treatment from the selectors!)

[northernboy1987]

Pretty sure the test team was virtually announced by Bayliss in one of the press conferences.

Cook, Hales, Compton, Roooooooot, Taylor, Stokes, Bairstow, Ali, Broad, Footitt, Anderson.

I think Ballance has been included so Bayliss can get a look at him. I don't see him starting.

I think this will be the line up for the first test too and rightly so probably. Although I'm still not convinced that Ali is better than Rashid as a test player if he's gonna be a frontline spinner and bat 8 but that's another discussion entirely and one that is completely moot as Rashid isn't in the squad.

[ppccopener]

I think this will be the line up for the first test too and rightly so probably. Although I'm still not convinced that Ali is better than Rashid as a test player if he's gonna be a frontline spinner and bat 8 but that's another discussion entirely and one that is completely moot as Rashid isn't in the squad.

it's a tough call for the selectors if you have to choose only one out of Rashid and Ali to play in a test. you could well say 'neither thanks'.

Got to be honest I think we should go back a bit for a while and not pick one. Root can bowl a few if needed. I know that's not very forward thinking but if Steve Finn is a better bowler then why not pick him instead?  or....if you want another batsman pick Compton or Balance together rather than one or the other.

Ali is a decent cricketer, Rashid has a lot of potential but can either cut it at Test level for this tour.....on these tracks is spin really going to play enough of a role?

[northernboy1987]

it's a tough call for the selectors if you have to choose only one out of Rashid and Ali to play in a test. you could well say 'neither thanks'.

Got to be honest I think we should go back a bit for a while and not pick one. Root can bowl a few if needed. I know that's not very forward thinking but if Steve Finn is a better bowler then why not pick him instead?  or....if you want another batsman pick Compton or Balance together rather than one or the other.

Ali is a decent cricketer, Rashid has a lot of potential but can either cut it at Test level for this tour.....on these tracks is spin really going to play enough of a role?

It's a fair point, Rashid might be a bit of a luxury in SA but I really do think he has the potential to rip through teams which I just don't see Ali doing. Don't get me wrong Ali is a good cricketer but he does seem to get a lot of his wickets through people thinking he's garbage and trying to whack him (see D.Warner during the Ashes!).

[ProCricketer1982]

It's a fair point, Rashid might be a bit of a luxury in SA but I really do think he has the potential to rip through teams which I just don't see Ali doing. Don't get me wrong Ali is a good cricketer but he does seem to get a lot of his wickets through people thinking he's garbage and trying to whack him (see D.Warner during the Ashes!).

There is a phrase to sum up your last sentence...

**** takes wickets

[123*]

Going to all five days in Durban, can't wait!

[ballinger]

Durban and Cape Town for me #buzzin


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[123*]

Fancy a beer?!

[ballinger]

Only one!!!! No problem


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[edge]

Tour's started well then... England 10/2

[19reading87]

Wonder what odds I'd get in England wanting a new opener to partner cook for the first test next summer