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[liscon12]

I'm guessing it'll be a straight swap with JT out and Ballance in, he's got test match experience and batting at 5 should be a lot easier for him.

I wonder if Compton is still a certain at number 3? I'm guessing if JT was going to be playing then they might have replaced Compton with Vince, Ballance and possibly Bell.

[northernboy1987]

Borthwick will be ahead of Roy.

He should be on form and ability but I'm not sure that's how England normally think, Roy's a (reasonably) established "England player" now and Borthwick had a go and failed, I often think that's counts for more than anything else in the selectors minds. Although with Bayliss and Farbrace in charge perhaps (I hope!) they'll look at things a bit differently. Although I'm pretty sure it's all a moot point because surely either Bell or Ballance will play so we're probably discussing it all for no reason haha

[Alvaro]

Borthwick played as a spinner when he failed.

He is one of the most consistent top order batsmen in the country.

I'd be surprised if it's not Ballance.

[northernboy1987]

Borthwick played as a spinner when he failed.

I know. I'm not trying to disagree with you, I'd take Borthwick ahead of Roy, I'm just not sure the selectors will!

[northernboy1987]

Just to add another name, is Hildreth worth considering?

[SwingAndMiss]

Just to add another name, is Hildreth worth considering?

Should have had a chance years ago!!!

[northernboy1987]

Should have had a chance years ago!!!

You're probably right but our middle order was well filled with Messrs Trott, Pietersen and Bell for a good period and then Root came along. Feel bad for Hildreth though, quality player.

[ppccopener]

You're probably right but our middle order was well filled with Messrs Trott, Pietersen and Bell for a good period and then Root came along. Feel bad for Hildreth though, quality player.

Hildreth is a good player you are spot on, and has scored consistently for years, but time has prob passed and maybe batting at taunton actually worked against him as it's so flat there...

If he would of moved Counties maybe he would of stood a better chance? who knows.....by the same token thou top order batters from Durham don't seem to get a look in for England. Im thinking Stoneman for example....

is it more of a true test to bat and get lots of runs at middx/surrey/hants or less runs on a track that does a bit more?

[ScottParko]

As a Durham fan it is delightful to see my boys getting credit! On form Stoneman Borthwick and Rushworth have all been unlucky in the last couple of years! Our South African opener Jennings qualified the week before the season and opened his account with 2 tons..... Ha

And Mark Wood is set for surgery and will miss the international season and maybe won't play in any county games too.

[rickjames]

That's terrible with Wood, loved his character last year. Hope he's riding that horse sooner rather than later.

[Manormanic]

I think the point about the quality of county attacks is a good one - once the England bowlers are hived off, you really only have one really top class attack in division one - and that is why Yorkshire are such overwhelming favourites for another championship pennant.  Elsewhere, you have the solid through to the downright mediocre, especially once division two pitches are taken into account.

For that reason, I suspect that nine of the likely eleven can be reeled off pretty quickly - Cook, Root, Compton and Hales will be amongst the batsmen, Bairstow, Stokes and Ali  will be the all rounders, and Anderson and Broad will be two of the three quicks.  It is only the previous success of Liam Plunkett's pace and aggression against Sri Lanka that prevents me saying that Steve Finn is the tenth nailed on certainty.  Leaves us looking for a replacement for JT, and in realistic terms thats a shoot out between three guys who have played previously - Bell, Ballance and Lyth - in rough order of probability.

Where I have a bit of an issue with that "continuity of thinking" is that it becomes a little...inflexble over time.  Unless something remarkable happens, whomsoever plays wll be gifted three tests on Chief Executives pitches against one of the weaker attacks in recent test history.  In English thinking, that probably means that the team who start the first test is likely to be our side for the next 18 months...I would rather see some consideration of the underlying issues at this stage:

1. Is Jonny Bairstow going to make it as a keeper?  If not, give him the number five berth back now and let him forge a test career as a batsman.  Its only the lack of a replacement that might keep him there.
2. Is Alex Hales an opener at test level?  We have the luxury of thinking about this one - in the likely side, Nick Compton could step up, and there are plenty of candidates in form in the county game.  He wouldn't even have to be dropped - he could move to three or even five.
3. Where do we go post Jimmy Anderson?

My side? Would be even braver...

A Cook
A Lyth
N Compton
J Root
J Bairstow (keeper)
B Stokes
A Hales
A Rashid
S Broad
S Finn
J Anderson

[smilley792]

200 for Sam Robson.



Has he worked on his issues highlighted at test level? Or has he just stayed the same and choice to smash county bowlers for a living?

[northernboy1987]

150 up for YJB too, scoring runs for fun over the last 18 months.

[Manormanic]

200 for Bluey Jr now.  Seems like he's decided that averaging 100 in the Championship is just a bit passe.  One friend who was there yesterday described it thus "Bairstow always looks like he's brought his own personal pitch to bat on".

Drunky Plunkett looks a decent bet for a ton as well...

[FattusCattus]

@Manormanic  I like some of your thinking, you young shaver!  Personally, I'd slot YJB in to the no 5 slot and pick a keeper to bat 7 - who are the current contenders though?

I love Moeen, but I don't see him as a long term option as a test spinner, so I would give Rashid a decent run as the test no1 spinner / no 8 batter, and get him to learn about taking text wickets in early season conditions.

I'm a bit tempted by:

Cook
Compton
Hales
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
A. Keeper Esq
Rashid
Broad
Finn


How about the test side for late 2017 eh?

Cook
Lees
Compton
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Duckett
Curran
Crane
Finn
Footitt


ps - what about Monty?  He could be a dark horse later in the summer.


I persevere with Compton as an opener, and gives Hales a run of 2 or 3 more tests as an attacking no3.  Bowling should be finn, Broad, Anderson though for me.