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[Calzehbhoy]

It appears from my contacts that Hales will be opening with Cook, root likely to be at 3, Vince will bat at 5, not sure about Compton at 4 currently. Might be Bell. Eng management cross with Ballance for not working on technique.

Root at 3 will kill him! He's not the best against the new nut!

[TGB1997]

I'd like to see Bairstow keep the gloves and leave Buttler to focus on white ball cricket as the Ashes series really showed his weaknesses in test cricket plus Bairstow did a decent job in the test side.

I'd like to see Robson get another go opening as I felt it was harsh to drop him the first time.

I think we need to keep an eye on Daniel Bell-Drummond this season as he's improving every year and his double hundred against Loughborough was pure class.

Compton should stay at 3 I think, he played well on the South Africa tour and could be the rock that England have struggled with since Trott first left the side.

I think it is a strong possibility that Bell could return at 5 as he seems to be in decent form at the moment.

I think that Moeen Ali should be replaced by Adil Rashid as in tests Moeen isn't scoring runs and has been at ties sloppy with the ball, a leg spinner also brings in a different dimension.

My team:
1. Robson
2. Cook (C)
3. Compton
4. Root
5. Bell
6. Stokes
7. Bairstow (WK)
8. Rashid
9. Broad
10. Finn
11. Anderson

Outside chance for me would have to be Daniel Bell-Drummond, I've just got a funny feeling that this year could be his year.

[tate035]

For this summer?...

Cook... Rarely lets England down. His captaincy is improving but IMO it needed to 
Hales.... deserves a run of test matches
Vince... Has quality so give him opportunity like Hales (if cements place possible captain 2/3 years?)
Root... 3/4 for me however if you lose Cook and Root early then pressure is on.. so Root at 4 gives more stability IMO  Another possible captain
Bairstow... For me he is improving.. loves cricket and great team player
Stokes... Lets give him as many opportunities as possible to fulfill potential with BAT and BALL.. A real Winner
Ali... He will eventually make runs..lol.. Best spin option at moment
Rashid.... Just think we should keep him in as another potential match winner. Gillespie loves him and that will do for me.. And he can bat..
Broad.... Batting is getting better again..
Finn... Wicket Taker!!! If he not fit then give Plunkett the ball. IMO every teams needs a tall quick bowler
Anderson... Could well be coming into his final year of tests BUT in a home series a must..

Lyth, Jennings, Buttler, Ballance, Woakes, Jordan, Duckett, Currans, Gubbins, Robson etc are some of the younger players to look out for. Personally I would rather steer clear of the older players like Bell and give younger players a chance in a "Home" series

[FattusCattus]

It appears from my contacts that Hales will be opening with Cook, root likely to be at 3, Vince will bat at 5, not sure about Compton at 4 currently. Might be Bell. Eng management cross with Ballance for not working on technique.

Well that would be stupid! surprised Trev and Paul don't think this through a bit - Leave Joe where he is for God's sake, Hales shouldn't open whilst he has a hole in his a*se, what's the point of Compton at 4 and leave Bell out of it, time to look forward.

I think you are just playing with our plonkers @Buzz  !!!!!!

[northernboy1987]

I'd start the summer as follows if it was me:

1. Cook (C)
2. Hales
3. Compton
4. Root
5. Vince
6. Stokes
7. Bairstow (WK)
8. Rashid
9. Broad
10. Finn
11. Anderson

I think England will play Mo at 8 though. I would also possibly consider Compton and Hales swapping batting positions and Ballance at 5.

[dannyhall04]

Don't like Vince at 3 personally.
He's a naturally attacking batsman, and seems unable to reign it in if an early wicket falls.

Did OK against the champions. Saw him yesterday and didn't play a shot for about an hour. Stoic

[billyb]

Why is Ballance not even included in most people's deliberations? Class player, averaging 47/48 in tests, has 4 hundreds in 15 tests.
He's going to be a huge player for England!

[Woodyspin]

Dodgy technique and didnt look to be changing that.

[WalkingWicket37]

Did OK against the champions. Saw him yesterday and didn't play a shot for about an hour. Stoic

Well that was the best way to shut me up, just hope he starts doing it consistently

[Buzz]

Why is Ballance not even included in most people's deliberations? Class player, averaging 47/48 in tests, has 4 hundreds in 15 tests.
He's going to be a huge player for England!

As I said earlier he has peed off the management team for refusing to improve his technique.

[dannyhall04]

Dodgy technique and didnt look to be changing that.

What a load of cock. Struggled in two tests and the technique that sees him averaging 50 or so/breaking England records is suddenly no good?

[billyb]

Exactly. Unorthodox techniques have worked for Smith (one of the world's best, begrudgingly) amongst others- I really hope England aren't coaching him out of a technique that has worked at the highest level. It can ruin a player.
That isn't to say he didn't need to improve though.

[Buzz]

That is a naive as saying cook doesn't have an issue outside the off stump!

[dannyhall04]

As Root struggles with the new/short ball. As Hales struggles with it pitched up. Shall we bin them all until they either come back as technically perfect, or robots with everything coached out of them?!

[Buzz]

They need to demonstrate an adaptability and show they are working on their flaws. Ballance isn't doing that.

For what it is worth my team would be

Cook
Lees
Root
Davies
Hales
Stokes
Barstow
Moeen
Broad
Finn/plunkett
Anderson