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[six and out]

With the 1st Test of the summer fast approaching 5 of the Sky pundits (Hussain, Knight, Atherton, Key and Allott) have picked their England team to walk out at Headingley. See the link -

http://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12123/10269076/england-v-sri-lanka-james-vince-picked-by-four-of-five-sky-cricket-pundits-for-first-test

Interesting points to note -

All 5 pick Hales to keep his place
All 5 pick Finn to come back
All 5 drop Compton
4 out of the 5 pick Vince to replace Compton - Atherton recalls Bell
3 out of the 5 give the gloves back to Butler (with Bairstow playing as well) - the other 2 out of the 5 pick Ballance

If you include batting order into it all 5 teams are different.

[northernboy1987]

I'm with Rob Key, would love to see England line up like that. That being said, I think Compton might well keep his place at 3 for now.

[edge]

I'd put good money on them all being wrong!

[ppccopener]

yes saw this the other night...a little bit surprised to be honest. The debate over whether Balance has made any technical changes(yes I know it's runs that count but everyone seems to be talking about it) goes on.It's runs in the book in my opinion that count.....

Athers said only minor changes have been made by him, getting weight into the ball,rather than hanging back. If you say that's something decent players should do anyway-there's no real change?

anyway, Vince the 'experts' think should be in, so do I...for the time being-instead of Balance.

What surprised me was Athers picking Bell.....i'm a Bell fan and I don't think his career is over but.....is Balance or Vince more deserving, they are younger and will improve...Bell has 22 test tons, you don't get those in the corner shop... interesting

And Compdog is in no-ones team? what's the dude done wrong this time?  he's an old fashioned player, technically and mentally, is that out of place with current Test Cricket ? is that is?

 

[ppccopener]

I'd put good money on them all being wrong!

alright Edgey.....

you can only pick the top 6. give us your names!

there's nothing like a good England batting order debate, you can keep your reviews of 1000 mm edge bats overdried like a set of false boobs, I love different peoples opinions !

[Alvaro]

It's unlikely that the paymasters of English cricket have been given an inside track...

[liscon12]

My Starting XI, these are players who I see taking the field, not necessarily the ones I want to see playing though.

1- Cook
2- Hales
3- Compton
4- Root
5- Vince
6- Stokes
7- Bairstow
8- Ali
9- Broad
10- Anderson
11- Finn

[rickjames]

Can they stop listing Broad as an allrounder?

[Calzehbhoy]

My Starting XI, these are players who I see taking the field, not necessarily the ones I want to see playing though.

1- Cook
2- Hales
3- Compton
4- Root
5- Vince
6- Stokes
7- Bairstow
8- Ali
9- Broad
10- Anderson
11- Finn

Totally agree. Think this side is more likely than any of the expert sides

[edge]

alright Edgey.....

you can only pick the top 6. give us your names!

there's nothing like a good England batting order debate, you can keep your reviews of 1000 mm edge bats overdried like a set of false boobs, I love different peoples opinions !

I'd keep it the same as in SA, with Bell in for Taylor. Think the selectors will go for the side liscon12 posted though.

[ppccopener]

I'd keep it the same as in SA, with Bell in for Taylor. Think the selectors will go for the side liscon12 posted though.

yep I think also liscon12 has the side we will field.

[WalkingWicket37]

There could be a spanner in the works me thinks.

Cook*
Compton/Hales
Root/Compton
Vince /Root
Hales/Bairstow
Stokes
Bairstow+//Buttler+
Moeen
Broad
Finn
Anderson

[Rob580]

There could be a spanner in the works me thinks.

Cook*
Compton/Hales
Root/Compton
Vince /Root
Hales/Bairstow
Stokes
Bairstow+/Buttler+
Moeen
Broad
Finn
Anderson

So you've essentially covered your a*se and picked all the possible combinations? 

[ProCricketer1982]

Cook
Hales
Roy
Root
Stokes
Buttler
Bairstow
Moeen
Broad
Anderson
Finn

[WalkingWicket37]

So you've essentially covered your a*se and picked all the possible combinations? 

I'll highlight the side I think is most likely then
I wasn't intentionally covering myself, but if you cover all options you're more likely to be right