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[rickjames]

I'm looking forward to another winter of Cooky in the subcontinent. An absolute joy to watch him grind the runs out

[alexhilly1492]

cook is due back with the squad today and id love to see hameed and duckett both play but i dont think England will risk it

[ppccopener]

cook is due back with the squad today and id love to see hameed and duckett both play but i dont think England will risk it

we can do that but Ballance misses out and we cut one of the 6 spinners in Pete's team  down to 2.......

I cant remember the last time trying to have a bit of fun picking the England was so difficult. We are really getting strong as a team.

Really fancy us to win as well.

2 spinners, Ballance(good player) misses out, hameed to open and duckett in the middle.

Now....how do we get Jos in the team.   

[RoCo Da Pixie]

I don't think you get Jos in the team. Stick with JB and get a proper batsman in who has been playing red ball cricket.

[ppccopener]

yep.....can't see him getting in at the moment. Bairstow is a good player. He is going to be hit with spin thou so will get tested out.


However he did learn quick against Yasir last summer and played really well.

[WalkingWicket37]

Trying to pick a side isn't easy for the first test.
I think the side below is what England will go for, with the second name in some positions who I'd like to see get a game.

Who'd want to be a selector, eh?

Cook*
Hameed
Root
Duckett
Ballance/Buttler
Stokes
Bairstow+
Ali
Woakes
Batty/Ansari
Broad/Ball

[six and out]

It's really good to see Duckett and now Hameed scoring runs... however the bowling really worries me, looks like the BCB XI have been milking it around in both games.

Like most of you have said I think it is a tough side to pick (and i think will be even tougher for India) but i will go with -

1. Cook
2. Hameed
3. Root
4. Duckett
5. Ali
6. Stokes
7. Bairstow
8. Woakes
9. Rashid
10. Batty
11. Broad

This is due to i really think that Hameed is the long term opening partner (and successor) for Cook and Duckett has to play, therefore Balance has to go. We need to play 3 spinners and Batty will definitely do a job while the other 2 attack more. I have kept Bairstow at 7 because i don't think you can underestimate how much keeping in the sub-continent is going to take out of him, so i think moving Ali up to 5 is a better option.

[petehosk]

1. Cook
2. Hameed
3. Root
4. Duckett
5. Ali
6. Stokes
7. Bairstow
8. Woakes
9. Rashid
10. Batty
11. Broad

I think this is the most likely line-up for Thursdays 1st Test.
I would prefer to swap Batty for Ansari and Broad for Ball as well, but that's pretty unlikely!
I would also prefer to swap Bairstow and Ali round for Ali bats at 7.

[ppccopener]

I think this is the most likely line-up for Thursdays 1st Test.
I would prefer to swap Batty for Ansari and Broad for Ball as well, but that's pretty unlikely!
I would also prefer to swap Bairstow and Ali round for Ali bats at 7.

I think that could be it Pete !! youre cracked it. If we really are going into a test with 3 spinners(can't remember the last time we did-if at all) that looks like the side.

If Ali and Rashid are in, Batty has got to play for experience and attitude. He may or may not of been selected to be a 'mentor' for ali, Rashid and Ansari but I think he will play.

3 spinners !!     Fattus is going to be whopin and a holorin'

[WalkingWicket37]

I think this is the most likely line-up for Thursdays 1st Test.
I would prefer to swap Batty for Ansari and Broad for Ball as well, but that's pretty unlikely!
I would also prefer to swap Bairstow and Ali round for Ali bats at 7.

Ali at 5 would worry me a bit, and 7 is too low for Johnny Bairstow really.
Stokes being a genuine all rounder is a luxury, and this "he has to bat at 6" is a nice problem to have

[petehosk]

3 spinners !!     Fattus is going to be whopin and a holorin'

I would actually count 3.5 spinners as Root counts has half a spinner - to take the odd wicket
Although some would say that it is still 3 spinners as Ali only counts as half a spinner too!!

[ppccopener]

I would actually count 3.5 spinners as Root counts has half a spinner - to take the odd wicket
Although some would say that it is still 3 spinners as Ali only counts as half a spinner too!!

emburey and Edmonds a couple of times way back, and panesar and swann once or twice from my memory last time we played more than one.

Have we ever played more than two spinners, as in ever??   I don't think so......

not quite sure why but really looking forward to seeing how we do in testing conditions.....

[smilley792]

In the UAE vs Pakistan 2015 test 3.

Ali opened, samit Patel and Rashid all in the side.

[Mr_Orange]

emburey and Edmonds a couple of times way back, and panesar and swann once or twice from my memory last time we played more than one.

Have we ever played more than two spinners, as in ever??   I don't think so......

not quite sure why but really looking forward to seeing how we do in testing conditions.....

Would the UAE test count when Ali, Rashid and Patel all played..? Plus Root.

EDIT: @smilley792 beat me to it!

[WalkingWicket37]

Why does everyone forget we played Swann & Kerrigan together! 

I think that was the last time we played 2 spinners in a home Test.