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[petehosk]

With the start of the Test series just round the corner, who will make the starting XI?

Am looking forward to seeing how this Hameed kid bats - looks very promising and Cook is in desperate need of a long-term opening partner!
And Root will hopefully come back in for the Tests.
But will Balance play and are they willing to let Duckett have a go in the top 5?
I guess Stokes, Bairstow and Woakes are next, but will they opt for Ali or Rashid......or both?
Broad must be a sure thing. And is Jimmy still out?

[Stuey]

For me:
Cook
Hameed
Root
Bairstow
Duckett
Stokes
Buttler wk (sb in the squad)
Woakes
Ball
Rashid
Broad

Assuming Anderson is out

[iand123]

Believe Anderson is out for this tour and a doubt for India too. Wood is confirmed out for both series

[Manormanic]

Absolute certainties (albeit it not in the specific batting slot) in caps:

COOK
Hameed
ROOT
Duckett
BAIRSTOW
STOKES
ALI
RASHID
Ansari
WOAKES
BROAD


No Ballance?  You all know my view that they have picked the worst of the three left handed Yorkshire lads in contention.  If he were to play, it'd be at the top of the order with Hameed missing out.
Ansari?  Yes, I've given him stick but a) he bats and fields well enough to balance the side and b) his accuracy, albeit minus massive turn, offsets Rashid being a second innings specialist and c) we might as well see how he goes now as wait till a time it really matters.

[Buzz]

COOK
Duckett
ROOT
BAIRSTOW
ALI
STOKES
Buttler
Ansari
WOAKES
BROAD
TBC...!

Just to add, I have nothing against Hameed, I think he looks a class act. I just really want Duckett to get first go!

[ElPerro]

Cook (cpt)
Hameed
Root
Duckett
Bairstow
Stokes
Buttler (wk)
Ali
Woakes
Broad
Batty

[ppccopener]

Farbrace today giving the possibillty butler is playing well enough to play as a batsman
Which is what ive thought for ages...
Hints have been dropped before thou

[alexhilly1492]

Cook
Hammeed
Root
Duckett
Bairstow (wk)
Stokes
Ali
Woakes
Rashid
Ball
Finn

I reckon that's what they'll go for and if not as I'm. It sure they'll have 2 debuts then balance for duckett but I hope they have the cahonies to go with the above, but light on bowling but I'm not sure we have much choice over that

[ElPerro]

Farbrace today giving the possibillty butler is playing well enough to play as a batsman
Which is what ive thought for ages...
Hints have been dropped before thou

It's interesting that both farbrace and Bayliss have said this in recent months. I'm sure they've got a better view than us but from what I've seen on tv id say buttler looks the better keeper of the two and going on this year bairstow could easily play as a specialist batsman.

Maybe in the long run they see value in playing buttler just as a batsman in order to let him maximise his potential there so who knows. I guess in the long term if he's going to be the odi captain in waiting it could make sense to play him just as a batsman and have Billings keep as batting captaining and wicketkeepering could be a big strain

Going in circles a bit but food for thought

[edge]

Bayliss mentioned Buttler playing as a specialist test bat in the summer but got politely stamped down by the selectors, I wonder what the selection process is on tour? Selection committee have picked a tour squad, can Bayliss now say 'well, you picked Buttler in the squad, now I get to choose what to do with him and he's batting 5.'?

[Manormanic]

Its difficult, isn't it - YJB is ranked about 12 in the world as a Test batsman.  Naturally, we want to maximise his potential with the bat, and whilst he is improving fast, he is still only functional as a wicketkeeper.  Common sense says you at least consider playing Buttler to bat seven and keep.

But...Bairstow is adamant that he wants the gloves, and has scored runs whilst keeping, and Buttler, whilst an upgrade, is really only a very small one. 


One assumes YJB will bat five or six with Stokes filling the other spot.  That leaves a vacancy at seven.  If you think Buttler fills that slot more naturally than does Ballance or Ansari, I don't see why he can't be selected.

[petehosk]

In my eyes we have plenty of options to fill 5-11. And obviously Cook is at 1. So with Hameed likely to be given the number 2 slot, that only leaves 3 and 4.
Obviously Root is in 3, so 4 is up for grabs - I would like to see Duckett given a decent run.

[ppccopener]

Its difficult, isn't it - YJB is ranked about 12 in the world as a Test batsman.  Naturally, we want to maximise his potential with the bat, and whilst he is improving fast, he is still only functional as a wicketkeeper.  Common sense says you at least consider playing Buttler to bat seven and keep.

But...Bairstow is adamant that he wants the gloves, and has scored runs whilst keeping, and Buttler, whilst an upgrade, is really only a very small one. 


One assumes YJB will bat five or six with Stokes filling the other spot.  That leaves a vacancy at seven.  If you think Buttler fills that slot more naturally than does Ballance or Ansari, I don't see why he can't be selected.

exactly...and If I had a tenner I would put it on Butler getting that spot. YJB no one in their right mind would argue he is not one of the top 5 batsmen in the Country-he's an automatic pick.

I reckon England will get Butler in this test and it's another chance for Jos to grab a place. Balance could make way.

of the 2 keepers there might not be much in it but Jos is the better keeper

[Mr_Orange]

It's difficult, but after the way Duckett performed in the ODIs I think he could edge out Ballance so I'd go with the below. Happily swap between the keepers but I think Buttler is the better keeper and Bairstow the better outfielder. My only concern is maybe being a bowler light, so the only change would have to see Buttler left out for an extra bowler.

Cook *
Hameed
Root
Bairstow
Duckett
Stokes
Buttler +
Ali
Woakes
Rashid
Broad

[petehosk]

I think most of the wickets in Bangladesh/India I would like to see.....

Cook
Hammeed
Root
Duckett
Bairstow
Stokes
Buttler
Ali
Woakes
Rashid
Broad

That is 3 seamers and Ali/Rashid sharing the spin duties with Root in for a few overs too!
Keeper? take your pick

On more pace friendly wickets you could swap Rashid or Ali out for Ball?
The only dilemma for me is what to do on spin friendly wickets of both Jimmy and Broad are available!!!
Anyway, with Jimmy out for Bangladesh and India, thankfully we shouldn't need to think too much!