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[rickjames]

He's scored 627 runs at an average of 62 this season. Don't know what else to say...

[Bats_Entertainment]

Yes, and I've seen a fair few of them. He's obviously a good player...

[rickjames]

When I've watched him this season he's the perfect fit alongside Cook; aggressive, rotates the strike well etc. Only thing that goes against him is if they want a right hander instead

[Bats_Entertainment]

Or the Adam Lyth/ Sam Robson/ Nick Compton bandwagons that went before?

[petehosk]

Surely at home, we just play the 1 spinner plus Root as part time?
We rarely play 2 spinners in Tests at home!

I would be tempted to go with
Cook
Stoneman
Jennings
Root
Ballance
Stokes
Bairstow
Ali
Woakes
Broad
Anderson

[rickjames]

Surely at home, we just play the 1 spinner plus Root as part time?
We rarely play 2 spinners in Tests at home!

I would be tempted to go with
Cook
Stoneman
Jennings
Root
Ballance
Stokes
Bairstow
Ali
Woakes
Broad
Anderson

We have a winner

[tushar sehgal]

What happened to that young kid who opened against India?

[petehosk]

What happened to that young kid who opened against India?

Hameed? The young lad we have been talking about and saying is out of form this season? That one? 
They may chance him - he is playing in the Lions against SA A side but got an 11 ball duck.
I would imagine that he would have to find some form between now and July though!!

[LEACHY48]

My team would be something similar to what's already posted but I'd have Ian bell back in the side to add some experience under a new skipper and an arguably fresh faced team - he also has a brilliant average at 5 so that's where he bats for me

Cook
Jennings
Ballance
Root
Bell
Bairstow
Stokes
Ali
Woakes
Broad
Anderson

However given the injury concerns of late the team would be for me as follows

Cook
Jennings
Ballance
Root
Bell
Bairstow
Stokes
Ali
Wood
Ball
Finn

[rickjames]

What has Bell done this season to warrant a recall? Warwickshire right up against it at the moment...

[northernboy1987]

I think one good knock by HH between now and the first test and it goes something like:

Cook
Hameed
Jennings
Root
Ballance
Stokes
Bairstow
Ali
Woakes
Broad
Anderson

I don't have a problem with giving Stoneman a go if Hameed doesn't find some form in the coming weeks but Hameed impressed over the winter so if he can find some form, deserves a home summer.

But I don't have a problem with the following either:

Cook
Jennings
Ballance
Root
Ali
Stokes
Bairstow
Rashid
Woakes
Broad
Anderson

With Ali and Rash sharing spinners duties throughout the game with Ali bowling more at the start of the game and using Rashid predominantly in the 3rd/4th innings.

[northernboy1987]

What has Bell done this season to warrant a recall? Warwickshire right up against it at the moment...

If we're going down that route Trott is averaging over 50 this season

[LEACHY48]

What has Bell done this season to warrant a recall? Warwickshire right up against it at the moment...

Just a general feeling that you back the right horse - with 7,500 runs in international cricket it only takes one shot / one bit of luck/ whatever and he's back on top again - also I believe he has the best average at no5 of any English batsmen of recent years.

[LEACHY48]

If we're going down that route Trott is averaging over 50 this season

Haha but trott hasn't got the mental game to play international cricket, or the desire 

[Bats_Entertainment]

Surely at home, we just play the 1 spinner plus Root as part time?
We rarely play 2 spinners in Tests at home!

Because, rightly or wrongly, we've not had confidence to bat Moeen in the top six? Moeen is himself a part-time bowler, really!