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[Seniorplayer]

Wouldn't be surprised for the first test England  play 5 seamers.

[Harry L]

Fair points ( particularly re broad and anderson) , but .... what about Mo ! I think he's improved massively and will do a decent job in oz . So 5 legit bowlers plus Root and other part timers should be enough ?

Maybe it's overkill but surely it's better to have too much bowling rather than too little? The only batsmen I'd consider in my team above to replace Rashid would probably be hales as he is used to facing 90mph+ regularly in the one day formats.

Stoneman in the runs again this morning.

[mattdawson]

That's my point on the spells, 7 overs per bowler is still only 4 bowlers per session, 6 in a side can lead to too much changing and not giving any combinations a real chance.

I think the biggest headache in the selection will come if Wood is fit and bowling quick does he get in on his pace alone?

I thought about hales but you end up with a middle order that's powerful and appears to be all want to be scoring at nearly a run a ball. There will be a test were england will be <50-3 at some point imo  and i dont fancy hales walking out then. flip that and we could easily be 200-3 and i wouldnt want ballance strolling out to push the scoring on.

I think malan can be a very good no5, batted really nice at 3 in t20 quick and free flowing, but also showed he can digin at headingley.

[edge]

6 bowlers is completely unnecessary, many test teams manage fine with 4 plus maybe a part-time spinner! 6 will mean one bloke on the boundary doing nothing, or our best bowlers bowling less overs.

Don't think Hales will go, Hameed will be doing his time in the Lions, can definitely see us taking a spare opener. Seamers/allrounders pick themselves, Foakes is the obvious reserve, so:
Batters
Cook, Stoneman, Root, Malan, then a spare opener - probably Robson/Lyth, lastly either Westley or a new pick - maybe Northeast/Roy? Good time for a middle order player or opener to get big runs at the end of the CC season. Or a good time to lose a few pounds if your name's Samit Patel!

All rounders
Stokes, Woakes, Moeen

Keepers
Bairstow, Foakes

Bowlers
Anderson, Broad, TRJ, Jake Ball, Wood and a spinner, depends whether they think Crane is ready or plump for Leach/Rayner. Given they'll likely just be carrying the drinks, I'd send Crane with the Lions and pick Rayner as the safest backup option.

[northernboy1987]

Bayliss said it's unlikely they'll be anyone in the squad who hasn't been included over the past 12-18 months, I'd say this means the only questions are (as always) over 3 of the top 5 between Stoneman, Westley, Malan, Ballance, Hales, Jennings and Hameed. I'd think it would also rule out any wild card pick of taking Jason Roy, Northeast, Leach, Rayner etc. or going back to Lyth, Robson Not sure what it means for the backup keeper though, sounds like they might just take Buttler instead of Foakes but who knows.

Bowlers pick themselves (presuming they take Crane as 2nd spinner) at least as far as the squad goes, starting XI and there could still be some debate.

[ppccopener]

Bayliss said it's unlikely they'll be anyone in the squad who hasn't been included over the past 12-18 months, I'd say this means the only questions are (as always) over 3 of the top 5 between Stoneman, Westley, Malan, Ballance, Hales, Jennings and Hameed. I'd think it would also rule out any wild card pick of taking Jason Roy, Northeast, Leach, Rayner etc. or going back to Lyth, Robson Not sure what it means for the backup keeper though, sounds like they might just take Buttler instead of Foakes but who knows.

Bowlers pick themselves (presuming they take Crane as 2nd spinner) at least as far as the squad goes, starting XI and there could still be some debate.

Exactly...most of the squad picks itself.lyth and robson have not done enough for a recall and Jennings is still in the same bad Trot-they surely won't be in
Stoneman looks good so far out of the new 3 batters.
Malan the next best if we go with the extra batter

I'd also like to see hameed with the lions...as was discussed a while back on here could he return as a number 3 or 4 in future?

[hanif]

1. Cook
2. Hameed
3. Root
4. Hales
5. Stokes
6. Bairstow (Batter only, pretty awesome fielder without the gloves).
7. Butler (WK)
8. Ali
9. Broad
10. Wood (If fit) or a fit Plunkett would be a handful in oz.
11. Anderson

[northernboy1987]

1. Cook
2. Hameed
3. Root
4. Hales
5. Stokes
6. Bairstow (Batter only, pretty awesome fielder without the gloves).
7. Butler (WK)
8. Ali
9. Broad
10. Wood (If fit) or a fit Plunkett would be a handful in oz.
11. Anderson

I don't understand why people think Buttler should be included? He hardly plays any red ball cricket at all.

[Woodyspin]

I don't understand why people think Buttler should be included? He hardly plays any red ball cricket at all.

Agreed. Realistically he will probably go as a spare as he's played in aua before but he 1 hasnt played red ball for ages amd 2 if he were to of have the chance. He would have had it ages ago when malan and westley didnt really work. But no.

[FattusCattus]

Agreed - it seems nonsensical to me when you have a ready-made reserve in Foakes, who plays a lot of 4-day stuff, and seems to be doing pretty well. Plus a great opportunity to involve him in the squad and get used to the Test and touring scene.

Still, it's all subjective, isn't it. I also don't know why people suddenly think Hales is a shoe-in as a test no.4 or wood as a test-match bowler.

[GoodLeave]

Alex Carey .

Who? 

[northernboy1987]

I should point out that I wouldn't be surprised if Buttler gets taken as the reserve keeper but I think Foakes is the better option.

[Biggie Smalls]

Who? 

Jim's brother .


Also the south oz keeper. Great , great hands.

[alexhilly1492]

I don't understand why people think Buttler should be included? He hardly plays any red ball cricket at all.

He came in and did a good job in India after we all said the same thing

[petehosk]

1. Cook
2. Hameed
3. Root
4. Hales
5. Stokes
6. Bairstow (Batter only, pretty awesome fielder without the gloves).
7. Butler (WK)
8. Ali
9. Broad
10. Wood (If fit) or a fit Plunkett would be a handful in oz.
11. Anderson

Stokes will NOT bat at 5 - he is always batting at 6!!! And Buttler is unlikely to be in the XI.

I would like to see:

Cook
Stoneman
Hameed
Root
Malan/Hales
Stokes
Bairstow
Ali
TRJ/Wokes
Broad
Anderson

Westley has not really taken his chance against Windies! He did some hard graft against SA but hasn't impressed since.
Would prefer to see Hameed at 5 initially but without an on-form no3 bat, choices are limited! Plus Root can keep his fave 4 position and Bairstow and Ali better at 7 and 8!
Like one or two others, I think Broad hasn't been on top form lately but he is always dangerous and seems to have a few great spells saved for the Aussies  So see how he gets on. Hard to leave Anderson out considering his form this Summer.
Not sure there are any wickets which require loads of spin options! Surely Ali, Root and Malan are enough options?