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[FattusCattus]

Any strong opinions for a recall for Malan?

Is Gubbins a dark horse if Crawley continues to struggle?

Could England go 1st test with 4 seamers and Root / Lawrence as part-time spin option?

Bairstow to keep if Foakes not fit?

Toby RoJo, an Overton or perhaps Hannon-Dalby to replace Robinson if he is unfit or out of favour?

Jimmy and Broad to play together?

Is Tom Haines any good?

Who could be vice-captain?

[Buzz]

Taken from the another thread, but names in the frame for selection...

Other than the guys we know who will play... Crawley, Root, Stokes, Bairstow

Batters
Haines has to be top of the list
Abell has looked good for Somerset
Duckett has been talked about.

Laurence should be allowed another go.

Pope has a technical issue (he is holding the bat wrong for some reason)

Bowling...
Parkinson is likely to get a go.
Some old blokes who have played a bit will get a chance.
I don't know where Robinson's fitness is at.

Outside bets...
Topley as a point of difference bowler, but he might need more overs in his legs to prove fitness.

Woakes might be done as a red ball player.

Sam Curran... Who knows.

Archer will only play white ball cricket this summer.

Which probably means a batting line up of the below for the first test.

Lees
Haines
Crawley
Root
Laurence
Stokes
Bairstow

As for bowling, I have no clue.
But Lords will be flat, so we can't play with 4 rfm bowlers.

But that means that one of Anderson, Broad and Robinson won't play. We may see Brydon Carse play though.

[Jimbo]

Surely Bohannon has to be in the frame for a top/middle order spot? FC average of 47, uncomplicated technique, shown he can grind out the big scores.

[jonny77]

Harry Brook has to be in the frame you'd think, but will maybe get a chance in the white ball squad first? Can't be ignored if he keeps this run going though.

Bowling wise you can see Jimmy and Broad back, plus Robinson in UK conditions. Wood when fit, plus Mahmood, Fisher maybe again given a chance. We still need a class spinner to come through.

[edge]

Guessing the first test team will be fairly uncontroversial. Crawley will get the NZ series but nick off to Southee repeatedly, binning Foakes immediately would be harsh so Bairstow will get a go at 5 - they just need a 3.

Lions games in between the two test series should be an interesting selection! Loads of top 3 players in form at the moment.
Could see Jamie O getting a go with the ball beyond the obvious candidates.

[FattusCattus]

Just for sh*ts and giggles, I'm selecting a Lions type side to face the Kiwis in a warm up - using the criteria of fringe and non-test players, youth and having to give Div 1 players a priority. It gives me an XI like this:

B Compton
T Haines (C)
N Gubbins
D Malan
H Brook
M Burgess +
J Clark
K Barker
C Overton
O Hannon-Dalby
M Parkinson

Now before all you 'pedantists' wade in, it's just for fun and there's a few liberties with youth against stats - for instance, Burgess ahead of Ben Brown - plus Keith Barker is in to give desperate variety (too many RMF bowlers about!)

[edge]

Dent in for Malan, Higgins for Clark, Norwell for Hannon-Dalby and the other Overton in for Barker I reckon there Brucey. Realistically Bracey in too, but I think I've added enough South-West representation already!

[Bats_Entertainment]

Ben Foakes plays for Surrey tomorrow.

[Manormanic]

A lot depends on whether Root will bat three or four, and on whether Foakes is fit.

As for the next cans, Brook is light years ahead of Haines, Abell and Duckett. But please, leave him with Yorkshire another few months!

[SOULMAN1012]

Picking on form that Compton lad looks a decent long format batter. Probably a season to early however. Brooks at Yorkshire must feature soon.

Bowling could be a concern. Anderson and Broad not played much and not set the world alight early season when then have, Robinson out injured so not sure it looks great. We know who they will pick but could do with some form and rythem in that regard.

[alba caerulea]

Taken from the another thread, but names in the frame for selection...

Other than the guys we know who will play... Crawley, Root, Stokes, Bairstow

Batters
Haines has to be top of the list
Abell has looked good for Somerset
Duckett has been talked about.

Laurence should be allowed another go.

Pope has a technical issue (he is holding the bat wrong for some reason)

Bowling...
Parkinson is likely to get a go.
Some old blokes who have played a bit will get a chance.
I don't know where Robinson's fitness is at.

Outside bets...
Topley as a point of difference bowler, but he might need more overs in his legs to prove fitness.

Woakes might be done as a red ball player.

Sam Curran... Who knows.

Archer will only play white ball cricket this summer.

Which probably means a batting line up of the below for the first test.

Lees
Haines
Crawley
Root
Laurence
Stokes
Bairstow

As for bowling, I have no clue.
But Lords will be flat, so we can't play with 4 rfm bowlers.

But that means that one of Anderson, Broad and Robinson won't play. We may see Brydon Carse play though.

Love the look of Carse, hints of Harmison and Morkel in his action and i think reliance on pitch and ball less of a factor in his threat level when compared to the standard english 80mph trundlers.

A left armer would be great aswell but not sure Topleys the guy. Had high hopes for Garton a couple of years ago but he seems to have pigeon holed into more of a white ball cricketer at present. Luke Wood impresses me whenever I watch him but not sure his stats measure up

[edge]

Do quite like the look of Sibley 2.0

[joeljonno]

I'm going to say this, then probably go against exactly what I say

Woakes might be done as a red ball player.

I don't know how we can say he might be done when he averages 35 with the bat and 22.5 with the ball in UK conditions.  Such a shame he cannot reproduce similar overseas. 

I think it is time for a fair bit of change with the team and repeatedly going after the same players to see whether they can make their mark is getting tired.  It is time to start bringing fresh talent in.

I am not sure who to suggest fills the vacancies, but with Root at 3 or 4 and Stokes at 6, with the keeper at 7 (either Foakes or Bairstow) and the rest all up for grabs.  I'd like to see Borad and Anderson retire when they are ready rather than getting culled before their time.  If someone comes along who is consistently able to replace them, fine, but until then I still see they have a use in the squad.

I would even consider Root opening up with Lees, seeing whether a bit of experience at the top would help cement the other as more of a solid player.

[Bats_Entertainment]

Never before can the journey from being released by a county to being an 'England prospect' have been so short.

[Buzz]

Interesting movement in momentum over the last few weeks.

Lees looks a good bet to start.
Robson has a chance of a recall, as does Sibley.
Crawley is Key's favourite, Malan has an outside shot.
Root
Brook seems nailed on now for a debut.
Stokes.
Foakes vs Bairstow... Would be good to have seen YJB play some red ball cricket. I don't know which way this will go.

Bowlers.
Parkinson will be in the squad. As will leach.
Potts, the bolter from Durham might even get a debut.
Anderson looked in good order and has overs under his belt.
Mahmood needs to play in my view.
Broad...
Robinson is look a bit flaky and could miss out, but has bowled OK so far.

Other bolters given Woakes and Overton are off games.
The other Overton (because we need a 90+mph bowler who can bat)