Pick your England team for the first test next summer

[Deleted member 11215]

Ok, so it looks like a major overhaul is going to happen next summer. Which positions are up for grabs and which are set in stone? For me the this is the skeleton:

Cook
****
Bell
Pietersen
*****
Stokes
*****
*****
Broad
*****
Anderson

Then to divide it into the contenders:

Cook
Robson/Carberry/Root/Compton
Bell
Pietersen/one of the no.5s
Ballance/Taylor/Root
Stokes
Prior/Kieswetter/Buttler
Borthwick/Briggs/Rayner/Bresnan
Broad
Finn/Overton/Mills/Rankin
Anderson

From that I would go with:

Cook
Compton
Bell
Pietersen
Ballance
Stokes
Prior
Borthwick
Broad
Finn
Anderson

I think it's too soon for Root, Overton and Mills but if they get off to a flyer next year it could happen.

 

[barmyarmy]

Finn surely depends on from and is Scott Borthwick really ready? Shouldn't we just use Tredwell until he, or someone else is?

I'd like to think that someone will put their hand up and show some form in the early county season. New selectors might help Compton.

 

[blockerdave]

what makes you think Bell is a number 3? he has been found out every single time he's played there.

and I see flower is trying to get rid of KP? Given the turgid cricket we've played for years, that he allowed that coward Swann to basically drive KP away from any senior tactical input, and has presided over the selectorial shambles and disintegration of the last several months, I'd say good riddance to flower.

would personally move cook to 3, open with Compton and Robson, if he wants to go with us.
then KP, Bell, Stokes, Prior, Broad, Jordan, Finn, Panesar

Anderson's a Busted Flush, and you can't have him Finn and Panesar in the tail. We have no other competent spinner.

 

[MUFC1987]

Right, if I were to go out of left field, I'd go something like this:

Cook
Chopra
Compton
Pietersen
Bell
Kieswetter/Davies
Stokes
Broad
Finn
Anderson
Kerrigan

Chopra has been blasting runs the last few seasons for a side at the top of the Championship and is also at the age where he knows his game. Deserves a go for me. Root and Robson can be the future there, but they're not ready yet. Compton is the best Number 3 in the County game and with Trott not in the mix, that makes him the best in the Country.

KP and Bell are there for that middle order solidarity. Ballance, Taylor etc will be there eventually but not quite yet for me. Again, experience key in certain areas.

Kieswetter and Davies is a toss up for me, both good enough to bat at 6, taking some pressure off of Stokes. Buttler isn't a good enough First Class batsman to make the side yet for me. Stokes of course keeps his place but moves down to 7, counter attacking down there would be the way to go.

Broad and Anderson are still good enough and with no Swann, we need experience there. Finn needs a run in the side to see what he is capable of.

Spinner is such a toss up though. Panesar is probably the best around, but there's not much future in either him or Tredwell. Borthwick doesn't bowl enough for the front line for me. Kerrigan does bowl a lot and I'm putting his Test debut down to nerves more than anything.

Honourable mention to Moeen Ali, who I desperately wanted in the side, but couldn't find room for him.

 

[barmyarmy]

I think you're being unfair on Swann there. Certainly some alarming rumours around about Flower preparing to make KP a scapegoat though.

 

[cricket_icon]

Ok, so it looks like a major overhaul is going to happen next summer. Which positions are up for grabs and which are set in stone? For me the this is the skeleton:

Cook
****
Bell
Pietersen
*****
Stokes
*****
*****
Broad
*****
Anderson

Then to divide it into the contenders:

Cook
Robson/Carberry/Root/Compton
Bell
Pietersen/one of the no.5s
Ballance/Taylor/Root
Stokes
Prior/Kieswetter/Buttler
Borthwick/Briggs/Rayner/Bresnan
Broad
Finn/Overton/Mills/Rankin
Anderson

From that I would go with:

Cook
Compton
Bell
Pietersen
Ballance
Stokes
Prior
Borthwick
Broad
Finn
Anderson

I think it's too soon for Root, Overton and Mills but if they get off to a flyer next year it could happen.

Interesting selections, not sure if I'd have Borthwick in the team, why is Panesar not being given a fair chance after Swann's retirement? He seems to be the natural successor. Borthwick just can't be thrown into a series against the likes of SL and IND.

Personally, I don't believe England need a overhaul as such, not in terms of batting anyway. I do think the bowler's need a kick up the backside, some of the regulars have gotten too complacent. Anderson needs his place to be under threat from a new young quick, Broad is safe in my eyes and we need someone other than Bresnan/Tremlett/Rankin, never been impressed by any of them, except Tremlett some years back.

I really hope Finn makes a come back, the way he has been handled is absolutely terrible, highlighting one of the ECBs biggest failures, treating players like commodities rather than people.

My team for the first test against SL:

Cook C
Root
---- I just don't know, if Trott hasn't recovered, who's there? Bell is far better at 5 and has played some of his best innings in that position so I'd be loathed to have him at 3 unless absolutely necessary.
KP
Taylor/Ballance
Stokes
Prior wk
Broad
Panesar
Finn
Anderson/Onions

I'm going with Root for SL, it's not long ago he almost scored a double century as an opener. Messing him around and moving him around has negatively affected his position. Stick with him, especially against a team which has an almost invisible bowling line up. Great confidence builder in the urn up to India.

Number 3, like I said, not sure, may be Compton, Bell if no other choice.

Taylor needs to be given a fair shake, I think he is so naturally gifted and had another good year in the county game. Ballance could also be tried, don't want to sound arrogant but I repeat, it's only SL.

Stokes has earned his place and Prior should be given two more tests.

Panesar needs to be given the chance to prove he is the successor to Swann and some what consistent run in the side.

 

[MUFC1987]

I was reading on the BBC website about the teams their pundits would pick and I was surprised that every single one of them picked Matt Prior. I'm sorry, he's been great for us in the past, but he's been poor all last summer and now in to this Winter. It's time to move on.

 

[barmyarmy]

If it is time to move on it's certainly not time to move on to Jonny Bairstow.
If Buttler or Davies is ready maybe but Prior is hugely important to England off the field as well as on it.

 

[T.J.Hooker]

England coach Andy Flower will quit unless Kevin Pietersen is axed from the Test squad - Mirror Online

 

[barmyarmy]

Flower is wrong on this one and he should be the one to leave. Total failure of management and he has to go.
I'm no KP fan but he is the best player in the side and it's not acceptable for the coach to say him or me and get away with it.
The spineless ECB and Giles Clarke in particular will presumably reward failure by giving Flower his way. England need KP more than they need Flower. We need a new coach and a new captain.

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Should just mention that the ECB are denying the story.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

KP really must be a bit of a pain in the arse though. has anyone managed to annoy as many people as he has in his career?

might work out well this time though, flowers should go.

 

[barmyarmy]

If the story is anything more than a test balloon the ECB would back Flower.

 

[sifter132]

KP really must be a bit of a pain in the arse though. has anyone managed to annoy as many people as he has in his career?

might work out well this time though, flowers should go.

He probably is a pain in the arse The issue at heart is how important is KP vs Flower. To me, Flower's value has just taken a MASSIVE hit, and he should be turfed before KP. In a lot of sports, coaches/managers are more important than players because players can be traded/sold/loaned etc. In cricket the players rule (only Irish players seem to get traded ) and I think England should be trying to get the best out of KPs last few years rather than clinging to Flower's regime.

Ideas are the coaches main input and presumably he's already offloaded a lot of them. Take Flower's ideas and move on.

It might also improve Cook's captaincy. I can't help but feel that Cook is merely Flower's puppet and new ideas in the dressing room might create new habits out in the middle for Cook.


My England team for mid-year would be:
Cook
*Compton
Bell - he may not be a #3 , but Root isn't either
KP
*Root - needs to come in lower so he can loosen up in his first 30-50 balls, learn how to build an innings. Just took too long to show intent vs Australia.
Stokes
*Prior
Broad
Anderson
*Onions
*Monty
*Finn (12th man)

*means no certainty Trott is a wildcard as well

Only concern there is Anderson coming in at 9. I'm sure that will give rise to the idea of Bresnan or Borthwick playing to lengthen the tail. Or even Stokes batting at 7/Prior at 8, and use Root as your 5th bowler and spinner. Possible, but not advisable over the long term in my view.

As War will no doubt tell me, England's best option is 4 quicks, but I feel with Stokes in the top 6 that gives you the luxury of keeping a spinner. Monty did well vs India last series too, that will be helpful in the mental game.

 

[War]

Right, if I were to go out of left field, I'd go something like this:

Cook
Chopra
Compton
Pietersen
Bell
Kieswetter/Davies
Stokes
Broad
Finn
Anderson
Kerrigan

Chopra has been blasting runs the last few seasons for a side at the top of the Championship and is also at the age where he knows his game. Deserves a go for me. Root and Robson can be the future there, but they're not ready yet. Compton is the best Number 3 in the County game and with Trott not in the mix, that makes him the best in the Country.

KP and Bell are there for that middle order solidarity. Ballance, Taylor etc will be there eventually but not quite yet for me. Again, experience key in certain areas.

Kieswetter and Davies is a toss up for me, both good enough to bat at 6, taking some pressure off of Stokes. Buttler isn't a good enough First Class batsman to make the side yet for me. Stokes of course keeps his place but moves down to 7, counter attacking down there would be the way to go.

Broad and Anderson are still good enough and with no Swann, we need experience there. Finn needs a run in the side to see what he is capable of.

Spinner is such a toss up though. Panesar is probably the best around, but there's not much future in either him or Tredwell. Borthwick doesn't bowl enough for the front line for me. Kerrigan does bowl a lot and I'm putting his Test debut down to nerves more than anything.

Honourable mention to Moeen Ali, who I desperately wanted in the side, but couldn't find room for him.

Ye i think your team is the right balance. Fair call of Kerrigan, it could indeed be nerves that made him so bad in his 1st test - since his FC numbers are good.

The home test vs SRI would be a good series to see if Kerrigan is the real deal. If not get rid of him before the India series & adopt an all-pace attack strategy on some seaming wickets.

 

[Haarithan]

1. Cook
2. Root/Robson
3. Compton
4. Pietersen
5. Bell
6. Ballance/Root
7. Stokes
8. Davies/Buttler
9. Broad
10. Anderson
11. Finn/Onions

Sri Lanka and India both being excellent players of spin bowling would probably finish Kerrigan or Borthwick off, swatting them all around the park. Would much rather go with 4 seamers + part time spin options in Root & KP, atleast for this summer.

Good point from cricket_icon regarding Root opening - he'll be up against the worst seam bowling attack among the top 9 test sides, so no better time than this to cash in at the top! If Robson comes good at the start of this year's LVCC season, I'm more than happy to see him open with Cook, with Root dropping down to #6 .

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I've only just noticed the Flower - KP saga being discussed here, having opened a thread regarding the same, a few minutes ago..