England in SAffer.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Ballance is a bit disappointing. He should have to demonstrate he's over his problem, at first class level. Ideally, in Lions games, if there were any.

If Bell wants to play for England, he could easily come back. He'll inevitably outscore the others at fc level. if england have batting problems, which they will, they'll go back to him. Though I don't think that would be sensible, given his long term struggles at international level.

[westoelad]

Jordan is becoming a fixture in the squad so possesses something to the selectors which I can't see.
Bell has just tweeted that he's gutted and surprised to be left out. Appears he wasn't forewarned.I'd have thought such a long serving player should have deserved that.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Mail - Nick Compton and Samit Patel are set to be named in the England Test squad. :shock:

Well, they were right.

[Aidan11]

Jordan is becoming a fixture in the squad so possesses something to the selectors which I can't see.
Bell has just tweeted that he's gutted and surprised to be left out. Appears he wasn't forewarned.I'd have thought such a long serving player should have deserved that.

Yes, it's shocking if true. There were worse batsmen in the UAE than Bell but he's been made the fall guy. No doubt the selectors may use the "David Gower" line of being too old but if they do it is worth pointing out he is only one year older than Nick Compton.

[Aidan11]

James Whittaker -

"Ian Bell has been an outstanding player for many years and undoubtedly still has plenty to offer England in the future. It was clearly a difficult decision but he has struggled for runs in recent series and we felt that it was the right time for him to take a break and spend time working on his game out of the spotlight.

"The inclusion of Nick Compton and Gary Ballance alongside Alex Hales, Joe Root and James Taylor gives Trevor Bayliss and Alastair Cook plenty of options in the top order.

"Adil Rashid showed plenty of promise in the UAE but the conditions in South Africa make the likelihood of playing two spinners extremely remote. Although he would have been selected as a back up spinner we feel there is an excellent opportunity for him to spend some time developing his white ball skills in the lead up to the ICC World T20 in March. It is likely that Adil will travel to Australia to play for a Big Bash franchise."

[Arthur Crabtree]

Jordan is becoming a fixture in the squad so possesses something to the selectors which I can't see.
Bell has just tweeted that he's gutted and surprised to be left out. Appears he wasn't forewarned.I'd have thought such a long serving player should have deserved that.

Yes, it's shocking if true. There were worse batsmen in the UAE than Bell but he's been made the fall guy. No doubt the selectors may use the "David Gower" line of being too old but if they do it is worth pointing out he is only one year older than Nick Compton.

Hardly the fall guy. He's averaging under 30 over two years and isn't batting well, and hasn't for a while. It was quite justified to drop him. Though surprising nonetheless. Maybe a rest is what he needs, although he's a one format player now, so won't be, and hasn't been, on the treadmill as much anyway.

Just because it was a shock to him doesn't mean he wasn't told. Do we know he wasn't told, or just inferring it?

[Arthur Crabtree]

James Whittaker -

"Ian Bell has been an outstanding player for many years and undoubtedly still has plenty to offer England in the future."

The first of that just isn't true. He hasn't been outstanding since the Ashes of 2013, which in itself was a bit of a return to form. The second point is debatable, and 'undoubtedly' is obviously an overstatement.

[yuppie]

Agnew reckons Hales will open in SA.

[westoelad]

Jordan is becoming a fixture in the squad so possesses something to the selectors which I can't see.
Bell has just tweeted that he's gutted and surprised to be left out. Appears he wasn't forewarned.I'd have thought such a long serving player should have deserved that.

Yes, it's shocking if true. There were worse batsmen in the UAE than Bell but he's been made the fall guy. No doubt the selectors may use the "David Gower" line of being too old but if they do it is worth pointing out he is only one year older than Nick Compton.

Hardly the fall guy. He's averaging under 30 over two years and isn't batting well, and hasn't for a while. It was quite justified to drop him. Though surprising nonetheless. Maybe a rest is what he needs, although he's a one format player now, so won't be, and hasn't been, on the treadmill as much anyway.

Just because it was a shock to him doesn't mean he wasn't told. Do we know he wasn't told, or just inferring it?

I would suspect that a tweet stating he was surprised and gutted to be omitted strongly implies that he hadn't beeen forewarned. Having said that given his recent form it certainly shouldn't have come as a surprise. Bayliss' recent comments suggest it's also come as a surprise to him.

[Arthur Crabtree]

OK, that was by the chief selector, so we can expect and understand that kind of comment, and it's fine really. I initially took it for the kind of sanctimonious, outraged reaction you get in the Mail/Express.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I would suspect that a tweet stating he was surprised and gutted to be omitted strongly implies that he hadn't beeen forewarned. Having said that given his recent form it certainly shouldn't have come as a surprise. Bayliss' recent comments suggest it's also come as a surprise to him.

But it doesn't have to mean he hasn't been told. Aren't we all reacting without knowing? But if he wasn't, that would be poor behaviour. Bayliss is a selector, so it can't have come as a surprise to him.

[Aidan11]

Agnew reckons Hales will open in SA.

Compton it is then.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I would suspect that a tweet stating he was surprised and gutted to be omitted strongly implies that he hadn't beeen forewarned. Having said that given his recent form it certainly shouldn't have come as a surprise. Bayliss' recent comments suggest it's also come as a surprise to him.

But it doesn't have to mean he hasn't been told. Aren't we all reacting without knowing? But if he wasn't, that would be poor behaviour. Bayliss is a selector, so it can't have come as a surprise to him.

Though I could easily be missing something, so fair enough.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Will anyone know?

I'd guess they'll play Cook, Hales and Compo in the top three, and Ballance will be reserve. Some have Taylor at three, but I can't see that happening. Surely the four previously named, and then Joe Root, will be ahead of JT for a top three slot?

[Gingerfinch]

My team from that squad would be:

Cook
Hales
Compton
Root
Taylor
Stokes
Buttler/Bairstow
Ali
Broad
Anderson
Footit