There may be troubles ahead: England selection issues.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Vince is at 3 in that model.

Sorry, yes, you said 4-9. Moving Vince up to three doesn't feel an obvious move. Didn't Bayliss list possible threes only about two weeks ago, and came up with Borthwick, B.Drummond, Robson and Westley?

[Slipstream]

I think the squad is announced today and the Lions on Friday. Finn is having a scan on his knee.

[alfie]

Root
Buttler
Stokes
Bairstow
Ali
Woakes

As a 4-9 this would have both opposition and home fans quaking in their boots...

100-2 could become 600-8 before afternoon drinks on day 2 or 10-2 could be 100-8 by tea on day 1

Those were my thoughts too , on considering that potential lineup ! But to be honest I'm not at all sure Bayliss is doing more than floating possibilities at this stage. Would be surprised to see Stokes picked just as a batsman ; and by no means convinced they will bring Buttler back just yet - playing him as a pure batsman rather flies in the face of his previous Test batting record.
Suppose a lot depends on whether they want to give Vince more time : you'd think he might get at least a couple more matches before being discarded , no ?

[Dr Cricket]

Vince is at 3 in that model.

Sorry, yes, you said 4-9. Moving Vince up to three doesn't feel an obvious move. Didn't Bayliss list possible threes only about two weeks ago, and came up with Borthwick, B.Drummond, Robson and Westley?

hearing bayliss and selectors backtracking now and want Stokes or buttler to come in now.
guessing when Bayliss actually saw the players he didn't fancy them or they were not ready for it although do think Borthwick deserves a chance right now, probably too early for Drummond and Robson did get a chance 2 yrs ago with Westley just not good enough for England.

[hopeforthebest]

I'm not impressed by Bayliss's public comments, the meanderings of his mind concerning players is hardly helpful unless they are cohesive. Talking about Stokes and Buttler both in the test side as batsmen flies in the face of reality. The England team have lost only one player a batsman, so musing about two batsmen coming into the team makes no sense unless he also explains who would make way to accommodate them. Reading Bayliss's comments can hardly be good for Vince to read as without reducing the bowling options he's the obvious candidate for the chop.

I suspect though, that wiser heads will prevail at todays meeting of selectors and we will not see both Stokes and Buttler in the squad, indeed we may not see Stokes either but his team mate Borthwick a genuine number 3 coming in to the vacant number 3 slot. The return of Stokes must surely wait until he is fit enough to bowl.

[sussexpob]

Yasir Shah must be licking his lips at the prospect of bowling to Stokes and Buttler. Both have looked weak against pretty average spinners in tests, so a bloke averaging in the lower 20's is going to cause them problems.

The problem I have with a line up with all of those bit and pieces cricketers is..... where is the gritty man who can hold the end of an innings together? They are all pretty much batsman who want to smash it, and recent innings with England in trouble have proved Stokes literally never wants to defend, and I would hesitate Buttler is that much interested too.

With England's batting depth, they can afford to pick a specialist keeper if Bairstow (like he should) goes up to 4 or 5.

I dont think Stokes should play if he cant bowl. Pick Woakes instead. Keep Vince in. No point playing two keepers who both are crap with the gloves.

[Dr Cricket]

Lol how did ballance get picked.

[Gingerfinch]

A test average of 48 would have helped him!

[Dr Cricket]

A test average of 48 would have helped him!

Hasn't really shown he fixed his technical issue though, not had a great season either and by all reports he was lucky in scarborough as well.

They could literally have another Compton with ballance If he struggles against a top attack.

[Dr Cricket]

Probably proves my point two months ago that England don't have batting depth at the moment if they going back to tried and tested players over other options.

Ballance averages 33 this season where run scoring been quite easy compared to other years.
He hasn't exactly earned his spot back by scoring bucketful of runs in first class cricket.

[hopeforthebest]

A very surprising selection, they must know something we don't know. Maybe he's a wonderful player of spin ideal for the tour of India.

[hopeforthebest]

So Joe Root is to bat at 3 and Vince at 4 with Balance at 5.

Cook
Hales
Root
Vince
Balance
Bairstow
Moeen
Woakes
Broad
Ball
Finn (if fit) or Roland-Jones.

[sussexpob]

I like the Roland-Jones pick mind

[Arthur Crabtree]

Pretty hopeless work by the press over what was happening in the England camp. Especially over James Anderson and Ben Stokes.

[alfie]

Seems the press really didn't have a clue what was in the selectors' minds.

Mind you , neither did anyone on here

Bit concerned about that batting lineup : if young Joe doesn't fire at three (I can see why they want him to play there ; but it is some risk moving him from four where he has been so effective) the next two don't fill me with confidence. Still I suppose they figure now is the time to have another look at Ballance - who does have decent numbers ; but looked suspect against good pace bowling...more of which he will be facing against Pakistan. They still bat deep anyway.

Taking no risks with Anderson , so Ball will get a shot at last.

I thought the Stokes/Buttler talk was a smokescreen ; though I'm not sure why he bothered?