There may be troubles ahead: England selection issues.

[rich1uk]

Why has Plunkett been left out of the ODIs and 20/20s and Wood kept?
Plunkett 35.05
Wood 68.80

actually watching the games I didn't think there was much between them , plunkett's figures were flattered by taking some late wickets in one of the games when the game was basically over

[backfootpunch]

Why has Plunkett been left out of the ODIs and 20/20s and Wood kept?
Plunkett 35.05
Wood 68.80

actually watching the games I didn't think there was much between them , plunkett's figures were flattered by taking some late wickets in one of the games when the game was basically over

wood is also much younger and seen as someone worth investing time in due to his pace

seems to be a better red ball bowler atm though

[sussexpob]

Im not at all convinced with Wood. People talk of him as a quick, nasty strike bowler, but I havent seen him deliver really one hostile and prolonged spell of good bowling for England yet.

[m@tt]

Im not at all convinced with Wood. People talk of him as a quick, nasty strike bowler, but I havent seen him deliver really one hostile and prolonged spell of good bowling for England yet.

He is good and I'm delighted that England have trusted him this summer but he feels like a stop gap player. Well be in and out of the team but a good option to have around.

[alfie]

Half a dozen Tests only so I'm not ready to make a definite statement about Wood. Though I do think he looks more of a Test prospect than ODI.

He hasn't done anything dramatic yet ; but I think there is considerable promise. Doubt he will feature in UAE but SA is another matter : we will probably all have a better idea about him after that series.

[Arthur Crabtree]

He's bowled well at times, but I've yet to see much of the dangerous reverse swing that we were promised.

[Slipstream]

Im not at all convinced with Wood. People talk of him as a quick, nasty strike bowler, but I havent seen him deliver really one hostile and prolonged spell of good bowling for England yet.

He is good and I'm delighted that England have trusted him this summer but he feels like a stop gap player. Well be in and out of the team but a good option to have around.

I feel the same. Even if he has an operation on his ankle will he be around in 4 years time?

[andy]

If Wood plays in the UAE it will be a big series for him...let's be honest introduced to the squad, with reverse swing on the selector's minds..if he dosent get any reverse swing on those pitches, and really struggles, then questions will be asked..

[Slipstream]

Bayliss suggesting that Rashid could have a role in all conditions. Does that mean Ali will be the one to go?

[dan08]

Bayliss suggesting that Rashid could have a role in all conditions. Does that mean Ali will be the one to go?

If Ali performs in his opener role then he'll stay in the side. Could always play two spinners. It's not as if it matters much as England already pick 4 seamers.

[Arthur Crabtree]

It's possible that it's just an encouraging thing to say. If England wanted to pick one spinner, they wouldn't want to choose someone of whom there might still be a suggestion they are a one innings bowler. Adil's best chance might be if Moeen's batting is good enough to keep in the side anyway,and he could do more first innings bowling. But it's still not clear how good Rashid could be, say on a pitch with some bounce. At the moment, he feels like someone who could often go for runs, and won't be relied on to do chores like dry up an end. It's too hard to say, but it's good that Bayliss has given the impression he might be open to playing two spinners other than in extreme conditions.

[Slipstream]

Bayliss is not worried about runs. So our batsmen will have to get those runs. Say that Cook bowled Rashid and Ali for less overs in the first innings and used the seamers more there would have been less runs to get. Say 20 overs to Rashid and 20 to Ali, that's 24 overs to be shared between the seamers, 6 overs each. I would be worried about playing two spinners in all conditions. Cook might feel with 6 bowlers in the team he has to give all the bowlers a turn.

[Slipstream]

Squad for SA

Cook
?
?
Root
Taylor
Stokes
?
Ali
Broad
Finn
Anderson

Reserves 2 fast bowlers, spinner, batsman, wk
Questions
Opener - ? will Hales make an impact in ODIs
No 3 ? - will Bell get runs in 3rd Test
Wicketkeeper ? - depends on ODIs if Buttler gets back form
Reserve wicketkeeper? - will Bairstow not make mistakes in the 3rd Test?
Rashid as the spare spinner
Reserve bowlers - Wood and .... Plunkett? Jordan? Woakes? Footitt?

[m@tt]

After two Tests, all of the questions England would have had over selection remain - specifically who plays at #2, #3, #5 and #7. A timely century or two would be useful in this Test.

With the wicket-keeper, I'm really not sure who else England would turn to. Within the EPP/Lions squad, the only keepers are Foakes, Clarke (neither of whom keep for their counties) and Billings who has played ODI/T20I cricket but only as a specialist batsman and I don't recall him keeping on the last Lions tour to South Africa (as Bairstow toured as well). Kieswetter have sadly retired whilst Davies has given up the gloves.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Foster's getting on a bit, but might bat at eight. England's policy has been to pick top six bats to keep though. Under Flower this was a stated policy.

Foakes must have kept in the CC last season at some point, as he has some stumpings. He seems to be next in line, but its hard to see him in the England team. Maybe they'll just stick with Buttler. It's said that he has improved his keeping a lot since he got in the England side (he hadn't much experience with the gloves in CC) and it's a pretty tough task he's been set by England, in all formats. It's easy to be sympathetic. But with Bairstow far from convincing, maybe a more experienced option might be tempting.