England squad for Pakistan series

[dan08]

Drop Jos Buttler, give Bairstow the gloves, and bat Moeen at six...after Root, he's been England's next best batsman. He's wasted at eight....

That way, Rashid could be drafted in at eight.

Or just bring Rashid in for Lyth and move Moeen up to open. There's no need to drop Buttler just yet.

[SaintPowelly]

Buttlers stats are a bit mis-leading, alot of his cheap dismissals have been when he has come in looking to add some quick runs.

[KipperJohn]

On the batting front England have had only one real success - Root - in seeking replacements for Strauss, Trott and Pietersen, although I thought Ballance should have been persisted with.

We need specialist players in their right positions - Hales deserves a crack at the opening slot and Ballance should be given another run at 3. Bell's' best position by miles in terms of runs/average is 5 or 6. Surely you bat players where they have proven, or might prove most valuable to the team. Moeen has made useful runs down the order and with Stokes at 6 they can bring in Rashid and leave out a paceman . Assuming Anderson returns that means leaving out Wood and Finn although I would take them both along with Woakes. Bairstow and Taylor to complete the squad.

Cook
Hales
Ballance
Root
Bell
Stokes
Buttler
Moeen
Rashid
Broad
Anderson

Wood
Finn
Woakes
Bairstow
Taylor

[Arthur Crabtree]

Maybe need a back up spinner, especially with Rashid being a debutant, if selected, and a little unpredictable. Agree about not picking four seamers in UAE, which everyone seems to be doing.

[Making_Splinters]

Maybe need a back up spinner, especially with Rashid being a debutant, if selected, and a little unpredictable. Agree about not picking four seamers in UAE, which everyone seems to be doing.

But, is Stokes good enough to play as a third pace bowler? I have my doubts.

It may be a case of dropping Stokes for Rashid with Rashid and Ali then essentially having a shoot out for the spinner's role moving forward.

[ianp1970]

If we're going to play 2 spinners in UAE, and surely we must, then Ben Stokes is going to have to man up as third seamer.

[Arthur Crabtree]

You don't need three seamers. England found their balance in India with 2+2. And the second seamer could have made way for a third spinner. NZ spent their whole series there gradually dropping seamers for spinners. They ended up with 1+3. Those spinners were CrAIG, sODHI AND A RETIREd Dan Vettori- and they won. Picking three seamers is like wearing a fur coat in the desert.

I'd consider a seamer, plus Stokes, plus three spinners.

[dan08]

If we choose that attack then Broad and Anderson are the only 2 bowlers we can rely on. Stokes, Moeen and Rashid don't have good enough control.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Can you rely on Broad and Anderson to take wickets if there's no sideways movement? Maybe they'll get some reverse swing, but neither is Dale Steyn in that respect.

Panesar would have been ideal, bowling a lot of overs economically. Without him that means Tredwell, which unfortunately means two offies in the squad. But I'm not sure there's an alternative.

[KipperJohn]

If we choose that attack then Broad and Anderson are the only 2 bowlers we can rely on. Stokes, Moeen and Rashid don't have good enough control.

Understood, however apart from Panesar who is there? You can only pick from what's available and all I keep hearing, because I don't know otherwise, is that the cupboard is pretty bare.

[dan08]

Can you rely on Broad and Anderson to take wickets if there's no sideways movement? Maybe they'll get some reverse swing, but neither is Dale Steyn in that respect.

Panesar would have been ideal, bowling a lot of overs economically. Without him that means Tredwell, which unfortunately means two offies in the squad. But I'm not sure there's an alternative.

Maybe not taking wickets but should be able to keep things tight. Although Pakistan are the most defensive team in the world so we probably could get away with an attack of Broad, Anderson, Stokes, Rashid, Moeen.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Finn will go for runs. Which other seamer will keep things tight? They'll be out there a lot longer because after 5-10 overs, the ball won't move for the pace bowlers.

[Making_Splinters]

The problem is that England do not have a reliable spinner. Ali can take wickets but will go for runs. Rashid hasn't played a Test and isn't exactly know for keeping things tight, Monty isn't exactly selectable at the moment and Tredwell isn't going to set the world on fire.

[ianp1970]

My squad selection is a bit skewed, as Jimmy would be allowed to give this one a miss if I was selecting.

Cook
Hales
Ballance
Bell
Root
Stokes
Bairstow
Buttler
Ali
Rashid
Ansari
Woakes
Broad
Finn
Wood
Footitt

[ianp1970]

My squad selection is a bit skewed, as Jimmy would be allowed to give this one a miss if I was selecting.

Cook
Hales
Ballance
Bell
Root
Stokes
Bairstow
Buttler
Ali
Rashid
Ansari
Woakes
Broad
Finn
Wood
Footitt