There may be troubles ahead: England selection issues.

[Durhamfootman]

shall we make a prediction for the first SL test?

tentatively.......

Cook
Carberry
Bell
Root
Morgan? Taylor
Stokes
Prior? Ali
Borthwick? Prior
Bresnan
Broad
Anderson

12 Onions

[Arthur Crabtree]

My guess for the team they will pick. Not my team.

Cook/Carberry/Bell/Root/Morgan/Stokes/Moeen/Prior/Broad/Anderson/Onions.

[Durhamfootman]

Borthwick is certainly a part time option, MS. I think I've said that many times, with my references to Steve Smith. I'm not sure that England see him as a Steve Smith, though......... although they probably see his runs as being useful at 8

[Durhamfootman]

My guess for the team they will pick. Not my team.

Cook/Carberry/Bell/Root/Morgan/Stokes/Moeen/Prior/Broad/Anderson/Onions.

Bresnan cut or unfit?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Dropped. Will they just serve up the whitewashed Ashes seam attack again?

[Durhamfootman]

depends.... Unlikely to see Tremlett or Rankin any time soon. Perhaps that'll be enough

[Arthur Crabtree]

Borthwick is certainly a part time option, MS. I think I've said that many times, with my references to Steve Smith. I'm not sure that England see him as a Steve Smith, though......... although they probably see his runs as being useful at 8

He's a long, long way from being picked for his batting. Your latter scenario is plausible, but going at five an over in SL won't have helped him.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Possibly. maybe they'll write off Bresnan's winter because of his injury. That wouldn't explain why they picked him. Maybe they don't have to care, but England are keen on it appearing Flower resigned rather than being sacked, and there's really nothing to see.

[Durhamfootman]

Borthwick is certainly a part time option, MS. I think I've said that many times, with my references to Steve Smith. I'm not sure that England see him as a Steve Smith, though......... although they probably see his runs as being useful at 8

He's a long, long way from being picked for his batting. Your latter scenario is plausible, but going at five an over in SL won't have helped him.

agreed

[Making_Splinters]

Borthwick is certainly a part time option, MS. I think I've said that many times, with my references to Steve Smith. I'm not sure that England see him as a Steve Smith, though......... although they probably see his runs as being useful at 8

He's a long, long way from being picked for his batting. Your latter scenario is plausible, but going at five an over in SL won't have helped him.

There certainly seems to be the view from some quarters that Moeen is a batsman who bowls and Borthwick is a bowler who bats, despite them both batting in the top order.

I think Borthwick's continued ecconomy problems will see him out of selection contention and Cook doesn't seem to really trust him as a bowler either.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Spinners are something Cook is spending like a dying millionaire.

[Durhamfootman]

and Cook doesn't seem to really trust him as a bowler either.

Oh crikey........................

don't set me off on that one

[Arthur Crabtree]

At least he puts the spinners on at the right time though...

[Durhamfootman]

Is there a case for Taylor ahead of Morgan?

or does Morgan get in, during a time of flux, courtesy of his international experience, despite not having any real test pedigree?

[Durhamfootman]

At least he puts the spinners on at the right time though...

I'm not going there