England tour of the Caribbean 2015, April 13-May 5

[hopeforthebest]

Packing a team with 6 batsmen and a batsman/keeper is pathetic. It suggests that avoiding defeat is a priority rather than taking 20 wickets to win. England see a draw as half a win instead of half a defeat which it really is. Getting one of Moeen, Stokes or even Woakes in the top seven as all- rounders should be a priority.

[Arthur Crabtree]

That's something I've argued long about in the past. Where's Alfie?!

Would England see a drawn series as acceptable? They know how to spin a positive. What result reflects well on them? If any?

[Aidan11]

Got to agree with this -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/31 ... witterfeed

[captaincolly]

That's something I've argued long about in the past. Where's Alfie?!

Would England see a drawn series as acceptable? They know how to spin a positive. What result reflects well on them? If any?

I think anything other than a comprehensive win would ( or should!) be regarded as a disaster. Narrow victories not enough imo.

[andy]

hmm intresting squad...

Good to see Trott back, he will probably open, meaning Lyth will carry the drinks.. Ballance to sit at 3, exceptional start to his test career. Glad that Stokes is in there, think he will bat 6, and be the 4th seamer. Dissapointed that Bairstow is there, thought Billings should have gone... don't see the point of Tredwell being there, should have took Riley as the 2nd spinner, Happy that Rashid is in, make or break time for him, can he make the step up?.. Intresting that Wood is there, but i dont expect him to get a game... also hugely dissapointed that James Taylor isn't in there.. think this will be the side..

Cook
Trott
Ballance
Bell
Root
Stokes
Buttler (wk)
Rashid
Broad
Plunkett
Anderson

Totally agree but middle order will be
Bell
Root
Ballance

no it wont...Ballance has batted 3 since coming into the test side, so that is where he will stay...

[Alviro Patterson]

Packing a team with 6 batsmen and a batsman/keeper is pathetic. It suggests that avoiding defeat is a priority rather than taking 20 wickets to win. England see a draw as half a win instead of half a defeat which it really is. Getting one of Moeen, Stokes or even Woakes in the top seven as all- rounders should be a priority.

The 16 man squad suggests there is flexibility for a 5 man bowling attack without compromising on the batting.

Cook, Lyth, Ballance, Bell, Root, Stokes, Buttler, Rashid. All 8 players who have scored at least four 1st class centuries.

Then 3 of Plunkett, Jordan, Broad or Anderson to complete the XI.

[m@tt]

I'd expect to see

Cook / Trott / Ballance / Bell / Root / Stokes / Buttler / Rashid / Jordan / Broad / Anderson

Would be surprised to see them move Ballance. And Jordan is still the man in possession.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Plunkett is the man in possession, Jordan came in to cover his injury...

[rich1uk]

I'd expect to see

Cook / Trott / Ballance / Bell / Root / Stokes / Buttler / Rashid / Jordan / Broad / Anderson

Would be surprised to see them move Ballance. And Jordan is still the man in possession.

probably the team I expect altho would have personally preferred lyth to open but I cant see them taking trott on tour after the issues he had to be a waterboy

[Arthur Crabtree]

I think Tredwell v Rashid (though both could play) and Lyth v Trott will be swayed by who makes an impression in the warm ups.

[rich1uk]

I think Tredwell v Rashid (though both could play) and Lyth v Trott will be swayed by who makes an impression in the warm ups.

trott would have to have a nightmare in the warmups not to play

rashid has to play imo , we know what we are going to get from tredwell, his FC performances for the last couple of years have been fairly medicore whereas with rashid we have a clear upside if he can establish himself at this level

[Aidan11]

I think Rashid is worth a punt. Tredwell is fine in ODIs but I'd rather we put someone younger in to gain some experience.

[m@tt]

Plunkett is the man in possession, Jordan came in to cover his injury...

I wouldn't say it was quite that obvious. If it was a senior player maybe, but Plunkett isn't. And Jordan played three game, it wasn't like he came just for the last Test.

[shankycricket]

Jordan would be the last of the seamers I'd pick from that squad, if given a choice.
Ideal opportunity to give Wood a crack.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Last time, Ajmal Khan made his debut. That was a strange turn of events.