There may be troubles ahead: England selection issues.

[Alviro Patterson]

Reading between the lines of Cook's words, Buttler ain't getting into a Test squad again until he plays first class cricket for Lancashire which rules him out for South Africa. The good thing is that it allows them to have an extended look at Bairstow and decide once and for all if he can crack it at Test level. Perform or perish time for him you'd think.

Don't talk daft, if Bairstow is going to don the gloves for England he's going to last longer than a test series against South Africa. England aren't exactly flush with keepers who can bat.

You do realise we are talking about a bloke who has already played 20 Tests at an average of 26? He is not going to get too many more chances if he keeps failing. This is his chance to seal his spot.

20 tests spanned over three years, Bairstow averaging 92.33 in County Cricket this year is a better indicator of batting ability.

Great opportunity for Bairstow to nail his mast in the test squad, but a poor series against South Africa is not the be all and end all. Worse case scenario is Bairstow having to fight for his place for the Sri Lanka test series in May and gets outscored in County Cricket by Jos Buttler or Steven Davies.

It really isn't. I don't want to cite the Hick and Ramps examples again and again but there you go.... The step up in standard is quite huge and so far Bairstow hasn't looked like he'll make the grade. He hasn't always got a sustained run. So this is his chance. This is currently his 6th Test in a row and I'm pretty certain he will play all 4 in SA unless Buttler does something extraordinary in the ODIs. Thats 10 Tests in a row and a total of 24. If he still doesn't convince after that, it should really be it. Unless of course the options are even worse than that, something which I doubt.

Unfair to write off a player who has predominantly played either against the top test nations or as a squad member on a tour. Bairstow is basically a test century away from his international cricket career taking off, the five 50s already scored suggest Bairstow has the capability of batting at test level.

[shankycricket]

If Stokes doesn't make the SA tour Woakes will replace him.

I hope not. Better to go in with 4 proper seamers.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Who will/should go to SA?

Apparently Bayliss has said Bell will go. I've asterisked the definites from this tour.

Cook*
Hales
Bell*
Root*
Taylor
Stokes
Moeen
Rashid
Patel
Buttler
Bairstow
Anderson*
Wood*
Finn*
Broad*
Plunkett

Probably best indicate a standby for Stokes.

I'd have dropped Bell, but given he's in the squad, I'll tentatively suggest:

Cook/Hales/Compton/Root/Taylor/Stokes or Moeen/Moeen or Wood/Buttler/Broad/Finn/Anderson
Bell/Batty/S.Davies/Wood or Woakes/Footitt

I know Davies doesn't keep anymore, but I've just asked him to.

[westoelad]

Wood is injured yet again, surely the time has now come when he has to be removed and his injury concerns addressed. They play 4 tests in 32 days so there's no way either Broad and Anderson will manage all games. They need reserves of proven fitness and stamina. Rushworth and/or Brookes must be in the party imo. Additionally Rushworth is match fit currently playing Grade A in Australia.

[Arthur Crabtree]

That seems right. Surely Wood isn't so integral that he has to put off addressing injury problems.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I imagine Jordan will be next in line though, as he was in UAE. Then maybe Footitt, who has been in training squads.

[Slipstream]

Wood is injured yet again, surely the time has now come when he has to be removed and his injury concerns addressed. They play 4 tests in 32 days so there's no way either Broad and Anderson will manage all games. They need reserves of proven fitness and stamina. Rushworth and/or Brookes must be in the party imo. Additionally Rushworth is match fit currently playing Grade A in Australia.

Broad and Anderson are used to playing 5 Tests with 2 back to back Tests. Anderson has played 6 full series and Broad 5. If anything it will be Finn or Wood who won't last. It won't be Rushworth or Brookes but Plunkett, Woakes or Jordan. They won't be picking debutants.

[westoelad]

Wood is injured yet again, surely the time has now come when he has to be removed and his injury concerns addressed. They play 4 tests in 32 days so there's no way either Broad and Anderson will manage all games. They need reserves of proven fitness and stamina. Rushworth and/or Brookes must be in the party imo. Additionally Rushworth is match fit currently playing Grade A in Australia.

Broad and Anderson are used to playing 5 Tests with 2 back to back Tests. Anderson has played 6 full series and Broad 5. If anything it will be Finn or Wood who won't last. It won't be Rushworth or Brookes but Plunkett, Woakes or Jordan. They won't be picking debutants.

I'm sure you're right but unfortunately the selectors haven't got a good record at picking bowling squads. Don't think Broad and Anderson have ever been asked to play 4 tests in 4 weeks.

[Making_Splinters]

It has been interesting to read about Bayliss' thoughts on Rashid moving forward. He's not been afraid to say that Rashid had a future as England's spinner essentially saying that Ali will not survive if his results improve. The Gruniad point to Strauss being key to Rashid's inclusion in the England side, makes one wonder if Ali's days are numbered.

[Alviro Patterson]

It has been interesting to read about Bayliss' thoughts on Rashid moving forward. He's not been afraid to say that Rashid had a future as England's spinner essentially saying that Ali will not survive if his results improve. The Gruniad point to Strauss being key to Rashid's inclusion in the England side, makes one wonder if Ali's days are numbered.

Maybe as a frontline spinner, sounds like England have one eye on the tour of India next year and want to give Rashid the opportunity to establish himself as a test bowler.

With question marks over Ian Bell, Moeen can still remain a member of the test squad by batting in his usual position at number 3.

[Slipstream]

It has been interesting to read about Bayliss' thoughts on Rashid moving forward. He's not been afraid to say that Rashid had a future as England's spinner essentially saying that Ali will not survive if his results improve. The Gruniad point to Strauss being key to Rashid's inclusion in the England side, makes one wonder if Ali's days are numbered.

Maybe as a frontline spinner, sounds like England have one eye on the tour of India next year and want to give Rashid the opportunity to establish himself as a test bowler.

With question marks over Ian Bell, Moeen can still remain a member of the test squad by batting in his usual position at number 3.

I don't think so. If Rashid is the spinner Ali is out of the side. He isn't a specialist batsman with an average of 27.76

[shankycricket]

It has been interesting to read about Bayliss' thoughts on Rashid moving forward. He's not been afraid to say that Rashid had a future as England's spinner essentially saying that Ali will not survive if his results improve. The Gruniad point to Strauss being key to Rashid's inclusion in the England side, makes one wonder if Ali's days are numbered.

Maybe as a frontline spinner, sounds like England have one eye on the tour of India next year and want to give Rashid the opportunity to establish himself as a test bowler.

With question marks over Ian Bell, Moeen can still remain a member of the test squad by batting in his usual position at number 3.

LOL. Are you for real???

[shankycricket]

Surely Ali has to go. He has been nothing short of woeful with the ball since that India series and his batting hasn't been much to write home about either. He is turning out to be a proper bits and pieces cricketer. A spin bowling Derek Pringle?

[Gingerfinch]

It has to come down to who the selectors believe is the better bowler. Ali is the better bat, but that should be a bonus.

[Alviro Patterson]

It has been interesting to read about Bayliss' thoughts on Rashid moving forward. He's not been afraid to say that Rashid had a future as England's spinner essentially saying that Ali will not survive if his results improve. The Gruniad point to Strauss being key to Rashid's inclusion in the England side, makes one wonder if Ali's days are numbered.

Maybe as a frontline spinner, sounds like England have one eye on the tour of India next year and want to give Rashid the opportunity to establish himself as a test bowler.

With question marks over Ian Bell, Moeen can still remain a member of the test squad by batting in his usual position at number 3.

LOL. Are you for real???

It's where Moeen normally bats for Worcestershire in County Cricket, he's wasted batting at number 8.