England in SAffer.

[Making_Splinters]

Bell should have been dropped a while ago, but a tad strange to do it after he's had a decent enough tour of the UAE.

Good to see Compton getting another chance, but again a tad strange to do it after he's had a relatively poor season.

[Alviro Patterson]

No Rashid, but Patel? I take it Patel is being taken as direct cover for Ali, and not because he can bat in the top 8, and fill in with the ball?

Maybe not such a bad thing after all. Rashid playing Big Bash League cricket in preparation for the World Twenty20 will be more beneficial to him than drinks carrying in South Africa.

[Alviro Patterson]

Footitt can reach 90mph so a leftie with that pace could be a great addition to an attack in SA conditions. Woakes is no slouch as he is faster than many people realize, not 90mph though. My concern about him is the encouragement he's received to bowl quicker may have diminished his ability to swing the ball but as we've rarely seem him in red ball cricket that's yet unknown.

Woakes looks quicker in the flesh than on the screen. Saw him cause problems for the Yorkshire batsmen last year with his pace in the CC, which was easily late 80mph.

[Durhamfootman]

Bell should have been dropped a while ago, but a tad strange to do it after he's had a decent enough tour of the UAE.

Good to see Compton getting another chance, but again a tad strange to do it after he's had a relatively poor season.

it's the England way

[The Professor]

Michael Vaughan says we will never see Bell play for England again....Ian Botham says we will....there is only one way to settle this...FIGHT!

[Arthur Crabtree]

Whitaker said the door is open. If the replacements struggle, he'll be back. If they excel, he won't.

[Durhamfootman]

I bet Bell's pleased that it wasn't Graves who said the door was still open

[Arthur Crabtree]

Maybe Bell will pick up a few T20 contracts this winter.

[Durhamfootman]

unlikely

[Durhamfootman]

masters T20 perhaps

if MPV can play that level of T20, Bell certainly can

maybe even Boycs could get that gig

[dan08]

masters T20 perhaps

if MPV can play that level of T20, Bell certainly can

maybe even Boycs could get that gig

It's only for retired players so Bell will probably have to wait til next year.

[Aidan11]

I just hope it's not us playing against Warwickshire early next season.


Bell will have a point to prove.

[hopeforthebest]

I just hope it's not us playing against Warwickshire early next season.


Bell will have a point to prove.

Barker and Bell should be a good combination Aidan.

[Aidan11]

I just hope it's not us playing against Warwickshire early next season.


Bell will have a point to prove.

Barker and Bell should be a good combination Aidan.

Barker always gets wickets when he plays us. No doubt Bell will fill his boots too.

[Arthur Crabtree]

And Woakes.