There may be troubles ahead: England selection issues.

[ianp1970]

Suggested side.

Haseeb
Cook
Duckett
Root
Ballance
Stokes
Bairstow
Ansari
Batty
Broad/Woakes
Anderson

Three debuts, and a recall after ten years!

If that is the plan, then are there any spare batsmen in the squad?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Well, Mo and Rashid will be in the team, and I bet they pick four seamers. My premise was that if Batty is the best spinner there (which he probably is...) then he should play and they will have to pick someone who turns it the other way. Rashid will be too expensive, so that leaves Ansari by default. But I think they'll start with...

Cook, Haseeb, Root, Ballance, Bairstow, Stokes, Moeen, Woakes, Rashid, Broad, Anderson.
Duckett, Buttler, Ansari, Batty, Wood, Finn.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I guess by the time they get to India, things may have changed. This is just a squad for BD.

[ianp1970]

I can see Duckett getting a go a opening in the ODIS, and if he performs adequately, then having first dibs at the test slot too. Haseeb might have to be patient unless he plays a master knock in a warm up game.

Root, Stokes, Bairstow, Ali, Woakes, Broad and Anderson seems certainties for selection, so that leaves no. 4 and the spinner up for grabs.

I can't see 2 newbies appearing in a short batting line-up, so Ballance at 4 is likely, and by my reckoning that leaves a bowl-off between Ansari, Batty and Rashid for the tweaker slot...

[Arthur Crabtree]

I got the impression Haseeb had been picked to partner Cook?

[ianp1970]

I guess by the time they get to India, things may have changed. This is just a squad for BD.

The two Bangladesh tests are followed directly by the 4 in India. I cannot see many personnel changes in between, especially as there do not appear to be any other games in between

[hopeforthebest]

After his home exploits Woakes must be favourite to play the tests unless his net bowling is uninspiring. Suggesting Finn ahead of him seems an odd idea.

[ianp1970]

I got the impression Haseeb had been picked to partner Cook?

Ah Ok, am away on hols so haven't heard much....

They'd better hope Duckett is poor in the ODIs then!

[Arthur Crabtree]

If Mo is one spinner, I can't see batty being the second. I can only see him playing if they go with three spinner, or if Mo gets injured/dropped.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I got the impression Haseeb had been picked to partner Cook?

Ah Ok, am away on hols so haven't heard much....

They'd better hope Duckett is poor in the ODIs then!

It could change. Or I might have been fooled by press spin.

[Arthur Crabtree]

After his home exploits Woakes must be favourite to play the tests unless his net bowling is uninspiring. Suggesting Finn ahead of him seems an odd idea.

Who did that?

[ianp1970]

If Mo is one spinner, I can't see batty being the second. I can only see him playing if they go with three spinner, or if Mo gets injured/dropped.

3 spinners is a possibility if they play on real dust bowls, especially with Stokes and Woakes in the side.

Hopefully some of Batty's experience can help to improve the other 3 during the trip. Maybe why he got the nod over Leach?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Dunno, should just pick their best bowlers. They have a spin bowling coach, so it's not much of a vote of confidence if they take Batty to mentor them. It's possible they have decided to put Leach in the Lions squad because they are certain to go with Rashid and Mo and they don't want him to sit on a bench in a bib.

[Arthur Crabtree]

But I tend to think they think the other bowlers are better. Even if JL (and Rayner) had by far the best season.

[hopeforthebest]

After his home exploits Woakes must be favourite to play the tests unless his net bowling is uninspiring. Suggesting Finn ahead of him seems an odd idea.

Who did that?

It appears I did, in my imagination.