Who will be dropped for the first test of the summer?

[Notts Exile]

Originally Posted by Verso

As for the bowlers it's any four from eight. The only "dead cert" is Monty

Surely the Hoggster is a dead cert?

[Verso]

Originally Posted by Notts Exile

Surely the Hoggster is a dead cert?

Yeah I'll give you that.........

[Harmy's Army]

I don't think Tresco will get back in the test team - Cook has done nothing wrong and is set for a glittering career, and while Strauss had a nightmare down under (a raft of bad umpiring decisions didn't help), he a still a great opener. Bell is worth persevering with, although a weak West Indies won't really prove his case one way or the other, with Owais Shah the probable alternative. I do feel Vaughan (if he merits a place on form) should drop down to 5 as a buffer between Pietersen and Flintoff.

What I would do is give Collingwood the ODI captaincy and drop him from the test arena, and similarily ask Tresco to focus on one-dayers where there is a gaping hole at the top of the order.

As I asked elsewhere, does Harmison deserve a test place on home form alone, or would England be better off giving his place to someone who is likely to perform away as well? Conversely, it could be that Peter Moores is the man to get the best out of him abroad.

Test Team

Cook
Strauss
Bell
Pietersen
Vaughan
Flintoff
Davies or Foster
Jones if fit - Plunkett if not
Hoggard
Harmison
Panesar

[darksideofthemoon]

I would give Strauss the captaincy and drop Vaughan until his form returns.

[Harmy's Army]

Originally Posted by darksideofthemoon

I would give Strauss the captaincy and drop Vaughan until his form returns.

So would I but David Morgan has already stated unequivocally that M Vaughan will definately captain England against the West Indies in the test series.

[greg]

Originally Posted by Harmy's Army

So would I but David Morgan has already stated unequivocally that M Vaughan will definately captain England against the West Indies in the test series.

I don't mind Vaughan being captain as long as he has played a couple of first class games for Yorkshire and scored a few runs into the bargain.We basically don't know if his knee will stand up to 5 days cricket in a row so it would be nice to have an idea whether it is ok before we play him in a test.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Verso

As for the bowlers it's any four from eight. The only "dead cert" is Monty

There are no dead cert's, So long as Vaughan is captain - Giles could make a comeback if he is fit.

As for DSTM saying Strauss should be captain, IMO might as well keep Vaughan, because Strauss is in no better form.

[pie_chucker]

I think Vaughan has already been appointed as captain.

I cant see why their is a huge clamour to change our test side. When our bowlers are fit we are comfortably the second best team around. Any changes we make will weaken our side, why would we want to do that??

[sambino239]

I think if we put the 5-0 defeated ashes side out we would hammer the windies especially now Lara was retired. I though he would want a final farewall over here at Lords but its not happening.
Big question for me is will Nixon get a test cap ? Id go back to Read and build for the next Ashes but I also think Nixon has done enough to be in the side this summer. Moores is an old keeper so will be intresting which way he goes, I hope theres no push to get his old mate Prior in. Time the selectors were changed though id like to see some recent test players on the panel such as Hussain Atherton Stewart or Fraser we need some guys know whats going on in world cricket these days instead of Graveny and Miller

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Ernest

Giles could make a comeback if he is fit.
....IMO might as well keep Vaughan, because Strauss is in no better form.

Well Giles has just had another major hip operation, so I doubt he will be picked...

I agree with you on Vaughan, Strauss had a distinctly average Ashes tour and World Cup, he is actually more in danger of missing out then Cook, Bell and Collingwood, and England have shown recently that his place in the team is not nailed down, so why make hi skipper?