The England side for the next Test.

[John]

1.Trescothick
2.Strauss
3.Cook
4.Pietersen
5.Collingwood
6.Jones
7.Blackwell
8.Plunkett
9.Mahmood
10.Harmison/ Snaggers or another seamer
11.Hoggard

Reasons
Its time to rest FF
Monty hasn't proved his place.

[Moss]

I would agree with resting Freddie - his bowling and captaincy looked below par. I didn't see enough of his batting to judge.
It will be good to see how the Test side fares without him too.
I disagree with resting Panesar - I think he's one to watch, but today he was shockingly underbowled.

My team:
Trescothick
Strauss
Cook
Shah
Pietersen
Collingwood
Jones (sigh...)
Plunkett
Harmison
Hoggard
Panesar

[Rachael]

Monty might not be the finished article yet... but he's shown in this Test that he's a more complete and accomplished bowler than most: despite being captained very poorly he's returned good figures in this match (arguably the best of anyone) and those figures haven't lied - he and Hoggard are the two who emerge from this tussle with the most credit.

I personally hope the side goes unchanged for Edgbaston: I was vehemently opposed to Plunkett and Mahmood getting the nod over Lewis and Sidebottom....but having gone down that route it would be good if England could give the youngsters another game to help them see what they are going to need to work on (and what level of performance they need to sustain) if they are to come even close to (for instance) Hoggard's exemplary Test bowling.

I'm particularly keen to see them play at Edgbaston as I suspect they will take a complete pasting and return to County Cricket fully recognising... and with everyone else fully recognising... that their premature call up was a complete and utter **** up.

Of course.. if Harmison is fully fit and can prove it in first class cricket then the above is not viable: Mahmood goes.

[i]ps. The timing would be good for switching Read in for Jones: the fielding certainly needs sharpening up (and that's where the 'keeper should take the lead) and at least that would solve the problem of the slips standing too deep (a perennial Jones problem) and might lead to some more imaginative ploys when things ain't happening - standing up to Plunkett for a start.

[Ernest]

I can't fault your team John, but as captain I think Flintoff has to play, the one dayers will be the time to rest him IMO.
I think also that Mahmood gets the nod, he took his wickets - and he would have had 2 more only for butterfingers.

As for Blackwell no I think not, if you would bring in the ageing Saggers, then England should also bring in a player who can spin the ball in an attacking way - keedy kept out of the England side for to long.

Even at his age IMO he beats the rest.

EDIT:Although a great supporter of Harmison I wonder when he had a really good game for England?, he seems to have gone of the boil.

[Crunchy]

My team:
Trescothick
Strauss
Cook
Shah
Pietersen
Collingwood
Jones (sigh...)
Plunkett
Harmison
Hoggard
Panesar

I'd agree with that team. And about Flintoff if Fletcher and co are not panicking about Flintoff now then i'l eat my hat.

[Moss]

I forgot to say I'd pick Strauss as captain...

As for Flintoff - I think the bloe has had to be the team talisman since July. He must be mentally exhausted.
There's only so much hype a human being can live up to.

[Vrock]

At least the players are getting a week between the tests, and do the bowlers need it!

I would stick with the same XI, other than taking out Mahmood for Harmison, purely because they are too simliar in style and Plunkett was doing a fair bit with the ball, sadly scorecards just don't show this.

Tresco
Strauss
Cook
KP
Collingwood
Flintoff
GO Jo
Hoggy
Plunker
Harmi
Panesar

At Edgbaston I would bowl Panesar far more than he has done in this game, I think Hoggard and Harmison will take early wickets. Flintoff needs to be kept for his best role in the side, and that is for five overs of aggression. Not fifty overs of 80mph tripe for most of a match.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Crunchy

I'd agree with that team. And about Flintoff if Fletcher and co are not panicking about Flintoff now then i'l eat my hat.

Why should there be any panic about Flintoff?, he batted well, he made a declaration at the right time without thought for making more personal runs.

He would have had five second innings wickets had the three catches been held, what's to panic about?, except that he bowled himself into the ground.

[Lemming]

Keep the team the same I say. Unless Harmy is back and then I'm not sure which out of Plunkett or Mahmood goes.

I reckon both Plunkett and Mahmood can get wickets at Edgbaston, it will be more friendly than Lord's was. To me they both seem the sort of young guys that we are looking for to groom into bowlers who can win matches anywhere in the world. I'm not sure Jon Lewis, with his 31st birthday looming, has a future in test cricket. England have, over the past few years, successfully recognised bowlers with potential to do things on flat tracks whether in Pakistan, WIndies or at Lords. I think investing time in Lewis really would buck the trend, when there are clear examples of youngsters (Harmy, Hoggard, Jones, Flintoff, Anderson) putting in performances. Hopefully, Plunkett and Mahmood can continue to push for selection.

I felt Jones's wicket-keeping was at a good standard in this last match. He was tidy, never dropped a catch (I don't think) and gave away 9 byes in over 700 runs (remember how umpires only reluctantly give wides) and in over three days.

[Collyisamackem]

Tresco
Strauss
Cook
KP
Collingwood
Freddie* (though he'll have to buck his ideas up against the tail)
Jones+
Plunkett
Hoggard
Harmison
Panesar

Lemming - Jones dropped one catch going up the slope away from him, not an easy one and maybe better to leave to first slip - i.e. Tresco, the only safe pair of hands in the slip cordon in this game. However he did keep well and took quite a number of catches.