We've got a provisional 30 to pick from... so resisting the temptation to take radical steps and drag in folk like Tresco, Gough and Blackwell... who should travel?

I'm going to deem the following XI as certainties... leaving 19 members of the provisional squad chasing 4 spots.

M Vaughan (capt, Yorks),
J Anderson (Lancs),
I Bell (Warks),
P Collingwood (Durham),
J Dalrymple (Middx),
A Flintoff (Lancs)
E Joyce (Middx)
J Lewis (Gloucs)
M Panesar (N'ants)
K Pietersen (Hants)
A Strauss (Middx)

I can only fit 15 names into the poll... so I'm going to write off the following outside bets: I've nothign against any of them.... but I can't see Hoggard making the cut in a side already including Lewis.. and I can't see the three novices getting involved except as injury replacements.

R Clarke (Surrey)
A Khan (Kent)
M Hoggard (Yorks)
G Onions (Durham)

The rest of the squad reads as follows:

R Bopara (Essex)
S Broad (Leics)
G Chapple (Lancs)
A Cook (Essex)
A Giles (Warks)
Mal Loye (Lancs)
S Mahmood (Lancs)
P Nixon (Leics)
L Plunkett (Durham)
M Prior (Sussex)
C Read (Notts)
O Shah (Middx)
V Solanki (Worcs)
C Tremlett (Hants)
M Yardy (Sussex)

Select away!

Ps. As I understand it the only makeshift 'keepers in the side are Mal Loye and Matt Prior: I'm assuming anyone NOT including one of that pair as a batsman needs to seriously consider taking both Read and Nixon... unless Collingwood is considered good enough to substitute in the event of the frontline gloveman being forced to skip a game!

Batsmen
Vaughan
Joyce
Solanki
Pietersen
Shah
Cook
All Rounders
Collingwood
Flintoff
Chapple
Giles
Read
Bowlers
Anderson
Lewis
M Panesar
S Broad

We have to be radical and leave as much baggage out from Australia as possible.

Vaughan (C)
Mal Loye - (stop telling him to commit suicide
E Joyce
K Pietersen
M Yardy
O Shah

Flintoff
Chapple
A Giles
Read (K)

C Broad
j Anderson
J Kirtley
R Clarke

__________________
Ern

Loye strikes me as a one trick pony (slog or nothing) who has already been found out by the Aussie and NZ attacks: he's also not needed if everyone's fit. The batting order of the first choice batsmen might be up for negotiation but the leading options with the bat strike me as self-evident:

Vaughan
Joyce
Bell
Pietersen
Strauss

Whether one can play all five is questionable: only if you've got 5 reliable bowlers or have great faith in Pietersen's bowling.

Flintoff clearly plays if fit... and one way or the other, Collingwood almost certainly plays: he certainly travels as back-up for all of the above... but could play in addition to the above or in place of one of the above depending on the balance required by the captain / coach.

The 'keeper (whoever is chosen) obviously takes the next spot.. and then Lewis, Anderson and Panesar complete what I take to be the automatic selections: That's a first choice starting XI if you like: Collingwood at 7, ideally Read at 8 and then the bowlers.

I'm thinking the batting is covered.. and three of the remaining places should ideally go to back-up all-rounders and bowlers... and I'd be inclined to go with Chapple and Giles/ Dalrymple... and then to get all indecisive when confronted by options like Mahmood/Tremlett/Broad. I might decide none are actually ready for World Cup competition and take Solanki (excellent substitute fielder if nothing else).

That would leave one spot... and I suspect that has to go to a reserve wicket-keeper. To my mind that means both Read and Nixon travel.

Loye is naturally that aggressive in one day cricket anyway. I'm not sure he's committing suicide or being told to, more just playing his normal game. Problem is that one big six and then out isn't going to be enough. It's no use having "hitters" in the team if they aren't good enough.

Loye seems to have a serious problem outside his offstump, especially against left armers.

You'd get him caught in the slips with one pitched up....of that there is a strong possibility.

I'd say drastic steps are needed definetly and given Darlymphe is doing nothing with the ball and very little with the bat, Blackwell is looking a very good bet... He at least has the potential to get a big score, chase down a high run rate and also keep run rate down as well as potential wicket taker as batsmen get frustrated. Hes an ideal ODI player

Solanki is a must, I'm not sure why hes completly out of the picture at the moment. Hes a much better batsmen than most showing for England at the moment in ODI. A great fielder which we NEED. Our fieldings a joke!

Nixon should be selected as he can reach the boundary rope, he is also being selected in all warm up matches for a reason!

I voted for Bopara and Broad as the others.

I also want a re-call for Tresco but that won't happen.

Anything to keep Read out of thr side I'd say!

Fletcher's been moaning about how he's not got enough players and how it's difficult to give Strauss or Collingwood a rest. Well, had they not selected TWO keepers they might not have this problem. What was Read selected for? Why choose him and not pick him for one game in eight??

I don't care who gets selected as I'm hoping the Windies win and England gets knocked out in the first round.

I agree with you re Dalrymple. He's a good player, but it's difficult to accomodate another grafter. Personally, I'd think about playing Monty, Dalrymple and Blackwell - strengthens the batting and play Blackwell as a floater.

Read is a consistent six-hitter. Nixon hit one genuine six yesterday (the other should have been caught). He should have been dismissed three times in his 49, and the vast majority of his runs came when the game had vanished.

So why is Flintoff not accountable as Collingwood, Strauss et al are being held to be?