I know very little about Franks, what does he bowl?

I'd take pieterson as 2nd spinner unless it was a definate spinners wicket then replace Franks with Blackwell. Although it isnt what I picked, I think Bell should be spared the 4th seamers role and can just bowl if necessary and we can use Franks as suggested.

Franks: Right Arm Fast Medium - Left Hand Bat
Mascarenhas: Right Arm Fast Medium - Right Hand Bat

Well, it has been suggested that we don't need both Pietersen and Blackwell in as batsmen as they are both aggressive so if Pietersen is the preferred option then we need both Franks and Mascarenhas in to bolster the bowling attack, I feel.

If you're worried about getting a spinning wicket then either Franks and Mascarenhas has to make way for Blackwell and Bell becomes the fourth seamer.

That is what I said unless it is a wicket which will definatly need 2 spinners and will not help seamers(eg Galle or ssc) in which case I would prefer a more specialist spinner than Pieterson (in for Franks) but on any normal tracks I would leave Keedy and Pieterson as the spinners. For the purposes of this leave Pieterson and Franks in.

It would seem the bowling is sorted IMO, just the 2 batting spots, yes we have Pieterson for veriety, and Bell if needed, IMO we dont need to look for more bowlers

I did not know much about Franks, I was thinking we where short a Fast Medium.

I can't see Blackwell and Pieterson should be playing in the same side, to much of a good thing.

I like the way things are developing.. but do fee.. very strongly.. that Blackwell should be struck from consideration: Pietersen is all we need on the aggresssive hitting front.. and Pietersen and Wagh really ought to manage the 2nd spinner option pretty well.

If we want a 2nd spinner I'd take Batty ahead of Blackwell: can I nominate him as 12th man?

Back to the basics: it seems to me that Keedy is a good enough spinner to be a genuine bowling option on ALL wickets.. and in ALL conditions.. and that the pressure on the seamers wil not be so great as would be felt (for instance) if Batty or Blackwell were our principal option.

With that in mind.. Keedy, Mascarenhas, Mahmood and Lewis (the seemers being all young, fit bowlers, and in two of the three cases reliable "stock" bowlers) should be able to shoulder at least 90% of the bowling workload. They may not be McGrath, WArne, Gillespie and Kasprowicz. but they are still a credible 4 man attack.

I agree that other bowling options are needed.. but in Bell, Pietersen and Wagh you have three.. and adding a guy like Franks just smacks of overkill. It also sends out the wrong message to the bowlers: that you lack confidence in them.

Picking another bowler also affects the balance of the side: if you pick another bowler he has to be able to bat at 7.. and that means the keeper has to bat at 6... and that basically means you have to compromise the fielding and the effectiveness of your frontline spinner in order to bolster the top 5.

There ends my initial plea for a 'keeper at 7 and a focus on batting in the remaining places: let's focus on where the strength in depth is available (specialist bowlers, specialist bats) and forget this Franks-suggestion: I don't realy mind WHO the 6 top order bats are.. but let's at least find 6 of the buggers not just 5.

Obviously, as Statto said, we have to assume a particular type of wicket as it wouldn't make sense to have both Blackwell and Pietersen in the team unless the wicket was spinning. Therefore, let's assume a normal wicket favouring the seamers early in the game with some gradual turn as the pitch drys out.

The need for Franks as well as Mascarenhas in the side is because Lewis is only medium pace and we need some bite in the bowling attack. Mahmood is still too wayward and should be used as the fourth seamer. I wouldn't give him the new ball until he has developed more.

Rachael, under normal circumstances I would agree with you but without Franks our attack is dodgy. Lewis is medium pace and Mahmood is wayward and inexperienced. In Franks and Mascarenhas you have two experienced bowlers who have a bit of nip to their bowling.

I realize that forces the wicketkeeper to number 6 which means Prior should get the nod over Wallace although if the top 5 are strong enough Wallace could still be considered.

You are making a big presumption about the wicket here Mike.. and I'm not sure it stacks up: on an awful lot of wickets.. including almost ALL English wickets.. Lewis' medium pace is just fine: if we're taking this team to a ground where there's going to be nothing in the pitch for Lewis then let's switch him out for Batty... or Harrison... or (if we really must) then Franks.. but it makes far, far more sense to have a reliable four pronged attack that suits the surface than a 5 man attack so that we can cope HWATEVER the surface.

Well.... if it favours the seamers.. what's the problem with Lewis as a frontline seamer?

Surely we either pick the guy to do a job because we think he's good enough.. or we do not pick him at all: it's abit like picking Devon Malcolm... you just have to take your life in your hands and hope he justifies the faith placed in him. IF he's not reliable enough to be a member of a 4 man attack backed by Pietersen, Wagh and Bell then let's just ditch him.

That said.. I think he's reliable enough: nerves seem to be his worst enemy.. and this fixture shouldn't be too bad on that front.

We are only picking an A-Team, that is going to be playing likewise teams, players need time to develop, that is what an A-Team is all about IMO, I agree with putting Franks in the attack if he is FM, a side needs bite, it is not overkill IMO, bowlers win matches.
We have Keedy as our main spinner, a proven wicket taker, we can call on Pieterson to bowl if the pitch starts to take spin.
We need a fast medium bowler weather Mahmood is wayward ot not, no team, can rely on medium pacers and hope to win games against top teams.
Mahmood wont always be wayward, he had a good winter, no reason to think he wont settle down.

like Rachael I am not that fussed who gets the batting slots that remain, although I think Collingwood should be a must in the team, he has had experience at the highest level.