Owais Shah was being dismissed despite having a great county record and successful test experience by some Ern, so the case may still need to be furthered. I'm sticking with Newman, Chopra and Compton.

I think you've made a good for Shah (and I have no problem with him being shortlisted for the middle order). I'm less convinced by Ed Smith's case: I would need a few match reports suggesting his batting is worth more than his average suggests.

Ed Smith is a batsman I know absolutely nothing about, save that he was once selected and found wanting. However, I cannot argue for or against and will listen to the arguments of other selectors for and against his case.

Browsing the eligible players... James Adams appears to have made a strong case for himself this summer: he's been opening for Hampshire... in division one... and was averaging 47.08 going into the final match of the season.

Does anyone know anything much about him?

Edit: Adams and Compton have emerged very credibly from division one of the County Championship (with Smith and Carberry faring indifferently):The big difference is that Compton has made eleven 50+ scores to Adams' six 50+ scores. I'd also like further details of Adams' 262*: any score that big suggests a flat track and bowling that lacks penetration. It's hard to argue with around 1200 runs from batsmen facing the new ball though.

Postscript: The other two contenders were in division two... with one batting home matches on the flattest track in the history of cricket and both doing indifferently given the standard of the opposition:Note: England's Test side is not short of opening bat options: Strauss, Trescothick, Cook and Vaughan all claim that as their natural home. On that basis we could justify promoting someone like Yardy or Joyce to the top of the order. That assumes we think the likes of Shah and Sales have made a better case than these openers - something that should be up for discussion.

Ed Smith stands out above the rest IMO because once again I stress his experience, he really can't be overlooked with all the other candidates so inexperienced.

NRD Compton will benefit from opening with Ed Smith, others might has slightly higher averages, but Smith Will have the nouse over the others.

Also I don't think we should be dipping our toes to deep in Div2 without some experience the like of Smith, if anyone is looking at - V Chopra or S Newmam.
For me,
Ed Smith,
NTD Compton.

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Ern

Ernest, I can't see why we could put Smith in as an opener if his own county don't seem to have any confidence in him doing so. The last four or five matches of the season saw him well down the order at four or five.

I can understand your desire for a bit of experience at the top of the order, but couldn't Adams or someone offer that?

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"Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose."
- Ayrton Senna

Yes but I mean experience at international level Adam, that's what Adams or any of he others can't offer.

He was going great guns earlier, was he not averaging 60 in Ausgust?.

I think he should really be in the A Team - have Adams if you like, but there is not that much to pick from, and Smith I think is the pick of the bunch.

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Ern

What about Pettini. His first season in county cricket, over 1000 runs.

Pettini has been added to the poll. I will ammend the votes should anyone who has already cast their vote want to change their mind: just let me know.

Current ammended votes for Pettini's inclusion on shortlist:

Adamberry
darksideofthemoon
Rachael

Good call. He outperformed Newman despite the latter playing on Surrey home-pitches).

If he'd averaged 45 in division 1 then I think we'd be conceding an unanswerable case. In Division 2 that sort of scoring doesn't really mark him out... but then... the others who scored that heavily were not openers: he's scored as heavily as Sales, Solanki and Afzaal but facing the new ball.