The first Test against India sees some WAT picks playing Test cricket, some others in the frame... and one or two being rather bizarrely overlooked in favour of failing, self-evidently inferior and inadequate alternatives.

Tremlett made the cut in 2005 and 2006. He kept out Broad in this Test: a player who made last year's 'A' side. Playing alongside him, and looking every inch the accomplished Test cricketer (and showing a clear ability to bowl on all surfaces) is the 2005 selection (much argued against), Ryan Sidebottom.

2006 pick Adil Rashid has also been in the news: he's just played his first Lions game.. and is at the centre of a storm of controversy having been selected for representative cricket that will keep him out of 3 championship games for his county.

The WAT England 'A' wicket-keeping spot of recent years has gone to Foster... and the wisdom of THAT selection is being borne out by both Foster's ongoing success for his club and the patent inferiorty of the coach's wonderboy, who's been rivalling Dhoni only in a competition to make critics long for the mere incompetence of Geraint Jones.

On the batting front, regular pick Ed Joyce remains next in line for a Test spot (batting better than his illustrious county team mate).

You're not actually serious? Have you seen their records this season? Did you miss how well Shah played for England in the ODIs?

__________________
third-umpire.com

Shah never even crossed my mind: I was thinking of Strauss. From what I've heard, Strauss has been scratching around and looking out of sorts (even when posting decent totals) where Joyce has been batting rather better than his County average suggests.

Looking up the stats... Shah's had a decent season to date... but I trust Joyce still remains ahead of him in the pecking order for Test cricket: Shah's game strikes me as far better suited to ODIs.

I agree with feverpitch. Joyce is now a long way down the pecking order.

Although he had the odd score playing ODI's this winter, to me he never looked to have the technique to be a test class batsman.

Shah is above him as would be a few from the acadamy.

__________________
Mark.

Shah certainly has the ability to be a very fine Test batsman; Joyce seems to lack belief (despite that Sydney ODI 100) and his technique is not quite as good as I had first thought. Also, the selection of Shah for the first Windies Test shows he is above Joyce in the pecking order.

The way I see it is:
Untouchables - Vaughan, KP and, increasingly, Cook
Bell, Colly and Strauss (in that order)
Reserves (in order)
Shah (just)
Bopara
Then any number of players, including, depending on position, including Trescothick (they still don't trust him), Denly and Joyce.

__________________
third-umpire.com

To be honest if we got an injury now i would want Bopara to be picked,he has scored heavily all summer and he is a useful bowler.Plus he has had a taste in the one day side and seems to have kicked on since then so should be the type of player to look at as a long term bet.

As for the other lads we have chosen recently,we weren't far wrong with them overall though this seasons team is going to be difficult to pick as their seem to be more young players doing well.

Bopara reminds me of Collngwood who is Englands best player (no doubt). He is nothing flashy and doesnt look like a superstar but he is. Bopara could be the same thing

__________________
Bill Ponsford - The only one who could play in Bradman’s company and make it a duet.

I agree with your pecking order.

I guess no player is 'untouchable'.. but it would take a pretty spectacular fall from form for questions to be raised of Pietersen and Vaughan and a huge collapse in faith for the selectors to stop backing Bell and Cook as the long-term future of the side.

Strauss has already experienced his spectacular fall from form... and I doubt he'll ever reach the "untouchables" group: he's good rather than great... and his unease on the front foot, tendency to push at the ball and unease against spin will always keep a challenger interested in the possibility of displacing him.

Collingwood's elevation to the ODI captaincy should help his cause, and his all-round utility and competence against spin (to say nothing of his great character) should ensure a long term future as a squad member for tours.... but his principle hope of retaining a long term top order spot rests on England continuing to play just 4 frontline bowlers - which is in no way certain.

As with Strauss, talented young batsmen should be looking at him and thinking "I could be better than that"... and it would be a poor show if none of the academy players stepped up to make his place questionable over the next 2 years.

Bopara as Collignwood's understudy makes sense... but as with Collingwood, you are looking at a player who is essentially limited as a batsman. A ODI star for sure, but in Test cricket? If he works hard then quite [ossibly, but one would hope to see more accomplished players (like Joyce and Nick Compton) eclipse him.

Sorry, Quag, there is very little doubt that KP is England's best player. It amazes me that people overlook his immense talent purely becuase they don't like him. KP would, most likely, find his way into the Aussie side if he were eligible, unlike Collingwood.