OK folks... I think we're basically agreed that most of the 2007 side is going to come from the following players:

Openers: Horton, Denly, Edwards

Middle Order: Shah, Sales, Hildreth, Bopara, Rashid

'Keeping: Ambrose, Foster

Bowling: Bresnan, Swann, Broad, Tremlett, Ali

The time has come to see who from the list is up for discussion... and which places are pretty much set in stone.

ps. I'm not ruling out a late rush to another player... but that rush needs to start NOW!

I think we have to clear up Rachael that there has been little support for Rashid this year, I think the rise of Swann and yorkshires keeping him under wraps this year, makes him a candidate - for next year.

To go one step further, if we perm any four from these "Bresnan, Swann, Broad, Tremlett, Ali", there is no place for Rashid this year, with Bopara in the side.

He would not get in as a specialist batsman, and Bopara has done what is needed in Australia, and more recently has Swann.

So a middle order of "Shah, Sales, Hildreth, Bopara," looks good.

Foster as keeper, and Horton and Edwards opening.
That's my opening penneth anyway.

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Ern

I voted for 6 players,whether that is too many i don't know but Rashid and Bresnan weren't in my list so i can't be accused of bias.

I'm still undecided on several fronts... but I'm tending towards the following as the crunch decisions:

Horton
Edwards / Denly
Shah
Hildreth / Carberry / Sales
Bopara
Ambrose / Rashid
Rashid / Foster
Swann
Broad
Tremlett
Ali / Bresnan

I could be convinced to try Edwards AND Denly at the expense of Hildreth, Carberry or Sales.

ps. The Bopara, Rashid or Both thread is currently led by "both": the preference of adamberry, engssmoothcriminal and myself. Darksideofthemoon is sure of Bopara but not of Rashid. Only you and Greg have voted completely ruled out Rashid - but it's early days as we have stacks of others registered as wanting to have a say in this matter.

By anderson I assume you mean Ambrose?
I'll post my choice tomorrow.

Typo corrected.

Don't rush to judgement on this matter: stacks of members registered an interest in this selection process.... but I suspect many will be absent until the Test series in Sri Lanka kicks off: we've a week or two to go before then!

I think Mike is in the Bopara without Rashid camp - and DOTM I think is the same.

So really that leaves just you adam and engssmoothcriminal as really pro Rashid at any cost this year.

I think that circumstances have ruled rashid this year, not many are that keen on two spinners so Swann does come out on top there, and I know I am repeating myself, but I don't like how Yorkshire have molicoddled rashis this year.

I think we should concentrate on the alternatives this year - which are Swann and Bopara.

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Ern

I think, at present anyway, that the side Rach has selected is not too far off the mark. For what it's worth, my team would be:

Horton
Denly
Shah
Edwards
Bopara
Rashid
Foster
Bresnan
Swann
Broad
Tremlett

Both Bopara and Rashid, you'll notice. Unlike Ern, I think that Rashid is good enough to get in as a specialist bat - I don't see why both Bopara and Rashid cannot share a part-time bowler role for the sake of this side. After all, the England Test side has Collingwood for part-time seamers and Pietersen and occasionally Vaughan as part-time spin bowlers; all of whom are selected for their batting.

I've also picked both Edwards and Denly. This is mainly due to the fact (one that I've mentioned previously) that I honestly do not believe he's [Edwards] a genuine opening batsman, I think it's more down to the fact that Langer can't be bothered to open for Somerset.

Keeping-wise, I've opted for Foster, but would have absolutely no complaints should we select Ambrose instead; there isn't a lot between them.

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

Id have a similar team to those mentioned, probably
Horton
Denly
Shah
Hildreth
Bopara
Ambrose
Rashid
Swann
Broad
Tremlett
Another seamer who can swing the ball.

I would still have liked Sales in the side, but have dropped him to accomodate Hildreth and Rashid. The 3rd seamer could be any of Davies, Ali, Bresnan etc. I'll have a think about that.

Horton
Carberry
Shah
Hildreth
Edwards
Bopara
Foster
Swann
Broad
Ali
Tremlett