Touring Party

Little bit early maybe, but now that the English leg of the Ashes double-header is out of the way, who do we think England will be taking down under to defend the urn. Will it be 16 or 17? Who will they be?
Personally I reckon there are probably about 13 certainties (if fit):

Cook(c)
Root
Trott
KP
Bell
Bairstow(as both batsman and reserve 'keeper)
Prior
Bresnan (is he going to be fit?)
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Tremlett
Finn

So who will make up the rest of the party?


Back-up opener? Compton? Carberry? Chopra?
Will someone like Taylor or Ballance get the nod?
How about Woakes?
Monty?

What do you think?

Agree with the certainties. Bairstow will definitely go as the spare keeper, the only doubt is whether big Bres goes. If he isn't fit then Onions will probably be the man to benefit.

Cook, Root, Trott, KP, Bell, Prior, Bairstow, Swann, Bresnan, Finn, Tremlett, Anderson, Broad, Panesar/Kerrigan (depending on Monty's mental state), Taylor, Woakes. I expect the shoot out for the number six to be between Woakes and Taylor, depending on the selection and on the warm up performances.

Are the England Lions touring Oz at the same time?

I don't know if it has been confirmed, but I imagine they will be shadowing the England full party.

So a number of 'possibles' might be out in Oz anyway, in that case.

I'd agree with your 13 Hoggy and I would take Taylor, Compton, Woakes and Monty as well as that.

But with the Lions out there at the same time, anyone who misses out will be playing there, so the likes of Chopra, Ballance aren't out of the equation.

England usually like to take a young seamer down under, maybe Overton of Somerset could be a very very outside shout

Hoggy's 13 , fitness permitting , yes.

Need a backup opener : I am sat on fence here 'twixt Compton ( rather unluckily dumped) and Carberry ( I can only go on hearsay) . Is there anyone else ? ( What a pity Alex Hales has had such a poor four day season - might have been an exciting punt , Aussie conditions would have suited. But he certainly needs to be tested in fifty over game first anyway)

Another spare batsman: Taylor - has he lost his place in the queue ? Ballance ? Flavor of the month...or Woakes , with the added merit of bowling skills : but is his batting good enough ? Jury still out...

Second spinner : has to be Tredwell , for me. Like for like if disaster struck Swann. Monty is in no fit state , and hasn't had much of a season with the ball anyway , and Kerrigan is just not ready. Frankly . If Swann got injured , England might do just as well in Australia picking four pace bowlers and using Root for variety...

One more pace bowler ? If you take 17 - Onions I think, if he hasn't already been subbed in for Bresnan. Actually think Bresnan's fitness is a big issue - he is in my XI in most conditions , and England will certainly miss him at some stage if he doesn't make it back in time.

As has been said , having the Lions there takes some of the pressure off selection.

Tredwell's only taken 13 first class wickets all summer though Alfie. He shouldn't be considered as a backup for the Tests in my mind

With only one tour game after the First Test (2 Day game between 1st and 2nd Test) and the EDP/Lions being in OZ during the Ashes, I would keep the squad down to 16.

Only a couple of selection headaches for me. Do you take an extra opener or an extra middle or bat for cover? I think they will go for Taylor, with Trott to be, a day of the game, type cover and a full time opener to be sent with the EDP/Lions. Can't see the Reserve Opener getting too much of a go, so nothing to be gained carrying drinks for two months. Maybe take him as part of the warm up programme.


Other decision is the back up spinner. If Monty gets sorted then he will go, if not I think they may take a "token" backup spinner, it must be a major concern for Selectors as Swann is so crucial for England and if Monty is not there the drop off from Swann to Kerrigan or Tredwell is gigantic.

Woakes will make the trip, but see him as backup for the Bresnan role and won't feature unless they decide to play two spinners, which I guess is pretty long odds.

Most people pick themselves the open slots are:

1) Does Woakes go ?
2) Does Monty Go?
3) is a specialist opener required to replace Root?

my answer Yes on all counts

KP_fan wrote:Most people pick themselves the open slots are:

1) Does Woakes go ?
2) Does Monty Go?
3) is a specialist opener required to replace Root?

my answer Yes on all counts

Don't think Root needs replacing. but I do think they probably need a specialist opener as back-up, although they could always use Trott in an emergency and draft in a replacement from the Lions.

Olly wrote:Tredwell's only taken 13 first class wickets all summer though Alfie. He shouldn't be considered as a backup for the Tests in my mind

He isn't really a stisfactory backup , hence my comment that they may as well use four pace bowlers. In fact if Swann were injured it would be a huge blow. Just think he is the nearest thing available , would at least be capable of holding an end to rest the quicks.
Some Monty fans of course want their man ...but really he is not a good replacement for Swann in Australian conditions. He won't get the type of pitches he excels on , and remains a waste of space in the field - no small matter on the big Australian grounds. Plus he has to bat at twelve...
Rashid , Kerrigan , Briggs ...nah , I still reckon Tredwell might be the safest option. But will be saying regular prayers for Swann's health.

With the Lions there , I suppose they could leave the spot vacant. But they want net bowlers and drink carriers too...

Hoggy_Bear wrote:

KP_fan wrote:Most people pick themselves the open slots are:

1) Does Woakes go ?
2) Does Monty Go?
3) is a specialist opener required to replace Root?

my answer Yes on all counts

Don't think Root needs replacing. but I do think they probably need a specialist opener as back-up, although they could always use Trott in an emergency and draft in a replacement from the Lions.

Must take a spare opener. Last thing we want is to lose an opener at the last minute and then compound the problem by also having to switch someone else to three. If emergency measures were needed , far better to plug one hole than a mass reshuffle.

alfie wrote:

Hoggy_Bear wrote:

KP_fan wrote:Most people pick themselves the open slots are:

1) Does Woakes go ?
2) Does Monty Go?
3) is a specialist opener required to replace Root?

my answer Yes on all counts

Don't think Root needs replacing. but I do think they probably need a specialist opener as back-up, although they could always use Trott in an emergency and draft in a replacement from the Lions.

Must take a spare opener.  Last thing we want is to lose an opener at the last minute and then compound the problem by also having to switch someone else to three. If emergency measures were needed , far better to plug one hole than a mass reshuffle.

This is why I think taking Compton would be handy, as not only can he open, he can play middle order as well

Yeah , Olly ; Compton would be my choice too.

Just not sure whether the selectors have pigeonholed him as "not quite good enough". Hope not , as I think he did enough in his brief tenure to deserve the bench spot for now.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01fr7mm

Listen to Swanny do impressions of each of the team. Such a legend, his Trott and Bumble are brilliant

I hope he makes another Ashes Video Diary thing

Agree with Hoggy's 13. Think Panesar should be the backup spinner as Kerrigan is not really ready for international cricket and Tredwell seemingly not as effective in the longer format as he's in limited over cricket where is more than capable of standing in for Swanny. The reserve opener for me has to be Nick Compton. James Taylor has to be the other reserve batsman, and I would take Chris Woakes rather than Graeme Onions, considering his batting. I actually like the option of England playing an all-rounder, Ben Stokes or Chris Woakes at 6 above Bairstow certainly, and if Taylor doesn't really come off......... Stokes hasn't been in good batting form of late, and Woakes has greater experience overall.

Cook
Root
Trott
Pietersen
Bell
Taylor
Prior
Bresnan
Broad
Swann
Anderson

Bairstow
Compton

Panesar

Tremlett
Woakes
Finn

Stella wrote:Cook
Root
Trott
Pietersen
Bell
Taylor
Prior
Bresnan
Broad
Swann
Anderson

Bairstow
Compton

Panesar

Tremlett
Woakes
Finn

Yeah, would pretty much agree with that.

I don't think we'll see Onions touring, think they'll go with the taller options