***Official*** England in India

[wpdavid]

Originally Posted by morgieb

Root's a surprise pick. Wouldn't it be easier to stick with Taylor?

Different positions, with Root being an opener. It's Morgan and Compton who have replaced Taylor.

[MW1304]

Not at all happy with the squad. As many have mentioned, Morgan has done nothing whatsoever to deserve selection; is probably surprised himself, which tells you all you need to know. Opening with Trott is not a viable option, especially after the dip in form he's suffered over the past year or so, it can hardly help his own problems to shift him up the order. Fortunately I don't think this will happen, taking two potential openers in Root and Compton with us. Unfortunately I think we'll open with Root and play Compton at 5/6 which isn't the way I would go. Root does not look ready for international cricket, let alone Test cricket.. Leaving Taylor out is a horrible u-turn, I don't care what his Lions record in the subcontinent is like, if you have put faith in him for two matches before a tour of India, to then discard him completely is absurd. And for Morgan. Yuck.

So yeah, not overly optimistic as per.

[fredfertang]

I can see the selectors' dilemma but Morgan for Taylor is a real kick in the teeth for Taylor - that apart I've seen worse, though I can't imagine Samit and Monty are going to play much and certainly not together - would have liked to see a gamble taken on Borthwick

[BoyBrumby]

Taylor did look out of his depth in the two tests he played. Personally I think that's more than enough to garner an idea where a player is in terms of development and basic talent.

I don't necessarily agree with Morgan's selection, but one can kind of see the logic in light of Strauss's retirement, Pietersen's flounce/dispute and Bopara's ongoing softcockery/lack of form. He can (note the emphasis) play spin well (in fact, next to Trott, he's probably the best equipped to do so in the squad who've actually played more than half-a-dozen tests) & has scored vital runs in internationals.

The trouble is that he's not in prime nick (getting there, but not yet arrived), has barely scored a first class run all summer and was woeful in the UAE.

[honestbharani]

Cook (c)
Root
Trott
Bell
Morgan
Prior (wk)
Patel
Broad (vc)
Swann
Anderson
Finn


Looks a pretty solid line up to me... Would this be the likely XI as things stand?

[Daemon]

Swann out for Monty imo.

[BoyBrumby]

Originally Posted by honestbharani

Cook (c)
Root
Trott
Bell
Morgan
Prior (wk)
Patel
Broad (vc)
Swann
Anderson
Finn


Looks a pretty solid line up to me... Would this be the likely XI as things stand?

If we go for a five-man attack, possibly if you replace Morgan with Bairstow. My guess is that we'll go for four bowlers tho & Compton's experience will put him ahead of Root. So something like this:

Cook*
Trott
Bell
Bairstow
Compton
Morgan
Prior+
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Finn/Panesar

Maybe Bres for Finn/Monty if we wanna stack the batting.

[marc71178]

Can't see them not play 3 seamers having picked 5 in the squad.

Suspecting
Cook
Root
Trott
Bell
Bairstow
Compton
Prior
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Finn

[NUFAN]

I'll think England will go into the first test with:

1 Cook 2 Compton 3 Trott 4 Bell 5 Bairstow 6 Morgan 7 Prior 8 Broad 9 Swann 10 Anderson 11 Finn.

Such a long tour..

[flibbertyjibber]

Originally Posted by marc71178

Can't see them not play 3 seamers having picked 5 in the squad.

Suspecting
Cook
Root
Trott
Bell
Bairstow
Compton
Prior
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Finn

That is what I think and would go with.

[Scaly piscine]

Originally Posted by marc71178

Can't see them not play 3 seamers having picked 5 in the squad.

Suspecting
Cook
Root
Trott
Bell
Bairstow
Compton
Prior
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Finn

Yep pretty much. Although I think Compton will bat above Bairstow. Pitches in India generally offer something to all bowlers and India obviously play spin better than seam. Morgan I assume is there as an emergency selection if everyone goes down with Delhi belly.

[BoyBrumby]

I still can't see why the selectors would take Morgan if it's not to play him.

Ditto giving him a central contract, actually.

[MW1304]

Originally Posted by NUFAN

I'll think England will go into the first test with:

1 Cook 2 Compton 3 Trott 4 Bell 5 Bairstow 6 Morgan 7 Prior 8 Broad 9 Swann 10 Anderson 11 Finn.

Such a long tour..

Patel in for Morgan and that is what I would go for. I find it unlikely the selectors will agree.

[MW1304]

Originally Posted by BoyBrumby

I still can't see why the selectors would take Morgan if it's not to play him.

Ditto giving him a central contract, actually.

Reckon the selectors' logic behind Morgan is that, because he seems to have sorted out that strange trigger movement of his and is now scoring OD runs again, he will also have sorted out his Test form. Conveniently forgetting that his other problems of nicking off and playing good spinners remains having played next to no first class cricket since his diabolical tour of the UAE.

[Viscount Tom]

Wouldn't bring Patel in for Morgan I'd go with Compton Isn't in much form himself either. I'd open with Compton though rather than Root at this stage although that said the last bloke in his early 20s to make a test debut for us while an opener didn't do too badly.