England Team 1st Test vs South Africa

1) Cook
2) Jennings
3) Hameed
4) Root
5) Ballance
6) Stokes
7) Bairstow
8) Woakes/Sam Curran
9) Broad
10) Anderson
11) Crane/Leach

Who do you think should be in the first XI for the first Test against South Africa. Would love to get a good conversation going.

Well, Hameed's just bagged yet another duck (what's happened to him?), so barring a pretty damn impressive second innings from him (are there more Lions tests?), he's not getting selected imo. I guess Stoneman instead, since he's with the Lions and doing alright so far. Wouldn't want Crane tbh and Leach hasn't really been the same since remodelling his action. I expect Rashid will play instead. Rest of the team seems fair enough.

If Jimmy's not fit, Roland-Jones, since he got an ODI so is presumably in the picture.

One between Jennings and Stoneman?

Is Wood not fit enough to bowl in a Test yet?

Also, what about Moeen? He did get a century in his last Test match..

Forgot about Wood and hadn't noticed the OP didn't include Moeen. Moeen will definitely start, even with his patchy form since the last test he played. Thinking about it, Wood will probably be the backup for Anderson, or will start if they don't go for a specialist spinner.

Hi broadyfan, welcome to the forum. Nice topic to start discussing. Usually here at CW we have seperate threads for all ongoing series/tours. So you might find it better to get this topic going in the official South Africa in England thread.

"Also, what about Moeen? He did get a century in his last Test match.."

With a batting average of 35 Moeen is an excellent number 7/8 whilst not quite good enough to bat in the top 5 or 6. and with a bowling average of 42 he is an excellent 2nd spin option whilst not quite good enough to be the sole spinner.

We need someone in the side who cannot only tie down an end but also take wickets especially on the final two days. We have no chance of winning in Australia nevermind the subcontinent without a decent spinner who can tie down an end for 15 or so overs whilst we rotate the seamers.

Sadly Moeen will never be the level of spinner we require. Leach or young Crane could be and deserve the chance to prove themselves. Either move Moeen to 5 and lets see what he has to offer to the side as primarily a batsman or drop him.

Given Hameed's current form and the fact Jenning's can play there i don't think he's getting picked.

Assuming all fit and they're not going to start picking a different spinner just yet. That leaves us with a gap at 4 and 5.

Cook
Jennings
Root
....
....
Stokes
Bairstow
Moeen
Broad (when fit)
Woakes (when fit)
Jimmy (when fit)

Wood next drop, followed by Ball (who is now injured as well), Roland Jones, Finn.

Ballance is as ever chewing it up in the championship but he doesn't seem to learn when it comes to technical failings. He wouldn't be in my squad but i realise he's still averaging a shade under 40. I think we should have moved on though unless he really has sorted out his issues. Going by the Lions which is usually a good indicator. Stoneman to come in to open, drop everyone down 1 slot. So Jennings to 3 and Foakes to come in as wicketkeeper with Bairstow taking up number 5 perhaps? I don't have any particular complaints about Bairstows keeping but Foakes is special from what i have seen. I see this as a half decent solution.

Stoneman doesn't have a particularly great FC record but it looks like he has been earmarked.

For me,Moeen has to bat at 5 but I doubt there's much chance of that happening.You can't bat a man who's got five test hundreds and four in the last 12 months down at 8,pretty insulting imo,he's a clearly a batting all rounder.

Would love to get Foakes in this side as well but struggling to see where he fits in this time around if both Jennings and Stoneman play and Moeen bats in the top 7/a middle order bat comes in which judging from what's coming out of the press is what will happen.

Wood with a timely fifer yesterday. Looked really good again.

Buttler opening ahead of Hameed, safe to say Has won't be playing.

My early prediction as we got a few knackered bowlers.

Cook
Rocky
Keats
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Ali
Woakes
Wood
Broad
Anderson

I would still bat Stokes at 5 if that is the XI and Bairstow at 6.

mackembhoy said:

Wood with a timely fifer yesterday. Looked really good again.

Buttler opening ahead of Hameed, safe to say Has won't be playing.

My early prediction as we got a few knackered bowlers.

Cook
Rocky
Keats
Root
Bairstow
Stokes
Ali
Woakes
Wood
Broad
Anderson

Click to expand...

I don't think they'll play a fifth seamer because of injury worries. Goes against all the thinking of the selectors. I think if Broad/Jimmy/Woakes aren't fully fit they won't play.

Be that as it may we still need another batsman at some point as even if they were to go with the 5 seam attack they won't do it all summer. Which is why I like Foakes as keeper and moving Bairstow up the order.

Cook
Stoneman
Jennings
Root
Moeen
Stokes
Bairstow
Rashid
Broad
Wood
Anderson


I think they'll pick that. But wouldn't surprise me if they went back to Ballance for Stoneman with batting order shuffled accordingly.

I don't think Rash is gonna get a test in England.

LegionOfBrad said:

I don't think they'll play a fifth seamer because of injury worries. Goes against all the thinking of the selectors. I think if Broad/Jimmy/Woakes aren't fully fit they won't play.

Be that as it may we still need another batsman at some point as even if they were to go with the 5 seam attack they won't do it all summer. Which is why I like Foakes as keeper and moving Bairstow up the order.

Click to expand...

I can't see who they are going to pick as a batsman and why I've gone for 5 seamers.

Woakes has hundreds in him mind.

Cook
Jennings
Northeast
Root*
Ali
Stokes
Bairstow+
Broad
Wood
Anderson
Mason Crane

Woakes first followed by Toby Roland on reserve for any injuries.

Nice to see the Mason Crane ridiculous over-hype has already started. Let him play first-class and learn his craft, honestly how anyone can think he's a Test bowler yet is just bizarre.

Picking him, almost purely on the basis he's a leg-spinner, can only be hugely detrimental to his career, in my boring opinion.

We're all desperate for a new spinner, so hey here's an idea, let's not ruin this one? Go for Rayner or Leach if you really feel the need to put one in.

This is a typically cautious English attitude.

S.Kennedy said:

This is a typically cautious English attitude.

Click to expand...

Is it? That's good then, because I am English. Crane was totally ineffective in the first-class game against South Africa A, to think he will be better against the main team has no real logic whatsoever. Caution or not being stupidly reckless with a young talent, it's a fine-line ol' chap.

You have a good wicket taking leggie already in Rashid. Why not give him more confidence and see if he can add to his good shows in India?