England Squad for 1st Test

England Squad - Cook, Hales, Compton, Root, Vince, Stokes, Bairstow, Ali, Broad, Finn, Ball, Anderson

Compton holds onto 3, Vince replaces Taylor and Ball likely carrying the drinks.

Slightly surprised not to see Sam Robson recalled given his form this season (nearly put 'summer', but that might be stretching a definition...), for either Hales or Compton.

Ball looks likely to be 12th man unless one of the other seamers breaks down.

Ball is bowling very well, better than Finn certainly I would say. He reminds me of a younger Finn quite a lot (without the hitting the stumps with his knee bit). Bowling at 90mph with a high action, Ball gets good bounce and carry and just nibbles the ball around a touch.

I agree, Finn certainly didnt seem in top form in the most recent game vs Notts.

Excellent spot yesterday by GSC on the Whitewash thread in seeing the connection between Notts recalling Fletcher from his loan spell with Derbys and Ball being called up by England. Finn still seems short of his best - think Ball will push him hard for the final place in the eleven.

Congrats as well to Vince who also deserves his opportunity. Hales and Compton just about merit their inclusion on the grounds of continuity / being given a fair chance of proving themselves. That might be hard on Robson but his time will come again if he maintains anything like his current form.

Still feel so sorry for Taylor...he had huge potential.

Hales ain't gonna make it at test level....so that's a wasted spot....even if he strikes a rapid 50 odd here and there...his conversion rate will be low....averaging barely 30 type.

Since I don't follow English FC cricket much...I dunno if they  lack other talented openers / No.3s.......if that's the case....
they would do well to move Compton to open and  bring back Ballance at No.3

Even Bell would be better than Hales and can be fitted in top-3

Mind you.....Ballance / Bell to be reconsidered only if their is no fresher talent knocking the door for a top-3 slot

Bell is injured, Ballance was bang in form pre-season in UAE, but now scratchy. At just 26 not sure Ballance should be quite so blithely written off as a future - but he needs form before he is to be reconsidered.

Hales survives because there is no obvious replacement. Compton survives I suspect only for this series, as I am convinced (sorry K_C) that by Pakistan series Bairstow will be at 5, Vince if he does well at 3 and Buttler back behind the stumps.

Very pleased for James Vince. Its been a long time coming. Finally gets his chance.

Vince certainly deserves his chance, I like him, think he's a fine player who has all the tools to succeed at international level, and he's the natural replacement for Taylor IMO.

No one was really sticking their hand up for number three, so Compton gets in almost by default, and because with already one enforced change to the middle-order England would have been somewhat unwilling to make another.

Hales I think deserves another chance. SA away is a real baptism of fire (Cook didn't do much better in SA IIRC - not that Cook should be dropped obviously - but worth mentioning), and for me he showed just enough there to be given a chance in the home series. Robson is breathing hard down his neck though.

Haven't seen any of Ball, but reports are good, and with Wood injured happy to see him in there. Finn by all accounts seems a bit out of sorts early on, so Ball may well force his way into the team.

With the batting, can't help thinking we're back to the bad old days of the 1990s when it was tough on the selectors because the people they chose performed, at Test level, so far below their county standard (think merely of Hick/Ramps).
Ironic that Trott has said goodbye to the Test arena. Saw some of his double-hundred at Lord's recently and he looked a class above Compton, albeit on a benign wicket.
Would love to see Hales do well, as he'll certainly improve the scoring rate. Root should resist all attempts to bat any higher than four.

Ho-hum, not overly pleased with the squad. Pleased that Vince is getting a deserved shot, though, and I imagine Ball will be carrying the drinks, much as I would like to see him get a run-out.

No real surprise with the batting : Vince has been on the fringe for a while (though ironically not full of runs this week!) so deserves the Taylor spot , especially as Bell is apparently injured. Didn't think they'd make more than one change to the lineup at this stage - obviously Hales and Compton need to perform ; but it would have been a little harsh to dismiss either without a chance back on home soil against what is expected to be somewhat easier opposition than Morkel/Rabada etc...

Must confess Ball got under my guard - of course I've not seen him , and hadn't heard much about him either until now. But he's clearly in good form ; and if he's as lively as Tiger says he might be a good prospect...and indeed a serious challenger to Finn (who doesn't seem to be tearing up trees at the moment) for a spot at Headingley. I suppose he is more likely to carry the drinks ; but you never know. Certainly they need a couple more quick bowlers in the squad so good to see him given a call up.

Squad not too far off what was expected, with the main surprise being Compton retained

Though if we consider that England tend to favour continuity and incremental change then one new member of the top 6 is not a huge surprise. Suspect if Taylor hadn't retired, Compton would have been out

VTR wrote:Squad not too far off what was expected, with the main surprise being Compton retained

Though if we consider that England tend to favour continuity and incremental change then one new member of the top 6 is not a huge surprise. Suspect if Taylor hadn't retired, Compton would have been out

Also if Ballance had scored runs in this early season period I'd have thought he would have been recalled too

Meanwhile, from James Taylor on twitter:

''On the bright side I haven't heard a small joke for a month #EveryCloud''.

Another fifty for Sam Robson

Gotta think if one of Hales/Compton has a bad test or two he will be recalled

Robson will surely get a chance this summer.

On a separate note, Sri Lanka have struggled in both tour matches to second division county sides, so it's difficult to see anything other than a 3-0 En-gerrrr-land win.

3-0 seems a fair prediction, we have to be aiming to brush a poor looking SL side aside at home.

I'm just thankful we have some proper cricket to get our teeth into starting this week. I've got so bored waiting I've even found myself following the County Championship!

I think the weather will stop a 3-0, going for a 2-0 myself

Prasad is out of the first test for SL

It will be a shame for Eng to lose to this Lankan side.....
Lanka has a pretty decent seam attack...and better spinners
their batting is decidedly weaker

so if their batters can put run on board.....they have a chance...ain't gonna be easy scoring runs in English conditions for these inexperienced guys

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:I think the weather will stop a 3-0, going for a 2-0 myself

Prasad is out of the first test for SL

The First Test is shaping up to be severely affected by rain, I am actually thinking of revising my prediction to 0-0!

Finn to play ahead of Ball.

Understand the decision to go with the proven player, cant really doubt it too much even if Balls been by far the form bowler so far this season.

Ben Stokes unlikely to be fit for the 2nd test

Woakes the logical replacement you'd say

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Ben Stokes unlikely to be fit for the 2nd test

Woakes the logical replacement you'd say

As John Lennon replied when asked if Ringo Starr was the best drummer in the world:
''He's not even the best drummer in The Beatles! ''.

#voteforronnie

Woakes isn't good enough in my view, so I'd rather see a 4 man attack that has the 3 best seamers. If that is Ball over Finn, who was poor in the First Test, then I think that is the way to go. Not sure who bats 6 in that case, but I am pretty certain Woakes isn't good enough to bat at 6

Can't see them going for anyone other than Woakes (probably rightly).

I wasn't serious although 'Ronnie' Barker's record for Warks this season is second to none.

I suppose if England wanted to have a look at Ball they could bat Ali at 6 (purely to leave Bairstow at 7 where he is smashing it) and bring Ball in. Although he might be wasted a little as a fourth seamer. Without going full Colin Graves, they should beat SL regardless of what 11 they put out though.

It's such a waste having Woakes in the team, he's neither a good enough bowler or batsmen, much rather see a specialist bowler like Ball play.

Given the weakness of the Sri Lankan batting , I'd say any specialist bowler might be wasted.

Would make more sense to have a look at another batting prospect .

alfie wrote:Given the weakness of the Sri Lankan batting , I'd say any specialist bowler might be wasted.

Would make more sense to have a look at another batting prospect .  

England are pretty protective of Broad and Andersons bowling loads. Both Bairstow and Ali have been to 6 test batsmen, although Ali's form has slumped a bit hes certainly fine as a 7.

Woakes or Plunkett could come back in offering some batting alongside a genuine 4th seamer option, or you go with the absolute best form bowler available.

Shame for Rashid that theres zero chance of a vaguely spin friendly wicket.

Gooseberry wrote:

alfie wrote:Given the weakness of the Sri Lankan batting , I'd say any specialist bowler might be wasted.

Would make more sense to have a look at another batting prospect .  

England are pretty protective of Broad and Andersons bowling loads. Both Bairstow and Ali have been to 6 test batsmen, although Ali's form has slumped a bit hes certainly fine as a 7.

Woakes or Plunkett could come back in offering some batting alongside a genuine 4th seamer option, or you go with the absolute best form bowler available.

Shame for Rashid that theres zero chance of a vaguely spin friendly wicket.

That's where I was coming from with my plug for Barker who also has runs to his name. I know he won't be picked but I don't know why he's so far off England's radar.

I would select Ball and see what he has to offer at test level. He only has 4 wickets (21 to 25) less than Barker in one game less at a better strike rate. Unlike Barker he has featured in Lions and Performance Squad shindigs - and rightly or wrongly the selectors put great store by these - and he can bowl at the kind of pace that unsettles top class batsmen.

Not sure why Warwickshire have not trusted Barker more over the years - but he has usually been in and out of the side.


I expect the selectors to go for Woakes as a lfl replacement.

Stokes replaced by Woakes in the squad, now to see who plays:

England squad for second Test v Sri Lanka: Cook (c), Hales, Compton, Root, Vince, Bairstow (wk), Moeen, Broad, Finn, Anderson, Woakes, Ball.

LondonTiger wrote:Stokes replaced by Woakes in the squad, now to see who plays:

England squad for second Test v Sri Lanka: Cook (c), Hales, Compton, Root, Vince, Bairstow (wk), Moeen, Broad, Finn, Anderson, Woakes, Ball.

From the Gooseberry School of Cynicism - isn't this where Finn is meant to show his value to the selectors and go down with a late injury?

So it is Woakes. Despite my misgivings as to reducing the batting , if they do want to ensure Broad and Anderson aren't overbowled I would be inclined to play Ball - we al;ready know what Woakes can and can't do and this is a chance to try the new man.

Sorry Olly

guildfordbat wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:Stokes replaced by Woakes in the squad, now to see who plays:

England squad for second Test v Sri Lanka: Cook (c), Hales, Compton, Root, Vince, Bairstow (wk), Moeen, Broad, Finn, Anderson, Woakes, Ball.

From the Gooseberry School of Cynicism - isn't this where Finn is meant to show his value to the selectors and go down with a late injury?

Surely Compton?

Wow! Only right to point out that Woakes took 9/36 for Warks in Durham's first innings today. A nil return - his first of the season - for my man Barker. Curse of the amateur commentator!

alfie wrote:So it is Woakes.  Despite my misgivings as to reducing the batting , if they do want to ensure Broad and Anderson aren't overbowled I would be inclined to play Ball - we al;ready know what Woakes can and can't do and this is a chance to try the new man.

Sorry Olly

Have we really seen what Woakes can/can't do at test level? He's played six matches over the course of three years.

Never really been given a proper run in the side

alfie wrote:So it is Woakes.  Despite my misgivings as to reducing white ball  the batting , if they do want to ensure Broad and Anderson aren't overbowled I would be inclined to play Ball - we al;ready know what Woakes can and can't do and this is a chance to try the new man.

Sorry Olly

Overbowled? They have been rested from white ball cricket. Last Test I don't think they bowled more than 25 overs each. Ali only had 1 over.   I would also like to see Ball play at Durham.

Most overs bowled in a Test

Anderson 61.0  
Broad 58.5

Have to admit Woakes could hardly have timed his 9/36 better !

As Olly points out , he has never really had a run in the side. Trouble is , in the handful of games he has played , he hasn't made the sort of impact that would cause selectors to rush him back automatically the next time a vacancy appeared. Has been a little unlucky in that once or twice he has bowled quite well but the other bowlers hoovered up the wickets before he could collect any spectacular figures.
If Stokes is out for a while , and his batting proves fit for purpose , he might string a few Tests together this time. (I am now assuming he will play in front of Ball , after those figures)

Compton could use a score.