Pick your first, second and third England Test XIs.
Here are mine:
1st:
1) Andrew Strauss (c)
2) Alastair Cook (vc)
3) Jonathan Trott
4) Kevin Pietersen
5) Ian Bell
6) Eoin Morgan
7) Matt Prior (wk)
8) Stuart Broad
9) Graeme Swann
10) Chris Tremlett
11) Jimmy Anderson
2nd:
1) Alex Hales
2) Adam Lyth
3) Ravi Bopara (will bowl as 4th seamer)
4) James Taylor (vc)
5) James Hildreth (c)
6) Samit Patel
7) Steve Davies (wk)
8) Tim Bresnan
9) Ajmal Shahzad
10) Steve Finn
11) Danny Briggs
3rd:
1) Varun Chopra (vc)
2) Luke Wells
3) Sam Northeast
4) Jonny Bairstow
5) Ben Stokes
6) Craig Kieswetter (wk)
7) Adil Rashid
8) Chris Woakes (c)
9) James Harris
10) Jade Dernbach
11) Reece Topley
The only one I can think of who may get into the second team is Graeme Onions, but that depends on fitness and form, which he has had in all honesty. Overall, the bowling department looks incredibly fearsome with the 12th man, Jade Dernbach, of England's recent Test against Sri Lanka only in the 3rd line up. Batting-wise we're none too shabby either and all the teams have very long tails with competant batsmen being seen universally down to at least number 10 and even number 11 in the first team's case.
Oh, and by the way, these aren't my personal preferances for the England teams, thay are what teams I thisnk would be chosen. E.G: As some posters have queried, I would indeed have Bresnan ahead of Broad at the number 8 position, not only is he a more reliable bowler but he is a better bat as well, not to mention I'm a Yorkshire fan!
Bright future for England me thinks!
WallyHammondsCoverDrive
Your England Teams
posted on 13/6/11
hope
I thought you were a big Shahzad fan?
posted on 13/6/11
1st
Strauss
Cook
Trott
Pietersen
Bell
Morgan
Prior
Bresnan
Swann
Anderson
Tremlett
2nd
Chopra
Hales
Taylor
Hildreth
Bopara
Patel
Kieswetter
Broad
Onions
Panesar
Finn
3rd
Carberry
Lyth
Hamilton-Brown
Gale
Bairstow
Stokes
Davies
Rashid
Shahzad
Harris
Dernbach
posted on 13/6/11
ginger, I am a Shahzad fan but he seems to be struggling with his form at present. He is also in competition with Onions who has been pretty good on his return from injury.
I must admit I'm not sure what our best line up would be, except the three tall bowler combination again is a no,no.
I think I would go for Anderson, Broad and Bresnan when all are fit.
posted on 13/6/11
I'm not sure about Broad but the only consistent bowler we do have is Anderson. Tremlett has done well albeit for only a few tests and Bresnan bowled superbly in Aus.
These would be my three at present.
posted on 13/6/11
How is Stokes only in peoples third teams? His average is approaching fify in his second full season. He is a big hitter who can score fast and also bowls a bit with a six for this season. Oh, only turned 20 this month. Immense talent!
posted on 13/6/11
I will be interested to see if Woakes is given another chance in the ODI games. He's got 24 wickets and averages 52 with the bat incuding a century before he was injured and scored a very quick 44 in the last T20 on his return.
posted on 13/6/11
rashid should be in the 2nds, not the 3rds but atherwise that looks fine to me!
posted on 13/6/11
oh, and what about jimmy adams? he's been playing for the lions and was in top form last year for hampshire
posted on 14/6/11
Oh, and by the way, these aren't my personal preferances for the England teams, thay are what teams I thisnk would be chosen.
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what you think would be chosen if anyone was ever going to choose a third team you mean ?
posted on 14/6/11
1st XI
1.Strauss (c)
2.Cook
3.Trott
4.KP
5.Bell
6.Morgan
7.Prior
8.Broad
9.Swann
10.Tremlett
11.Anderson
2nd XI
1.Adams
2.Hales
3.Taylor (c)
4.Hildreth
5.Stokes
6.S Patel
7.Bairstow (wkt)
8.Bresnan
9.Finn
10.Monty
11.Onions
3rd XI
1.Lyth
2.Northeast
3.Wells
4.Bopara (c)
5.Keiswetter (wkt)
6.Butler
7.Rashid
8.Woakes
9.Shahzad
10.Briggs
11.Dernbach
Struggled with the 3rd team Lyth, Northeast haven't been brilliant this season, Gale from Yorkshires not great at the moment so is out. Vince from Hampshire is a fine player and could be in a team. Bresnan could easily be in the 1st team but Broad for now.