Anyond else believe Taylor>bairstow?
Esp since taylor is a 'specialist batsman' whereas Baistow is 'wk batsman' and taylor has better record and more experience and they are similar age?
Pick Bairstow when prior injured?otherwise Taylor a good bet for england's long term goodness?
Is bairstow lucky to be in that 11?

"Anyone else believe Taylor>bairstow?"

Well, he has to PROVE it hasn't he? Taylor looked very nervous when he last played for England. I see he has got a 100 today though so that's a good start.
What I am kinda curious about is - anyone feel really sorry for Compton? As he DIDN'T get picked!

Feel sorry for compton but root is the right man.
You said, taylor looked nervous, but i remember bairstow getting stuck on 95 for about an hour b4 finally getting out, what to say of his previous innings and latter ones.
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I said taylor is better coz he is specialist batsman whereas bairstow is wk batsman. And his fc average is better by about 8 runs while still having played more matches. He should have been ahead in the list?

Taylor looks in good touch.

Future successor to Bell.
Good to see Tremlett. Doubt he will play but he looks far better bowler than Broad.

Was so impressed in what he did in the ashes 2010-11

Big fan of Taylor. Averages over fifty and 23.

Also a great fielder.

Has his head screwed on but looked nervous against Saffers. However, I think he is class and will be a regular soon.

I cannot see them getting rid of Broad. His average hasn't done him justice in the Ashes - He has that element of brilliance about him and is finally pitching the ball up.

If Taylor plays, that will mean we have 2 23 year olds and a 22 year old in the top 6. Good to see them giving youtha go.

How much longer can England ignore Kerrigan over monty. We need to start to blood our future spin bowlers whilst Swanny is around and I dare say Kerrigan is a better long term bet than monty.

Kerrigan was average last year but has really pushed on this year. Looks a real player.

However, Monty against India was amazing. Average v New Zealand.

He still deserves to be second place.

I just see Monty playing as a negative move sadly nowdays. Kerrigan had grown and now looks the real package. Monty offers the same every time and I'd be worried by a spinner who didn't have a good tour of India. I'd like to see Kerrigan play with Swanny and learn from him over the next two years over going over the same ground we always do with monty.

"I'd be worried by a spinner who didn't have a good tour of India..."

Just seen this...

What ARE you on about? He was the reason we WON the series in India, were you awake at the time?

Monty is only 31, young for a spinner. Would not discard him because of age. Decent test record over nearly 50 tests as well.

I think the picking of Monty is to put the Aussies off. They have no idea what the wicket will do.. May start them thinking should they go in with 2 spinners one replacing the injured Pattinson.

I think England will pick the same 11 for Old Trafford, That's depending on the fitness to KP of course.. Other wise Taylor will get the nod..Doubt England will play 5 bowlers.No need to with the Australian batting line up.

Thanks Bantam but I think you may have mis read how it was written.

Really, Bearded? Apologies then it DID kind of sound to me like you were not impressed with Panesars recall.
For myself, i always reckon spinners are better in their 30's - certainly Warne, Emburey, UNderwood, Muralli, i could go on and on - most of these cricketers played their best cricket in their 30's, and Panesar fits nicely into that bracket. Swann and Panesar bowled beautifully well together in India and it would be a travesty if anyone else was selected. Kerrigans time may come but i always reckon that competition for places is a really good thing

Yes Bantam. Before my post that you jumped on Yorkie had rightly pointed out that Monty bowled well in India, to which I replied that I'd be worried by a spinner who didn't have a good tour of India, as in I agree he did but a spinner should in India. Not saying he had a bad tour at all, it's all in context.

And yes spinners do owl best in their 30's probably but surely signs of progression need to be there and sadly with Monty he's the same bowler now as when he made his debut, he offers little on unhelpful pitches and has been stated already by many a pundit, the pitch may not turn as much as thought. I like Monty I really do but he has shown little development as an England bowler. Yes he bowls well in India but we're not playing there. Can't see us playing two spinners anyway as Flower will use Root as a second spinner I'd guess.