I think the ecb felt sorry for how Moores was ditched last time.. So given him another crack of the whip. Lets see how it turns out.

My exact reason for not been excited about this appointment! Hope I am proven wrong but I don't hold out much hope

better choice than fackin giles mind......

does mean deffo no way back for KP now.....fackin madness that.

Is there a dearth of coaches, or most don't want to work for England?

thinking on, Id rather they'd gone for Patrick moore.. and hes dead..

Hes a good appointment. Set up the Flower regime last time and has the benefit of learning from his mistakes.

He is the best homegrown coach and will be a good foil for Cook.

Equally happy at Farbrace who is adored at Yorkshire.

Add Colly to the mix and you have an excellent coaching set up.

given that he chose one of his first press opportunities to put the boot into KP, i don't have a lot of confidence that this is a good move. the old boys' network (with new boys like cook and broad adding to the list of those who can do and say what the like with impunity) is dismantling the most successful England set up for a generation, faster than moyes can work his magic at man u.

this summer will be a huge test of the team, selectors and coach. if we are going to see more of the random picks, wavering and return of the bits and pieces county trundlers then i suspect it will be a long time before England are back challenging for the very top position in test cricket.

I'm pleased with this appointment, he can have a fair crack at it now with a new(ish) bunch of players. Anyone but Giles!!

How is the team going to shape up do we think?

Cook
Robson
Root
Bell
Ballance
Buttler (wk)
Stokes
Borthwick (Rashid??)
Broad
Jordan
Anderson

Masco, Buttler has a lot of work to do, to overcome Prior.

I think the key position up for discussion is spinner...

Cook
Robson
Root
Bell
Taylor
Stokes
Prior wk
Borthwick
Broad
Finn
Anderson

Lions:

Lees
Sibley
Vince
Ballance
Bairstow
Woakes
Buttler wk
Jordan
J Overton
Kerrigan
Mills

12: Topley

I see we both included Borthwick as our "spinner" in order to bolster what could prove to be a flimsy batting line up at times!

Have to say Rashid has really impressed me with the bat for the last couple of seasons now.

If he can bring it all together he could really push for a spot

Scribe, agree

Scribe, yeah good technique and very settled at six, unless Bairstow plays then he bats. Not sure about his bowling, I think this season will tell us more.

Turncoat Cook has banished Gooch to the abyss.