Here is my XI to play the West Indies in the first test match at Lords. I am assuming here that neither Vaughan or Pietersen is fit and that Trescothick (still a centrally contracted player by the way) would rather smack county attacks around.
Andrew Strauss *
Alastair Cook
Ian Bell
Paul Collingwood
Rob Key
Andrew Flintoff
Matt Prior +
Steve Harmison
Monty Panesar
Matthew Hoggard
Jimmy Anderson
Have gone for Strauss as captain, he knows Lords and is less likely to get drunk and fall in the Thames, Prior as wicketkeeper (consistency of selection is crucial), and Rob Key to amply fill the Pietersen shaped gap. Big Rob has scored lots of test runs at Lords against the Windies in 2004, and is a good stop gap.
May 13, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Key over Shah? Anderson over Plunkett? Shah showed admirable agression (both in shot selection and verbals) compiling 88 against the Indians last year, he deserves another chance. As for Jimmy, when is the boy going to find some consistancy? Our fourth bowler needs to keep it tight and show ability with the bat. England are already carrying one Lancastrian…
May 14, 2007 at 8:25 am
It seems as though the selectors agree with you Wrenchy (http://www.ecb.co.uk/news/media-releases/england-squad,12811,EN.html), on both Shah and Plunkett.