Looking forward

England's toughest challenge is coming up next with a trip to South Africa. Well this will be a homecoming for several members of the squad so its not completely like playing away from home! The selectors and management have a few months to prepare the right squad for this tour. The major questions are first of all how we replace Flintoff and who we will play in our middle order. If we are to pick sixteen players I would go for 7 batsmen, 5 seamers, 3 spinners and 1 keeper. I don't see the point in taking 2 keepers allthough it may be risky if Prior was to be injured on the day of the test.

Batsmen
For me this will be the toughest choice. There are only 3 definates here: Strauss, Pieterson and Trott. The other 4 who have represented England this summer: Cook, Bell, Bopara and Collingwood, are on very shaky ground. At this moment it would be unlikely that England will make any major changes to the batting lineup for continuity reasons. I would like us to bring in Joe Denly, depending on how well he does in the one day matches, at the expense of one of the four mentioned. I think Bopara looks the most vulnerable as his problems are technical and playing him in South Africa would constitute a huge risk against a very South African bowling lineup.

Seamers
I am still not convinced by our bowling line up. It seems to be getting harder and harder to take wickets and getting easier to score runs. We need a mixture here of agression and line and length bowling. We need a great deal of dicipline and each bowler knowing what their role is. The senior member at the moment is Anderson with Broad now looking like a shoe in as he finished the series against Australia well. I believe that Onions should also go as he has performed well this summer. The other 2 positions are really up for grabs. Steve Harmisson is an obvious one, however he doesn't seem to travel well an I thought his comments were very negative yesterday. He doesn't seem to hve the fight that is required to be an international cricketer. My preference here would to give Tim Bresnan the oppourtunity and also Mahmood, although his county for is not that great, he has the pace and agression to do a job for England.

Wicket-keeper
There should be no doubt now that Prior is number one for England. The only issue would be whether we take a back up. Foster is probably the best keeper in the country but he doesn't score enough runs and if selected would need another batsmen to come into the side.

Spinners
I think this is the choice a third spinner or a second keeper. I would prefer a third spinner. These pick themselves with Swann, Panesar and Rashid. The latter being a handy allround option.

My squad: Strauss, Cook, Bell, Collingwood, Trott, Pieterson, Denly, Prior, Swann, Panesar, Rashid, Broad, Anderson, Onions, Bresnan, Mahmood.

If I was to pick an eleven today, depending on the conditions, I would favour: Strauss, Denly, Bell, Pieterson, Trott, Prior, Rashid, Broad, Swann, Anderson, Onions. Yes a bit different with just 3 seamers and 2 spinners but a side capable of scoring big runs and an attack full of variety.

I can't wait!

Late flash!!!

I forgot Sidebottom, well you would have to think he would be a part of this squad, probablu in place of Bresnan, sorry Tim.