Testing times

Join the Sky Sports Debate on who should be in the England team

Last updated: 7th May 2008

Robert Key Kent v New Zealand Apr 08

Key: Scored a fine unbeaten century against New Zealand for Kent

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England are set to open up their summer series against New Zealand on May 15, fresh from their 2-1 win Down Under.

However, who should the selectors pick for the first Test at Lord's?

Should the same players who bounced back from the opening Test defeat to topple the Black Caps in the winter get their chance to cement their places in the side, or are changes needed?

Do the likes of Rob Key, Owais Shah, Ravi Bopara and Adil Rashid deserve a chance to prove their worth?

And have Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison and Matt Prior done enough for recalls?

Join the Sky Sports Debate and let us know your views on the England team for the first Test by filling in the form below...

Comments

Alan k Sutcliffe says...

I am surprised the England bowlers are so put off by McCullum's tactic of standing out of his crease. Why do they not start their run a yard earlier and deliver from a yard short of the crease? Not every time, but as a variation. It would mean the bowler could bowl his normal length, and it would of course surprise the batsman.

Posted 16:58 15th May 2008

James Smith says...

1. Strauss, 2. Cook, 3. Ramprakash, 4. Pieterson, 5. Bell, 6. Collingwood, 7. FLintoff, 8. Ambrose, 9. Broad, 10. Sidebottom, 11. Panesar

Posted 12:34 14th May 2008

Steve H says...

Why does everyone keep Bopara in the side ?Playing for England he has never had a real good knock with the bat,so that is not the reason.And they will not let him bowl,so thats not the reason.I would play Shah every time.

Posted 21:36 10th May 2008

Scott Hunter says...

Now that Flintoff is injured again, and especially if Collingwood deemed unfit to play, I would be seriously tempted to throw in the wild card Luke Wright. He's already proved himself against New Zealand. My most likely 11 would be: 1.Strauss (still under scrutiny) 2.Cook (under threat from Key) 3. Vaughan (needs runs quickly, he can't hide behind captaincy forever) 4. KP (need I mention it) 5. Bell (vintage, classical player, should be cementing his place in the top echelon of the world's finest by now) 6. Collingwood (not a natural batsman, but a gritty, tenacious cricketer worth his weight in gold. If injured Luke wright. 7. Tim Ambrose (hope he keeps improving as he looks a great prospect) 8. Stuart Broad 9. Sidebottom 10. Hoggard (more reliable than Anderson 11. Panesar ( We would have lost the last test against New Zealand despite needing over 500 runs if he hadn't bowled them out on the last day. Shows the importance of a quality spinner on last day wickets.

Posted 14:08 10th May 2008

Paul Hughes says...

The best side we can put out is 1. Cook, 2. Strauss, 3. Vaughan, 4. Pieterson, 5. Bell, 6. Collingwood, 7. Flintoff, 8. Ambrose, 9. Hoggard, 10. Sidebotham, 11. Panesar. Full of batting, four excellent bowlers with support from Collingwood, Bell, Pieterson and Vaughan. Anderson is not good enough, Broad is one for the future.

Posted 22:24 9th May 2008

James Cresswell says...

1. Cook (is developing, needs a good series or spot may be given to Key) 2. Strauss (good form at the moment, Vaughan/Bell may move up to accommodate Ramps, or are the selectors so stubborn not to recognize class when it is blaring in front) 3. Vaughan (c) (still good captain but really needs to start scoring runs, spot perhaps should be given to Ramps but more likely Shah) 4. Pieterson (our best batsmen, there when we most need him) 5. Bell (good solid player, needs to learn to be battling rather than pretty, spot up for grabs Luke Wright is batting well) 6. Collingwood (best fielder, reliable batsmen, improving bowler, needs to make this series count, Flintoff at 6 not yet I'd rather have Collingwood) 7. Ambrose (spot up for grabs but we need to stop changing keeper and give one a chance, he's done little wrong yet, plenty of names in mix) 8. Flintoff (excelling at bowling needs time to improve batting controversial choice, ahead of some fine bowlers but makes tail shorter) 9. Broad (did well in NZ learning over by over, ahead of Anderson but Anderson could easily be ahead of Flintoff with perhaps Flintoff at 6) 10. Sidebottom (Mr reliable, irreplaceable at the minute) 11. Panesar (good player needs more wickets, our best spinner)

Posted 18:49 9th May 2008

Christopher Grathwohl says...

Alot of people are saying to stick with a winning side, there are only 2 reason we won that Test series, Sidebottom and Anderson!!! Bottom-line!!!! The batting was horrible, barely worthy of County starting 11 selection, but there is a huge difference in batting well in County cricket and batting well in International cricket. There is only 1 county team with the bowling attack similiar to an International Team and that is Lancashire at the moment with Anderson, Flintoff, and Mahmood. You cannot judge someone scoring good off medium pace bowlers and automatically think that person will score against a Country's best granted less S.Bond. In reply to Marcus, Freddie has been the top over bowler for Lancs in almost every LV Championship match bowling 20 overs and yes he has comeback the next day and bowled, the drawn game with Somerset. Justin Langer said it best, whether he bats at #1 or #11 he is the sort of player who makes a big difference to a Team, like him or not! I find it very ironic listening to some say he needs to score runs, at the moment I see only 1 other England bowler that is on the same keel as Flintoff with the pineapple, Sidebottom. I highly doubt that the starting batsmen really want to go into that first Test knowing they'd be facing Freddie and Siddy with the new ball, who would? I don't think it would be fair to cut Ambrose so soon, what has he done wrong? Scored a 50, then a century, has kept just as good or even better than any of the other keepers over the last 2 years, so why should he be dropped. People need to realize there is always going to be someone hot in County cricket, just like any sport, but does that warrant dropping and disrubting the International side to give someone another shot.

Posted 21:43 8th May 2008

Marcus Easton says...

1. Key 2. Strauss 3. Vaughan 4. Pietersen 5. Bell 6. Bopara 7. G Jones 8. Tredwell 9. Broad 10. Sidebottom 11. Hoggard/Panesar I have left out Cook, Collingwood and Ambrose. Personally I do not feel that Ambrose and Collingwood are of sufficient quality to play test match cricket. Cook has the quality, but the runs have dried up. As soon as he gets decent runs for Essex, then I would consider putting him back in the side. I don't feel that Panesar merits an automatic selection. His bowling hasn't progessed at all since he first came in to the side. I would go so far as to say that it's actually gone downhill, probably due to the fact that he was smashed all over the place in the one dayers he has played, and that has impacted on his confidence and technique. He bowls too fast and too flat. I would consider Tredwell to be the best option. He turns it, fields well, and is a very good batsman. Key has batted very well for the past year or so. He was unlucky to be dropped, and deserves another chance. He is England's last double centurian. I never rated Ravi Bopara until I saw him play for Essex against Kent a few weeks ago. He was in a different class to anyone else in that game with the bat. I can definitely see what the fuss is about now. It was right for Geraint Jones to be dropped. His confidence was shot to pieces both with the bat and the gloves. He has come back stronger this season. He is keeping well, and is scoring valuable runs. His knock against Surrey on Monday was awesome, and was unlucky to miss out on a well deserved century. I don't think Flintoff is ready yet. He may be ok bowling 10 overs a day for Lancs, but I doubt he is ready for the stresses of 5 day cricket, potentially bowling 20-25 overs in a day as he surely would. He needs to score some runs before he gets back in too, as he would be a passenger in the side if he was selected to bowl a few overs but be a batting all-rounder.

Posted 10:57 8th May 2008

Connor Gibson says...

im sorry guys but i think that Jack Deed doesn't actually have a clue what he is talking about a) Bell opening is a stupid idea because he hasn't got the technique to keep out the new ball and if he gets out its a shambles from there on in. i mean come one Bopara in at five, he's an allrounder not a specialist batsman he's not a test player and simon jones is not on form with his bowling. hereis my team: 1)key 2) strauss 3)vaughn(c) 4) peiterson 5) Bell 6)shah 7)Geraint Jones 8) rashid 9)sidebottom 10) plunket 11)Broad and in the second test you can always slip in Cook or Flintoff

Posted 09:32 8th May 2008

Dave Raverson says...

Te only sensible comment here is Tom Payne who has said stick with a winning side. Alongside comments like picking Rashd and Jones (!). Like Nasser said, there are always better players out of the team. Stick with a winning side with allowances to let Flintoff back as a bowling allrounder only.

Posted 09:21 8th May 2008

Christopher Grathwohl says...

The possibilities are looking bright indeed!!! I'd say starting 11; Cook, Strauss, Bell, KP, Collie, Vaughan, Ambrose, Flintoff, Sidebottom, Anderson, Paesnar or Broad depending on pitch conditions, then Shah, and Hoggie. It's a tough call on Anderson or Hoggie, but there is no way I'd start 3 swing bowlers, I lean towards Jimmie because he can bowl pace when swing isn't there better than Hoggie. You need a true pace/seam bowler in the attack and with Harmie still not hitting form you must go with Freddie. Some would argue Broad can give you pace but if you look at his spells in previous matches he drops alot of pace during the day. Plus once Freddie zones in with the willow he is more dangerous.

Posted 21:33 7th May 2008

Sarah Dickson says...

My team for the first test would be Cook , Vaughan, Strauss, Pietersen, Bell, Collingwood , Ambrose , Broad, Sidebottom , Anderson and Panesar . Basically stick to the same team that won the last two tests in NZ . I would personally like to see Freddie play more for Lancashire and then be considered for the series against South Africa rather than rush him back against NZ . And as much as i would love to see Ramprakash recalled i just cannot see it happening .

Posted 19:55 7th May 2008

Adam Gardener says...

first test team: Vaughn, Cook, Bell, Pieterson, Bopara, Ambrose, Flintoff, Broad, Sidebottom, Hoggard, Panersar. Think the team picks itself, i would have bopara in for collingwood because collingwood is NOT a test standard batsman. Some of the picks on here are ridiculous, collingwood captain??? Vaughn is a much better batsmen.

Posted 19:22 7th May 2008

Phillip Winter says...

1.Cook 2.Strauss 3.Ramprakash 4.Pietersen 5.Bell 6.Collingwood (capt) 7.Ambrose 8.Broad 9.Sidebottom 10.Hoggard 11.Panesar. With Vaughan and Flintoff out of nick with the bat Ramps' will and should come up with the big runs.This will give the two veterans time to prepare for South Africa.Rashid should be considered for the n°8 role sometime ,although his batting has gone off the boil.

Posted 17:28 7th May 2008

David Feeney says...

My team is - 1. Cook 2. Strauss 3. Vaughan 4. Pieterson 5. Bell 6. Collingwood 7. Flintoff 8. Ambrose 9. Broad 10. Sidebottom 11. Panesar. I am a fan of Robert Key nad should Stauss or indeed Vaughan fail with the bat, then he should be drafted in. Flintoff has proved his bowling fitness, still not batting well but hes not a bad 7.

Posted 17:13 7th May 2008

Jonathon Savage says...

I think Bell and Cook need to be sacked, England have given given them chances and they still havent produced. While to lose a test against the kiwi's is terrible with the Aussi's here next year, so drastic changes have to be made. 1. Key 2. Strauss 3. Shah 4. Pieterson 5. Collingwood 6. Wright 7. Ambrose 8. Flintoff 9. Broad 10. Sidebottom 11. Panesar Key has to play after his 170, Strauss has to after his 177 down under, and Shah cant be overlooked after his century and Wright has to play after his big century and fast bowling because have to have 5 bowlers to take 20 wickets.

Posted 17:08 7th May 2008

Craig Francis says...

1.Cook 2.Key 3.Bell 4.Pietersen 5.Collingwood (c) 6.Bopara 7.Ambrose 8.Broad 9.Sidebottom 10.Hoggard 11.Panesar I think that Vaughan needs to get some runs under his belt. Even at county level this year he has got in but failed to produce great innings. 6. Bopara could be Shah too. 12th man i would go with Harmison / Anderson whoever is on form at the time. Freddy needs to spend some time getting back in to the groove for a good month and not be considered to earliest South Africa and maybe then just 1day cricket.

Posted 16:56 7th May 2008

Jonathan Ward says...

I think Freddie should be at number 8 and be counted as a bowler as he can no longer produce with the bat! 1)Cook 2)strauss 3)Vaughan 4) pietersen 5) collingwood 6) bell 7) mustard 8) flintoff 9) sidebottom 10) hoggard 11) Panesar!!!! and give pietersen a bowl! ive just read his book and he started out as an off spinner so why not give he a bowl if monty isnt performing or the wickets are turning !!!! COME ON DURHAM!!!

Posted 16:55 7th May 2008

Nick Denning says...

1. Cook 2.Strauss 3. Vaughan (c) 4. Peitersen 5. Bell 6. Collingwood 7. Ambrose 8. Flintoff 9. Broad 10. Sidebottom 11. Panesar. The reasons for my choicees are that Flintoff comes in for Anderson who is far too hit and miss, although if he is going to play at all, this time of year is best for when the wickets suit him best. If England want a number 8 who can bat they have one right there. I think Ambrose has done enought to stay at 7 for the time being. Panesar is there because you need a change of pace and he is the best spinner in the country. Hoggard probably isn't quite there yet, one big haul at Headingly in April probably doesn't warrant a recall. Lets keep him on ice until the South Africans arrrive and see how has done up til then. Vaughan is there because he is still a hell of a player and an inspirational captain. Once he goes then Bell goes up to 3 and Shah come in at 5. I'd like to see Simon Jones firing again because him, Broad, Flintoff and Sidebottom would be awesome to watch together. Rob Key can come in if these two openers start to stutter again. I think that covers all the bases. Good luck chaps!!!!

Posted 15:58 7th May 2008

Sonney Stelling says...

1.Strauss 2.Cook 3.Pietersen 4.Vaughan(c) 5.Bell 6. Collingwood 7. Ambrose 8.Flintoff 9.Broad 10.Sidebottom 11. Panesar. Andrew Flintoff has not really performed with the bat too much this season but his bowling looks great so putting him at 8 tkaes the pressure off his batting a little bit. How many chances can we keep giving Hoggard and Harmison. 2005 was a long time ago now we need to move on with younger bowlers. Robert Key should be called in for the second test should Strauss/Vaughan fail with the bat.

Posted 14:20 7th May 2008

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