England tour of the Caribbean 2015, April 13-May 5

[Arthur Crabtree]

England's last Test abroad was in Sydney, the final Test of a tour that seemed to end in a kind of sickness, as evidenced by this team that took the field.

Cook/Carberry/Bell/Pietersen/Ballance/Stokes/Bairstow/Borthwick/Broad/Anderson/Rankin.

Five of whom won't even be discussed at the selection meeting. The ECB don't need much of a change of fortune before they forget the times when they appeared foolish, and a win in the WI, together with the win at home against India, will join together to form a renaissance of English cricket. Anything other than a win though will remove a tiny island of success to cling to in the busy, formidable year beyond. It is a pivoting point for Moores especially.

[Arthur Crabtree]

The second spinner will be interesting. And completely unpredictable.

A second keeper? Is it still Bairstow? There hasn't been a Test squad since the Ashes, so I've lost touch with peripheral players. I think there's a suggestion that Woakes might be injured.

Cook/Robson/Lyth/Ballance/Bell/Root/Moeen/Stokes/Buttler/Bairstow/spinner/Broad/Anderson/Jordan/Plunkett/Woakes (Wood).

[Aidan11]

Hope Robson isn't going.

Trott & Mark Wood look like they are. I'd be surprised if Stokes wasn't on the plane as well.

[Aidan11]

The selectors aren't even meeting up either. Two of them are touring with their counties so it's all going to be done by phone.

[rich1uk]

The selectors aren't even meeting up either. Two of them are touring with their counties so it's all going to be done by phone.

I thought it was done with a Ouija board

[Aidan11]

The selectors aren't even meeting up either. Two of them are touring with their counties so it's all going to be done by phone.

I thought it was done with a Ouija board

Nah, the ghost of Micky Stewart has long been sacked from the selection panel.

[rich1uk]

I worked out how it is done

[Arthur Crabtree]

Why would England pick Trott for the ODI leg of the Lions tour in SA, and omit him from the fc games, and then not pick him for ODIs, but then take him on a Test tour of WI?

[Aidan11]

I think it's a mistake entirely to take him at all.

In tests Ballance has probably nailed his spot. In ODIs I can't see how he'd improve the team now.

[shankycricket]

Why would England pick Trott for the ODI leg of the Lions tour in SA, and omit him from the fc games, and then not pick him for ODIs, but then take him on a Test tour of WI?

Think you've got it the other way round, Arthur. He was in the fc squad, not one day. Not that I'd pick him in the test squad.

I'd like to see Vince and Stokes in the Test squad.

Isn't Moeen injured too?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Yes, wrong again. Thanks. It felt odd at the time because it seemed more likely he would come back in limited overs cricket, but I got the exact oddness mixed up.

Moeen should be fit for the tour. According to Vic Marks.

[shankycricket]

I think they'll have to play 2 spinners in every game (including Moeen), so I guess they may need 3 spinners in the squad (again including Moeen of course).

[Arthur Crabtree]

England can hardly think of three spinners.

Rashid and Riley went with the As.

Monty and Kerrigan are still around.

Tredwell.

[bigfluffylemon]

Many of the 'senior' players (Broad, Anderson and the like, possibly Bell and even Root, which is a bit ridiculous) are due to be rested for this tour. Woakes is injured too. Going to be interesting to see who England line up with.

[Arthur Crabtree]

The press I've read says a first choice squad will go out. But the press don't always know. They said Root, who has played the most over the last year, was going to be rested, but the WC has changed their minds.