First Test: England v South Africa, Lord's, July 6-10.

[rich1uk]

it just strikes me as a remarkably defensive option to play Dawson because we want someone at #8 that can handle the bat reasonably well, when there is no way he should be in the team based on his bowling alone

[ianp1970]

it just strikes me as a remarkably defensive option to play Dawson because we want someone at #8 that can handle the bat reasonably well, when there is no way he should be in the team based on his bowling alone

If we wanted someone for that particular role, Fat Sam has all the form in the book this season!

[Durhamfootman]

oh crikey..... don't go there

[rich1uk]

it just strikes me as a remarkably defensive option to play Dawson because we want someone at #8 that can handle the bat reasonably well, when there is no way he should be in the team based on his bowling alone

If we wanted someone for that particular role, Fat Sam has all the form in the book this season!

we already have Moeen Ali in the squad to play that role

if we count Stokes and Ali as legitimate bowling options we are going to have 6 bowlers plus root as a backup

if we wanted the extra batting just play a batsman as we certainly dont need all that bowling

[Durhamfootman]

no extra batsmen in the squad, though

[ianp1970]

Or, in a similar way to we're playing 10 plus a wildcard (Roy) in ODIs: if we think there is enough batting with JB at 7 - why not play a proper spinner at 11?

[rich1uk]

just to add and i know this will probably sound silly but having 2 all-rounders in Stokes and Ali has kinda made our selection harder rather than easier as the selectors cant seem to make their minds up where they should bat and we end up picking a bowler we dont need rather than have someone who is seen as a proper batsman bat as low as #8 as the perception is they are wasted there

so we end up batting Stokes and Ali in the top 6 and then waste a spot on a bowler rather than risk upsetting them or another batsman by asking them to bat at #8

[ianp1970]

Agree on the all-rounder point

One all-rounder: 5/1/1/4
Stokes 6 Bairstow 7 Ali/Dawson left out

Two all-rounders: 5/2/1/3
Stokes 6 Bairstow 7 Ali 8 - won't work with the current squad.

Three all-rounders: 4/3/1/3
Ali 5 Stokes 6 Bairstow 7 Dawson 8 - weak batting and attack!

I go back to my earlier point about us missing Chris Woakes.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Disappointed in Ballance being called up. He may well score well given his runs for Yorks, but he should have been given longer to prove his recovery. If he does badly again, the selectors have to accept responsibility for another crazy yo-yo choice. Bad for Yorks too.

If Dawson has been picked to bat at eight that's another bad failure of nerve and even perhaps an obstinate refusal sift through the wreckage of the India tour. My hunch is that he is the spinner and Mo is a number five bat.

[Durhamfootman]

My hunch is that he is the spinner and Mo is a number five bat.

mine too

[budgetmeansbudget]

Disappointed in Ballance being called up. He may well score well given his runs for Yorks, but he should have been given longer to prove his recovery. If he does badly again, the selectors have to accept responsibility for another crazy yo-yo choice. Bad for Yorks too.

If Dawson has been picked to bat at eight that's another bad failure of nerve and even perhaps an obstinate refusal sift through the wreckage of the India tour. My hunch is that he is the spinner and Mo is a number five bat.

I guess you can't criticise the Ballance selection because he is the form batsman this season, but my word he's going to be crapping himself when he gets to the crease, and you can't help think he might revert to type, get too far back in his crease, and just remain stuck there until he gets out. Hope I'm wrong.

I'm not a fan of Dawson, even as a Hants fan, but he had an okay debut test last time out, and probably doesn't warrant dumping out the twelve straightaway. Plus he's been around the England camp in other forms of the game recently and they may like his general all round contribution to the group.

[Arthur Crabtree]

ZBGB coming into bat now for the Lions.

[dan08]

Ballance 13* off 71 so far. He's back.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Must be limited nurdle opportunities.

[backfootpunch]

just to add and i know this will probably sound silly but having 2 all-rounders in Stokes and Ali has kinda made our selection harder rather than easier as the selectors cant seem to make their minds up where they should bat and we end up picking a bowler we dont need rather than have someone who is seen as a proper batsman bat as low as #8 as the perception is they are wasted there

so we end up batting Stokes and Ali in the top 6 and then waste a spot on a bowler rather than risk upsetting them or another batsman by asking them to bat at #8

Maybe we should pick a proper keeper

Bat foakes at 8