Onions didn't look too threatening at OT this afternoon.

It's a real shame Trescothick isn't up for Tests any more, for me he's the best English batsman out there, I'd even rather have him in the team than Pietersen because he is more reliable. Best opener I've ever seen play for England apart from Gooch at his peak.

At Test level its a case of "if" rather than "once"

Their respective test averages would suggest otherwise!!!

A ton for Rashid. 5 wickets in Hants 2nd innings might make for an interesting if not desparate selection.

Won't happen - the game for the Lions on a feather bed at Worcester killed any chance of Rashid forcing his way in. England will go with Panesar if they go two spinners, irrespective of form.

Bell 92 n.o. today...

Who do people see as a possibly successor to Flintoff for the alrounder spot?

Wright? Broad? Rashid? Bresnan?

None of them are good enough (yet) to take on that role against the top sides.

For me we'll have to pick our best 6 batsmen, a wicket-keeper and best 4 bowlers for each match when we tour South Africa (possibly 5 bowlers if conditions merit it and Prior's batting holds up), against the weaker teams any of those named could probably fulfil the role adequately.

You're probably right at the moment, who do you think is the most likely to emerge in the next 2 years? I'd say Broad and possibly Rashid.

The problem for Rashid is that just as Panesar was falling out of favour Swann came into the side and played well. Opportunities to play two spinners in this country are few and far between so he'll have to wait for Swann to either get injured or lose form before he gets an opportunity.

The whole issue with Broad is going to cause the England selectors some sleepless nights. Is he effective enough with the ball to bowl in a 3 seamer attack so you can play six specialist batters? Or if you're picking him for the runs he can get at 7, do you need 3 other seamers and a spinner?

Maybe Bopara could be encouraged to do some more work on his bowling to make him into a fourth seamer and to bat at 6? Bring someone like Michael Carberry (another good knock today) in to bat at 3.

I suppose the other thing the selectors may be hoping for is that both Rashid and Broad continue their development. That way, you'll end up with 2 bowlers who are both useful batsmen. Maybe not good enough to be classed as all-rounders in their own right, but combining their runs leaves you with enough to cover for that. Five specialist batsmen, a run-scoring wicket-keeper, 2 decent enough scoring bowlers and three front line bowlers.

That sounds plausible although like Andy said Rashid has to try and get himself ahead of Swann and Monty.

Very true.

When are we next touring the sub-continent by the way? We could end up going there with Broad, Swann and Rashid at 7,8 and 9. Now that would give us some depth to the batting.

If Rashid ends up batting for England at 9 it will represent a major failure in his development. He has vastly more potential as a batsman than Broad or Swann. If he had played purely as a batsman he would probably now be at 4 in the Yorkshire order.

just worry about batting for 2 innings if you can

Trott in for Bopara according to the Beeb

[urlhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/8201312.stm[/url

Good old England, relying on another South African. Have we got any of our own players ready to take the breach anymore?

The predictable selection really.

I'd have turfed out Bell for any of the other candidates to be honest, but the selectors would then have to admit that they shouldn't have brought him back in the first place, so they have to show some faith in their selection.

Trott in for Bopara, Bell to number 3 and Flintoff in for Harmison for me, there is talk of two spinners, but how Panesar's selection can be justified is beyond me, he is in shocking form this season.

I would only ever play Panesar on a fast, bouncy, turner - which sometimes can be found at the oval.

According to the selectors, Trott, Bell and Harmison have been picked due to their consistent form in the CC - fair enough...but why has Panesar been picked ahead of the likes of Keedy, Rashid, Tredwell, Dalrymple then????

FFS! I would rather had Bopara in at four than Bell at three.

Tom Smith...nailed on certainty...

.....He's probably at the same point right now in his career as Flintoff was at a similar age....plus with Moores guiding him, I reckon within 12 months he'll be in the 1-day side...2 years the test team...

I think he's playing better than Bresnan ATM and he's in all the OD squads

brett lee is back. forecast for rain. all we need is draw