Which England changes would you make?

[Simster]

Too bad Cook *and* Bell can't both be dropped IMO. Neither of them are doing their jobs properly at the moment, and need to be replaced. However, we haven't got the batting options in the touring party. So which one would you drop?

And if you do drop one, would you replace him with another batsman or a bowler. It's not like we've got an abundance of riches in either. I think Bell has to go, and that Cook is a lucky boy. I'd play Prior at 6, an Luke Wright at number 7. Or maybe push Swann up the order to 7 and Wright comes in at 8.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Wright in for Bell and Prior to 6, Wright at 7. I think Wright's batting is good enough for a test 7.

 

[Simster]

Wright in for Bell and Prior to 6, Wright at 7. I think Wright's batting is good enough for a test 7.

Yeah, Prior in at 6 worries me though. Fine with 250+ already on the board, but quite often out too easily if not.

 

[Mackenzie]

Wright for Bell, gives more balance to the team:

Strauss
Cook

Trott
Peterson
Collingwood

Prior
Wright
Swann
Broad

Anderson
Onions

 

[Perry Milkins]

Yeah, Prior in at 6 worries me though. Fine with 250+ already on the board, but quite often out too easily if not.

I agree entirely.

Drop Pieterson?

 

[Simster]

I agree entirely.

Drop Pieterson?

Maybe just play him as a spinner and bat at #10 in the order?

 

[CHAPPERS]

The whole middle/lower order worries me but I think Prior has to bat 6. He has the talent, it's just a case of applying himself a bit more.

 

[keaton]

Wright for Bell, Prior's just about good enough be a 6 and as a 6,7,8,9 Prior-Wright-Broad-Swann balances out well

 

[8ace]

I'd go for an extra bowler - this test is right near the sea so it might move about a bit.

Strauss
Cook
Trott
Peterson
Collingwood
Prior
Swann
Broad
Anderson
Onions
Sidebottom (or Rashid if the pitch looks like a bunsen)

 

[jakarta]

I've had enough of this! He's not Peterson or Pieterson or Petersen, the twattish horrible inbred braindead Saffer name is Pietersen FFS, not any variation thereof.....

And Prior isn't a Test No.6 yet so we have real problems - don't know what exactly Ed Joyce has to do to get into the Selectors good books?

On the other hand as a Sussex fan would be happy to see both Prior & Wright dropped for next summer as we are going to need them to get out of Division 2.....

 

[Spiros]

At least Cook is capable of upping his game. To me Bell has always looked a waste of space against any decent opposition. You might as well drop him and put an extra bowler in. It's not as if you'll be sacrificing any runs and you'll get an extra bowling option. If the pitch looks like it'll turn, put in Rashid, otherwise put in Sidebottom if fit. Although Wright might be able to bat a bit, he's probably not good enough to get a score v the South Africans. His bowling doesn't look test calibre either - he seems to be better at containing a la one dayers than actually getting tough wickets.

 

[Lewes' best seagull]

I think we have enough batting security with broad and swann to have wright in for Bell.

 

[highway61]

I'd go for an extra bowler - this test is right near the sea so it might move about a bit.

Strauss
Cook
Trott
Peterson
Collingwood
Prior
Swann
Broad
Anderson
Onions
Sidebottom (or Rashid if the pitch looks like a bunsen)

I think i would go pretty much along with that, Botham made a valid point that we won two ashes test in the Summer when we played 5 bowlers. My gut feeling in first test was that both sides erred on a draw /dont lose mentality and leant towards extra batsmen.

 

[Fourteenth Eye]

I would Like Wright to play, royally cock it up & then be told to go back to Sussex & play some matches and not to bother the nice selectors again

 

[Gerbil]

Cook and Bell are shithouse.

 

[phoenix]

Bell is allways good for a few runs.When you dont need them,imo.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Somebody needs to explain to Cook about his off stump.

Plunkett for Bell, Broad at 7, Swann at 8, then Plunkett or Anderson.

Durban is going to be a bouncey wicket, so Plunkett should perform on that.