KP is gone, which way would you go for the first test of the summer? Mine would be: Cook Robson Ali Bell Root Stokes Prior Broad Jordan Mills Anderson Let Root and Moeen take care of the spin, none of the others give it a tweak and are on day/T20 bowlers. Borthwick needs to get more control. There is plenty of batting, and pace in the attack. It will allow short bursts from them.
Some decisions for the selectors to make: 1. Who should open with Cook - Robson, Root, Carberry, an other? (Robson for me) 2. Who should bat at 3 now Trotty is not an option - Bell or Root? (I'll go for Root) 3. Do we play 5 bowlers - (no Swann so probably yes - Stokes has to bat at 6) 4. Other batting slot - Taylor, Ali, Balance, Bairstow, Compton etc (Moeen Ali worth having a look at?) 5. Keeper - Bairstow, Prior, Buttler? (Given the departure of Pietersen,, Trott & Swann we probably need a bit of experience) 6. Who will be the 3rd seamer (Finn's early season wickets give him the edge? Woakes did well on the Lions tour) 7. The biggest question for me is the spinner - Borthwick and Ali both batsmen who can bowl, Cook does not trust Monty, Kerrigan could play, Treadwell a one day specialist (and dropped by Kent), same applies to Parry, Briggs a possibility. (The appointment of Moores may help Kerrigan's case - I would pick whoever takes wickets in the next month) My XI Cook Robson Root Bell Moeen Stokes Prior Broad Finn Anderson Briggs