Who Would You Pick For The First Test Of The Summer?

When are the teams being announced?

7am Thurday.

Reading the tea leafs from various papers this morning, it would seem that the most likely permutations are: if Compton plays, Vince will bat at 5. If Ballance is picked and Compton dropped, I would envision Vince batting at 3 and Ballance at 5. And if Westley is picked ahead of Compton, he bats 3 and Vince at 5.

Personally, I would be shocked if Westley is selected ahead of both Compton and Ballance. Yes, he has got off to a good start this year, but he has done so in Division Two, he has a career first-class average of 35 and averaged 37 last year.

Unfortunately, neither Compton nor Ballance have been amongst the runs this early in the season, making this an incredibly difficult decision. All three have their warts: Compton's scoring troubles are well documented, Ballance's technique woes were exposed last summer, and Westley is untested with very little pedigree save for six innings this year against largely inferior talent, and on top of this had a difficult winter with the England Lions.

If I were a betting man, I would put my money on Compton keeping his place in the squad for one more series, which will then allow them to reassess before the Pakistan series. Still, if you were going to bed in two Test debutantes, a home series against Sri Lanka would be the time to do so.

It would also seem certain that Jake Ball will be the extra seamer in the 13-man squad as cover for Steven Finn.

As I had expected, Hales and Compton keep their place in the side while Vince will make his Test debut and bat at no 5. Ball is included in the 12-man squad as backup to Steven Finn.

Sticking with Compton is the right move in my opinion. He got off to a great start in Durban, did okay in Cape Town, but then seemed to come unglued after criticism about his slow play. I don't think Ballance has shown enough form this early in the season to replace him and I am not sold on Westley.

England squad to face Sri Lanka:

Cook (c), Hales, Compton, Root, Vince, Stokes, Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Broad, Finn, Anderson, Ball

So Vince instead of Adil.

I do think we need to get Adil involved and, as much as I like Mo, he has to bowl better and score a bit more as Adil, although expensive at times, isa  match winner and can bat.

A week today kick off!

In the build up to the squad announcement, a number of journalists opined that England should consider playing two spinners this summer in preparation for the tours of India and Bangladesh later in the year. Personally, I am a believer of playing each series on its merits and so would stick with Mo and the four seamers.

That said, Mo has tailed off with bat and ball as of late. Unfortunately, Rashid also struggled in Dubai himself. Rash has the potential to be a match winner, and we all know that leggies take longer to develop, so there is still plenty of time yet for him to prove himself. But you are right, we need to find a way to get him involved so we can see just what he has to offer if given an extended period in the team.

I am curious to see what would happen if Mo has a tough series against Sri Lanka. Obviously, I hope this doesn't happen, but it is food for thought.

After a winter of white ball cricket, I can't wait for the first Test. I just hope the weather up north complies.

Finally , TEST cricket !!

Vince century against Yorkshire attack at Headingley was watched by national selector

James Whitaker.

I can believe that declaration
Now SL bats getting some good EYE in ....

Excellent point. I think England would have also benefited from the Sri Lankan players spending more time in the field and bowlers being forced to put in longer spells. There was never going to be a winner in a 3-day match, so very surprised Leicestershire didn't just bat all the way through.

Karunaratne moving into his 90s have his EYE totally set.

strange declaration

Last bat  FDM Karunaratne retired out 100    (165m 134b 16x4 0x6) SR: 74.62 

just unbelieveable !  :-[