I would be tempted to put Ian Bell in there somewhere.

I don't know who I would drop out though. Maybe Bopara.

Cant drop Bopara hes the only 1 i have confidence in getting runs hes in the form of hes life. Bell is scared od the aussies i have been hes biggest fan but hes too inconsistent and with how dodgy out batting line up is too start Bell cant play unless injurys hit. Not sayign Strauss is a bad captain hes too he responsibilty well its even improved hes batting but some times we lose our way in the field Vaughan knows how to keep you intrested the bowling changes he made 2005 for example (granted out bowling atack was better then) but if he proves himself he should be in it wouldgive us a deeper batting line up too

How on Earth you could drop Bopara for Bell is beyond me.

spot on lol

If Flintoff is going to be included it needs to be as a bowler only, not as a batsman. He can't bat, simple as.

I am pretty sure that is up to the Aussie bowlers.

(Everyone bats

)

flintoff will come off 1nce every 10 games with the bat. When he gets in hes a match winner with how he bats he just is inconsistent

We don't have ten games in the Ashes. That inconsistency is the main reason why he shouldn't be a top or middle order batsman. He can't play against spin and he can only bat by attempting to hit the cover off the ball. If he ever does learn to play properly - and gets over his spin 'phobia' - then he should be considered for his batting once more. But at the moment? Naah.

agree - that's unthunkable as things stand

Yet it's England and ECB so it's probably gunna happen.



Strauss

Cook

Bopara

Pietersen

Collingwood

Flintoff

Prior

Broad

Swann

Onions

Anderson



That'd be my team, although I expect Bell/Sidebottom/Vaughan to be in there somewhere.

Bell & Vaughan should be completely discounted unless they do something spectacular in the County Championship. I doubt Vaughan will ever be the same again. Mark Butcher recently came back from exactly one year out with a serious knee injury and scored a superb 65 at Cardiff against Glamorgan last weekend - he looked like he'd never been away, but Vaughan never looks convincing after his injury lay-offs. On the evidence I've seen Butcher should be ahead of Vaughan in the pecking order.



The one bloke I feel should be in contention is Saj Mahmood. I've always felt he had all the necessary ingredients except consistency, but he seems to be finding that right now. He's a very similar style of bowler to Simon Jones, who was our best bowler four years ago in the Ashes series win, and I can't help feeling he could play a similar role.

Flintoff can't bat at 6, we may aswell give up now, his batting is absolutely awful right now. I would be tempted to go for two spinners in the first test.