Surely we have a better batsman than Nick Compton?

I am thinking even I might be.

*cough...James Vince?

Ian Bell.

Jos Buttler.

I cant help but have the cynical opinion that they wont pick Buttler because he is a wicket keeper, and its just isnt cricket to pick two wicketkeepers in the same team what?

Infact they could leave out Vince and Compton and replace with Buttler and Stokes.

Cook
Hales
Root
Birstow
Buttler
Stokes
Ali
Woakes
Broad
Finn
Anderson

Alli has had a good season so will definitely be in the team, but I don't think Roy will drop Rooney for Stokes - sure he's Scottish or summit anyway.

Agree on Compton but I have said all along he's not good enough but Vince!? FFS he's batted THREE times!!?

Talented player I think he'll get more of a go than that. Leave Root at four give Scott Borthwick a go at three.

But what about Jos Buttler?

If they can give other players somany chances, I cant believe they cant find a place for Buttler.

And how is Stokes ever gonna get back in, if Woakes keeps batting like a batsman?

I am not syaing Vince isnt good enough but there are only 11 places.

By the way, Bairstow is some player now isnt he?

His keeping is not that hot, though.

They need to tweak Buttler's batting technique somehow in the same way Bairstow has to his in order that his technique suits Test cricket successfully too then we have a massive win win as Bairstow can then just bat. Buttler is a talented keeper

The trouble is though if he did modify his technique I feel we would lose Buttler the limited overs batsman rather than gain Buttler the test batsman. By allowing him to go to the IPL the ECB clearly feel he would be better focussing on becoming a destructive, hard hitting batsman rather than knuckling down into a better test batsman.

He could still play test cricket though. Adam Gilchrist came in at number 7/8 and played exactly as he did in ODI cricket. There's no reason why Buttler couldn't do the same. The trouble is though I feel he'll only realistically get back into the team if the management feel Bairstow isn't up to it with the gloves.

Well technique could also be mindset at this level and maybe he just needs to play more freely like his natural game in test cricket.

Personally I don't think Bairstow is up to it with the gloves but if the team are prepared to sacrifice a couple of chances per match to accommodate an extra bowler or batter then they will stick with him.

What sensational batting form he's in though

He certainly is. A fantastic knock.

Maybe they will conclude he's not up to it with the gloves. That drop off Woakes when Karunaratne was on 28 was shocking!

I agree with that especially on Buttler he doesn't have to change anything about his technique to play Test cricket he just needs to play his natural game. Just before he was dropped it was as if he was trying to play like a Test batsman should which just isn't him.

He's going to get back in the team at some point, how soon probably depends on how Vince does against Pakistan. If he fails I can see Bairstow moving up to 5 and giving the gloves back to Buttler.

That seems the most logical and probable scenario PJ.

Excellent selection problems brewing when Stokes comes back. There is an argument that you could try and accommodate him and Woakes and Bairstow and Buttler which would be very exciting if not so solid looking. For me the form of Root and Bairstow might allow it.

Woakes bowling has come on leaps and bounds on evidence of last 2 tests, couple of yards quicker and very accurate

Finn is the most unde threat when Stokes is fit which would give us a ridiculously long batting line up.