England's Ashes selection dilemma
It might only be March but one eye is, inevitably, on the Ashes next winter
Will
25-Feb-2013
It might only be March but one eye is, inevitably, on the Ashes next winter. After a difficult subcontinent winter, England's debutants have shown immense character and no shortage of talent which, as Mike Atherton says, could cause immense headaches for Duncan Fletcher and the selectors:
With Marcus Trescothick set to make himself available for the summer and Michael Vaughan on the mend, what is England's best line-up? All eyes, inevitably, are on Australia next winter and the defence of the Ashes and it is likely the selectors will want to use the summer to bed down the top six who will take on Australia.
Trescothick, Vaughan, Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff are all certainties, leaving one place for Paul Collingwood, Bell, Cook and Shah to fight for. The competition is fierce.
None of the middle-order candidates is the complete package. A combination of their best qualities - Bell's orderliness and method, Collingwood's intelligence and spunk and Shah's undoubted flair and natural ability - would produce the ideal prototype and solve the selectors' dilemma. At the moment Cook looks the best bet, and he may yet spark a move to the middle-order for Trescothick.
Headache it might well be, but it's a nice one for England to have. Atherton has more on Owais Shah, too, who today made a fine 88.