England Test tour party to West Indies

Thinking about the balance of the squad, the format of the tour is for 3 Tests, plus two warm-up games in St Kitts, one a two-day game, which will presumably be played on the Fletcher method of everyone in the squad gets a chance at batting and bowling, then another three day game (no opposition confirmed) just 3 days ahead of the first Test. No one-day games of any kind.

So if the tour is to be regarded as an attempt to rebuild a side to contest the Ashes - not to mention the currently fearsome New Zealand side - it would be an opportunity to try and address some of the weaknesses we've become aware of in the past few months. Looking at borderman's list of certainties I would say that Moeen Ali has a make or break chance to build innings against the short-pitched ball. He should face plenty of these against the West Indies and if he can't amend his technique then it probably opens up again the question of the spinner's role against the Australians. Secondly, is Bell a certainty any longer? For a very long time we've waited for him consistently to dominate or to delight and the consistency has always been lacking. Usually he has played charming, brief innings, occasionally he has lived up to his reputation and his seniority, but never for long enough to feel that his is the vital wicket in an England innings. Now would be the time to look at bringing on Taylor or Vince, throwing them into the mix with the likelihood that they would have two or three games in which to find their feet and explore the limitations of their undoubted talent.

Ballance and Root I agree with, and think that these two will have a big burden on them this summer. Buttler I'm not at all sure of, and if we're thinking of additional places, then I'd like to see Billings given a chance both as batsman and as keeper. Certainly his keeping can hardly be worse than Buttler's, who has failed to show any advance since being thrust into the role last summer. I'd agree with a return for Stokes, and hope again that he can take the opportunity to develop and to learn when to bowl short and against whom. I don't think we need a 6th seamer, though I'd like to see Fiunn back and returning to the form he had before Saker destroyed his action. Here the vulnerable one would probably be Broad, whose all-round game is receding rapidly. I agree with Tredwell, partly because you need two spinners on the current West Indian pitches, but also partly because there is nobody else, Moeen Ali excepted, who is fit to bowl spin at a decent level. I'd like to see Adil Rashid return to the form he showed as a youngster, but nothing I've seen in the last couple of years suggests that he has: his better return of wickets and average last year probably says more about the poor techniques of county batsmen unused to any kind of spin, and to careful handling by his captain.

Finally, the ones I haven't commented on: Cook to open with Lyth or Moeen Ali. Lyth looked a class player last year at Arundel and many have said the same about him on far more troublesome wickets, and he should get the chance that Robson has squandered. Cook has some rebuilding to do as a batsman, leaving aside any discussion of captaincy skills. If he cannot do that in the West Indies then we will have to tackle two issues against New Zealand, the openers and the captain.

So with no room for Rashid or Bairstow, that's only the four Yorkies in your squad, Leedsgull!

Don't think they will bother including a second wicket-keeper in the party, but if they do I agree it should be Billings. That would leave Kent up a gum tree for the first month of the season, though. They don't have a second wicket-keeper with any first team experience on the staff and would probably have to loan one from somewhere. If Bairstow is left at home and Billings is selected, Yorkshire's ex-Sussex keeper Andrew Hodd would be a good choice.

Openers

Cook
Lyth
Lees

Middle order batsmen

Ballance
Bell
Root

Keepers

Buttler
Bairstow

Spinners

M Ali
Rashid

Seamers

Anderson
Broad
Finn
Jordan
Plunkett
Stokes
Woakes

Twelve centrally contracted players are certain to go. Lyth was the best opening batsman in county cricket last season. Together with Lees they formed the best opening partnership in county cricket. Bairstow provides both a keeping and middle order batsman alternative. Rashid provides a leg spin option which on Caribbean wickets would be useful. Until his injury Plunkett was England best bowler last summer.

Nick Hoult on the first test tour party of the post-Pietersen, post-Flower era:

www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/england/11448739/England-begin-planning-for-Test-tour-of-West-Indies-and-life-after-Kevin-Pietersen.html

Hoult reckons Billings and Rashid will make the trip (the loss of Bilings for the first month of the season will be a real headache for cash-strapped Kent as since sacking Geraint Jones they have no second keeper with any first team experience).

He's less sure which way the debate will go on Trott and implies if he is selected it will be as Cook's opening partner rather than in his old berth at number three; Ballance was voted the ICC's emerging cricketer of the year for his performances in 2014  at number three and, despite his world cup struggles, to move him from there would be perverse. ( Trott - who is starting to sound like Yosser in The Boys From The Black Stuff - has apparently already been in Moores' ear, telling him that he's ready to volunteer for the opener's role).

In the bowling department, Hoult throws Plunkett's name back into the ring - presumably in addition to Anderson, Broad, Finn, Woakes and Jordan for apparently there is no question of Anderson or Broad being rested. Anderson's family have already booked their flights to see him play his 100th Test match in the Caribbean and Broad said this week that he's already packed his Test kit for the trip.

I picked thirteen of the squad. Woakes and Moeen injured and replaced by Wood and Tredwell. Lees replaced by Trott. Why has Wood been chosen ahead of Finn? He had a poor Lions tour.

Pusillanimous of Whittaker not to face the press; he should be out there bigging up Lyth, Wood and Rashid. Typical of the craven attitude of England management.

Is Tich Taylor a little unlucky not to be in the squad? Have he and Finn been the two scapegoated for the World Cup fiasco so that Broad, Anderson and Bell can escape scot-free?

Looks like Trott and Lyth are competing for one place as Cook's opening partner. Trott is a big mistake for me and when he gets smacked on the bonce by Taylor, Roach or Holder, those who have exposed him to this again should feel very guilty. Can't imagine his fragile psyche and questionable technique and temperament against the fast, short-pitched stuff will surivive through to the Ashes. But if the Windies don't deck him, I fear Mitch Johnson will delight in reducing him to a gibbering wreck once more.