England squad for Thursday

The England squad for Thursday is named tomorrow and there are a few decisions for the selectors. If Michael Vaughan is fit, should they play 6 batsmen and 4 bowlers + Collingwood, or see if there is another allrounder to fill the number 6 position. Surely, they won't ask Flintoff to bat at 6 again, as it seems generally accepted now that this is one place to high for him.

Then when it comes to the bowlers, Simon Jones is fit again and pressing for a place, while Harmison and Hoggard have both started the season well at county level. And the position of wicket-keeper is not certain either, with both Nixon and Prior, who England coach Peter Moores has worked with before at Sussex, fighting it out for one spot.

Here's our 13 man selection (13 as Vaughan is so doubtful):

Strauss
Cook
Vaughan
Bell
Pietersen
Collingwood
Bopara
Nixon
Flintoff
Harmison
Jones S
Hoggard
Panesar

Likely line-up:

Strauss
Cook
Vaughan
Pietersen
Collingwood
Bopara
Flintoff
Nixon
Harmison
Panesar
Hoggard

Although I've selected Nixon, it will be no surprise if Prior is selected given that this should be an relatively easy series for England and Nixon's age, but dropping Nixon would be hard on the old man. It would be a shame not to take advantage of Harmison's good early season form, and also not to capitalise on one of the big positives from the World Cup campaign - the emergence of Ravi Bopara. His bowling may not quite be there yet, but his batting is and that is why, if Vaughan isn't fit, Bopara should move to 3 and Bell should come in at 6. Fingers crossed Bopara gets his running right which seems an area of concern with his batting - but then it is with Bell as well. Simon Jones is the unlucky bowler but he will get his chance during the summer.

West Indies are currently struggling against Somerset, 4 wickets down at lunch, so all those in the frame will be eagerly awaiting Sunday's announcement given that if they are selected, there could be easy pickings on offer.