England's team for the 1st Test v Sri Lanka

It seems a long way away, but the thoughts of the England team management will soon turn to the Test squad to tour Sri Lanka, and from that select bunch, the team for the 1st Test on 1st December must be picked. Here's my attempt at that selection:

Strauss
Cook
Vaughan
Pietersen
Collingwood
Bopara
Flintoff
Nixon
Sidebottom
Panesar
Hoggard

The thinking is that Bell has had enough chances without really coming through and it's time to give Bopara his chance. Strauss hasn't been convincing this summer, and there has been speculation that he'll be given the winter off by England in one of the Sunday papers, but I doubt that is something England will entertain. By taking Owais Shah they give themselves the option of moving Vaughan up to open, and bringing in a player who is good against spin.

Bopara and Collingwood will both be legitimate bowlers on Sri Lanka's slower pitches. Flintoff gives you pace, while Hoggard and Sidebottom will be best suited to the pitches there - bowling in Chaminda Vaas style - rather than Harmison. Spin wise, the lack of a credible second spinner to Panesar means that they shouldn't play one, instead focussing on Vaughan and, to a lesser extent, Pietersen to provide that additional spin option.

Prior simply hasn't done enough to retain his place in the team, and Nixon's average of just short of 50 in the County Championship, plus the known admiration Michael Vaughan has for him, gets him selection, irrelevant of his age. That selection would have to be made with the thinking that Nixon will also play next English summer.

The other change that England may want to consider - in fielding positions rather than selection - is their slip to Panesar. With Flintoff back in the team and Collingwood having dropped a couple off Panesar this summer, Flintoff should field at slip, allowing Collingwood to field in the ring - which is presumably where England would field him if they had enough good slip catchers.

Who would the additional players be to fill up the squad of 15? I would argue they should be Graeme Swann, Steve Harmison, Owais Shah, and your reserve keeper - you could make a case for many but Chris Read should get the nod. If it wasn't for the desire to have a "bubbly" keeper Read could have a go at making the position his own, batting at number 8 rather than 7 which was a place to high for him last winter, but while England might just about take him in the squad, past history suggests he's unlikely to start. Gareth Batty is the other one who will feel he may just pip Swann as the second spinner in the squad.