English squad announced

In essence, very few surprises in the announcement of the English squad for the decider at The Oval. After the county games this week, Bell reaffirmed his English place, even if some say he doesn't deserve. The problem for the selectors is that they had no choice with Bopara and to drop two batsman - even if deserved - would smell of panic. Bell's century for Warwickshire meant that banishment would bring too high a price in embarrassment. Flintoff looks certain for a return in place of Harmison and lets face it, he was always going to play. Who does he replace? Panesar will be added to the squad just to keep the Aussies guessing and in order to bring Hauritz back into the Australian side. I'm pretty certain they'd rather face Hauritz than Clark.

It's the batting order that I would be tinkering with. As I've mentioned, Bell seems hardly likely to succeed batting at three since he's failed at four, so after Strauss and Cook I'd go Trott, Colly and then Bell, with Prior at six. Flintoff would head a competent tail followed by Broad, Swann, Anderson & Onions. I've changed my mind about Panesar. Flintoff's injury cloud makes him too big a risk.

The latest hint on what the skipper thinks - especially important after Hooker Hilditch's comments re Stuart Clark's place in the pecking order - appeared in certain English papers today. His quote "It's going to be pretty difficult to change a side which has had such an emphatic win" followed comments indicating that the second innings pasting Clark took at the hands of a cavalier tail had no bearing on the selection for the 5th Test. Ponting has a habit of opening the bag in the lead up to the Test and letting the cat scream about for a bit. Taking a line through that, I'll go with Katich, Watson, Ponting, Hussey, Clarke, North, Haddin, Johnson, Clark, Siddle & Hilfenhaus being the Aussie line-up.