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I know that the theorists will say pick horses for courses but what is the ideal team balance? For WI, I think it should be specialist seamers plus Holder and 1 specialist spinnner plus Chase (if in batting form) or alternatively 2 specialist spinners. That could leave us in theory with batting to No. 8 with 5 specialist batsmen, two allrounders and a keeper. Depending on specialist bowlers, if it is a Cornwall and a Aljo among them, the batting in theory goes even further to NO. 10 in theory. If Braff and Mayers are in the squad, we have two part time bowlers to add to the 5 to manage workload.

In reply to VoopsandOut

My opinion in this regard....test cricket requires specialists....be it batters, bowlers or all rounder.....5 pure batsmen...their foremost job is to score runs... wicket keeper at 6......very lucky to have Holder...an all rouner....at 7...then 4 bowlers... primarily for taking wickets...handy with bat.....we cannot make a player batting in top 5......bowl 20- 25 overs....then expect that batter comes out and score runs.....it's akin to wicket keeper coming at no.3 or 4...after keeping wickets for day and half....

In reply to VoopsandOut

You sounding like a theorist.
We know our T20 specialists will soak up dot balls and swing for the fence, we also know our test players, are not improving, after being in the team for years.
How are you going to pick a balance team?

In reply to openning

I see what you mean but we pick a balanced team from the resources available to us. That is the one thing that will not change. We have scarce resources (talent wise)

In reply to VoopsandOut

These days specialist bowlers are picked based on how many left/right handers are in the opposing team's batting lineup ...