Come in No 6

OK, after this morning's epic here's a shorter post for you to consider. England's first Test of the summer starts in just over three weeks' time and, as ever, the make-up of the team is in doubt. The key dilemma is over who to bat at No 6, with Paul Collingwood having done little to advance his case this winter. In his past 18 innings, Collingwood's highest score is 66. Collingwood was perhaps mindful of that when he told me last week that Test cricket was much more important to him than the IPL.

Most of the media are on persistent Flintoff-watch but Duncan Fletcher said at the weekend that the Lancashire all-rounder is no longer a good enough batsman to be at No 6. Some may argue that Tim Ambrose could bat No 6 with Flintoff at 7. In any case, I worry that Flintoff will be rushed back before he has proved himself. So who else could be in the frame? Assuming the top five is Cook, Vaughan, Strauss, Pietersen, Bell (and I'm not sure Vaughan or Bell should rest too easy) who will bat below them?

Here are the main contenders and how well they have done in all cricket in the past month, including friendlies. I'll update this each Monday and ask you to vote on who you want in.

Andrew Flintoff First-class: 23 in one innings, one wkt in 28 overs; one-day: 105 runs in three innings, three wkts in nine overs

Ravi Bopara First-class: 157 runs in two inns, six wkts in 48 ovs; one-day: 235 runs in five inns, four wkts in 31 ovs

Owais Shah First-class: 238 runs in three inns; one-day: 93 runs for once out

Mark Ramprakash First-class: 118 in one inns; Two-day game: 26 and 7; one-day: two ducks

Luke Wright First-class: 170 runs in two completed inns, 1 wkt in 32 ovs; one-day: 58 runs in four inns, four wkts in 14 ovs

Paul Collingwood Not played since New Zealand

Opinion Polls & Market Research

Comments

[JamesMoscow]

Sorry, how is it that Strauss is now a given?

[James]

Easy:

Collingwood 6, Flintoff 7, Ambrose 8, Sidebottom 9, Hoggard 10, Panesar 11

Broad slightly unlucky to miss out

[Mike]

Hello, I would mainly question the top five. To me Pietersen should go at 3, Bell 4, Collingwood 5, then Prior 6 as batsmen only

[Innocent Abroad]

Colly's the man in possession and if fit should keep his place. He may well bat at 5 before the season's over, though.

Agree that if Flintoff returns, it should be at No. 7.

Hopefully Wright or Bopara, depending on form, will get a spell in the side at some point during the summer: Ramps and Shah, if contenders, are not in line for the No. 6 spot.