spot on lol

If Flintoff is going to be included it needs to be as a bowler only, not as a batsman. He can't bat, simple as.

I am pretty sure that is up to the Aussie bowlers.
(Everyone bats )

flintoff will come off 1nce every 10 games with the bat. When he gets in hes a match winner with how he bats he just is inconsistent

We don't have ten games in the Ashes. That inconsistency is the main reason why he shouldn't be a top or middle order batsman. He can't play against spin and he can only bat by attempting to hit the cover off the ball. If he ever does learn to play properly - and gets over his spin 'phobia' - then he should be considered for his batting once more. But at the moment? Naah.

agree - that's unthunkable as things stand

Yet it's England and ECB so it's probably gunna happen.

Strauss
Cook
Bopara
Pietersen
Collingwood
Flintoff
Prior
Broad
Swann
Onions
Anderson

That'd be my team, although I expect Bell/Sidebottom/Vaughan to be in there somewhere.

Bell & Vaughan should be completely discounted unless they do something spectacular in the County Championship. I doubt Vaughan will ever be the same again. Mark Butcher recently came back from exactly one year out with a serious knee injury and scored a superb 65 at Cardiff against Glamorgan last weekend - he looked like he'd never been away, but Vaughan never looks convincing after his injury lay-offs. On the evidence I've seen Butcher should be ahead of Vaughan in the pecking order.

The one bloke I feel should be in contention is Saj Mahmood. I've always felt he had all the necessary ingredients except consistency, but he seems to be finding that right now. He's a very similar style of bowler to Simon Jones, who was our best bowler four years ago in the Ashes series win, and I can't help feeling he could play a similar role.

Flintoff can't bat at 6, we may aswell give up now, his batting is absolutely awful right now. I would be tempted to go for two spinners in the first test.

Flintoff batting at seven would be okay for mine.

On the bowling front, I'd gamble on Rashid. Really. I don't think we have enough quality pacemen anyway, so two spinners could be something to think about.

bring on 4 spinners

whys that so you can borrow 1?? huaritz is dog iron he wouldnt be able to play club cricket over here never mind the ashes

Given the reports I've read about Cardiff, I'd say 2 spinners is definitely the way to go there.

Swann and Panesar or Rashid ?

Rashid will give us more strength in the batting lineup and Panesar has been slipping this last year