So the squad was announced today for the tours to NZ, and a couple of changes, but not quite surprises. Strauss is back after missing out in the last series and ending up working for Sky Sports. I’m not quite sure what was gained by leaving him out of one series and bringing him back when he hasn’t even played cricket anywhere competitively (his NZ club stint is still to take place). David Graveney talked of “time out of the game”, but that argument doesn’t really wash with me. Ravi Bop is the player to miss out in his place which isn’t altogether that surprising, but he didn’t exactly get a long run in the side. I’m not saying I wanted him to have that long run, just that he can feel a little hard done by.

With Strauss back in the squad though, its not a certainty that he will make the 1st XI. They may decide to play Shah, which would be a straight swap for Ravi Bop and how it worked in Sri Lanka. Bringing in Strauss at the top of the order would then mean shifting Vaughan and Bell around, so it is by no means a certainty.

The keeper scenario is interesting, with Prior left out and Tim Ambrose of Warwickshire brought in alongside Phil Mustard as keeper. Prior did ok with the bat in Sri Lanka, but is rightly paying for one too many mistakes with the gloves. Although we seem to make a habit of damning our wicket keepers as Jones and Read before him will no doubt testify. The intriguing thing for me here is the fact that it has been announced that Mustard will be the no1 for the ODI’s, with Ambrose taking the gloves initially for the Test Matches. If they rate Ambrose above Mustard in the longer form of the game, why wasn’t he the one that was taken to Sri Lanka? It doesn’t really make sense to me, and smacks of selectors who don’t know who should be playing. We have a lot of “decent” keepers in England, but the fact is that none of them have as yet made themselves a must have in the team. Here’s hoping it happens soon…

No real changes in the bowling department, the test bowlers stay the same and James Tredwell of Kent comes into the ODI side but will do well to make much of an impact as Swann is likely to be the first choice spinner. Collingwood will lead his side hoping for a continuation of the success he has achieved as skipper so far, but

There is also a “Lions” tour to India which sees Monty Panesar included. This suggests that maybe the powers that be aren’t quite completely convinced with Monty and correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t think he has really set the world alight this year. However, more experience in Indian conditions ahead of next winter’s tour is a smart move indeed….