Interesting selections for the Lions and England XI games, looks like they are giving Onions and Rashid a chance to show they can cause the Aussies some problems and win test spots, though it could be argued that they should be kept away from the Aussies so they don't have experience of playing them come the first test.

England team v Warwickshire at Edgbaston (1-3 July):

Andrew Strauss (captain), James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Ravi Bopara, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Andrew Flintoff, Monty Panesar, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior (wk), Graeme Swann.

England Lions v Australia at Worcester (1-4 July):

Ian Bell (captain) (Warwickshire), Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire), Joe Denly (Kent), Steven Davies (wk) (Worcestershire), Stephen Harmison (Durham), Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire), Stephen Moore (Worcestershire), Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Graham Onions (Durham), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Vikram Solanki (Worcestershire).

Not sure that there's anything to be gained from hiding Rashid and Onions from the Aussies. It will be a useful trial for both of them. And both Harmisom and mahmood could play themselves into contention.

If he is bowling well he should be in the squad, he has genuine pace and bounce and seems to be bowling with agression. He does have issues but for instance comparing him to Bresnan it's a non brainer when you look at form this season.

ricky ponting. brett lee.

I don't think Bresnan is the right comparison, he is in the squad as he offers more with the bat as well, and might help provide balance to the team if needed.

Harmison is obviously an out and out bowler, but if we recall him every time he has a good few weeks how are other, younger players who haven't got a history of letting England down ever going to mature into test performers when they keep getting dropped to make way for him?

What's that - a list of the Aussies genuine world class players?

Getting shorter every year, isn't it?

Correct. Plus, Harmison isn't good enough anyway. Ponting and Hughes would have absolutely slaughtered him.

And that, for me, hits the nail squarely on the head.
The last time he was in the England team he wasnt even bowling particularly fast...Anderson, Broad, Sidebottom, Flintoff are all way ahead of him and neither Onions nor Bresnan have done anything wrong in their 2 tests to date...I applaud the selectors for this squad

Which younger bowlers are these then? Okay there is Onions and Broad but Harmison could easily have come in for Sidebottom.

When Harmison gets it right he is arguably our best bowler, right now in the CC he is getting it right more often than not.

The major issue with Harmison IMO is his mental fragility. One bad performance and he disappears back into his sulky shell for the rest of the series.

The thing is, he's in the same mould as Mahmood. Can turn it on in the Championship no problem, but he doesn't seem to have the right mentality to turn it on at Test level. That's the problem. For him, anyway.

CC too international is a very big step up Saj will never be good enough for international level. Onions has had a good start but needs to improve a lot more yet. Harmision is done at international level doesnt have the same drive he had

Personally, I think Harmison should have been in the squad in place of Bresnan.

In form, Harmison can eb lethal, especially on bouncing English wickets.

Bresnan on the other hand will not get a look in whatever happens; there is no one in the starting XI who would be replaced by Bresnan if they get injured/out of form, and therefore Bresnan shouldn't be in the squad.

The logical replacement when (not if) Flintoff breaks down again IMO.

What a suprise another anti Flintoff post from Andy Gilder

What a surprise, another Lancs fan kissing his (injured) backside...

Flintoff injured is still ouyr 2nd best bowler behind another lanchashire lad Jimmy Anderson. Flintoff doesnt play we dont win the ashes simple. Flintoff has the big game temprament the only other is Pieterson

Flintoff tonight
93 runs off 41 balls
2-32 off 4 overs
Not bad for an 'injured' player

the fact is england without him are nothing him and pieterson are the only big game players we have a half fit flintoff is second best bowler behind Jimmy a fuly fit Flintofff is the best bowler in the world IMO

I take it you don't watch much cricket then???

Just what England needed going into the Ashes IMO. Should do Flintoff a world of good to hit some runs, and can only be good for England.

Name me a better bowler?? Mendhis arguably Flintoff creates wickets, take wickets and also ties 1 end up dont need to wacth it played the game 12 year know who id rather not face

I would have Dale Steyn, Mitchell Johnson, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis over Flintoff as a bowler any day of the week...now as a good bowler who can bat a bit then you may be onto something

Hopefully this is the start of a run of good form for him, England need him.

Bresnan would get battered by the Aussies.

He's neither a bowler who is useful with the bat nor a batsmen who can bowl a bit.

He's just average with both in my opinion. Good player at county level, but never going to do anything in the Test arena; certainly not at the Ashes level.

If Flintoff is unable to play all 5 tests I think he'll just be replaced with which ever pace bowler is left out of the starting XI; be that Sidebottom or Onions.