Skippers? No other options really. Strauss isn't going to play one-day any more to extend his test career. Cook is next in line. Cook can play 50-over but not 20-20. 20-20 captain must be a certainty in the side, hence Broad. Easy peasy.
The all in one Consolidatorised Cricket Thread Page 14
Amazing last two hours at cardiff
I keep forgetting the cricket's back.
Looking forward to watching a bit of cricket on the box today. What a lovely day to be at Lords in fact, haven't been there in moons. Anyway, what a great two days it's been for England fans, KP hitting his best form again, what a lovely 2nd ton that was! And the seamers knocking the greatest batting side in the world out for nearly 200 short. When Broad had two catches dropped within a few balls I thought we'd missed our chance. I also thought we'd gone in short of a bowler. Wrong again.
Hope to see some more great batting by England today. What do you reckon, a quick 300 then put India in after tea? We are looking like a very, very good outfit at the moment, I don't know what's gone wrong. (Hope I haven't spoke too soon)
I think we've looked like a good outfit for a while.
I still agree with Alfred that we probably should play that extra bowler.
If you look at our batting line up it really must get teams down. Great we got Strauss out, who comes in Trott. Great Cook finally goes after another centry who comes in KP. Then Bell.
Prior is good enough to bat six epesically with Broad, Bresen and Swann coming in next
Of course this is why we need six batsmen
Yes I missed the first few hours but when I turned it on it was 
not again! 150 for 6 or something but I understand it was a lot worse earlier. But I think Prior and Broad proved that we are okay in the tail when it comes to it now, so I'd like to see that extra bowler in.
If England don't win this now then everyone will be saying it was because we were a bowler short. After five days the three seamers get very tired, that's the big problem. And Lords isn't a spinners wicket, so we have a right to ask what the selectors were doing. Again.
To be fair the selectors don't often get it wrong. We are the 2nd best test team in the world just on the back of hammering the Aussies in their own back garden. And we have strength in depth.
Personally I would like to see five bowlers in the side, but four is what we will have.
I Don't really see a lot wrong with England's Test Match team at the moment.
They're very good. The 6 batsmen 5 bowlers debate will continue but until another genuine all rounder emerges who can bat in the top 6 then I think they have it right. You'll probably lose more games with a light batting line up than win ones with the extra bowler.
That's the irony isn't it. All the time we had Botham and Flintoff we weren't near the top. Now we are, we're notably missing the world class all rounder we had for so long. Doh! 
Prior adds a lot to the team with his batting at seven.
Fine bowling performance today, glad we stuck with Broad. He is still young remember.
Broad is making himself undroppable now, with knocks like yesterday's. It appears he's not the most consistent with either bat or ball but when he clicks he really clicks. And it often happens to be when England are in trouble. I reckon he'll be around for a long time. 
Swann should have been in the test side a lot earlier than he was but being a spinner, he should have a year or two more at the top than if he were a seamer.
Morgan is the only player you could call a weak link. And he is not a like for like replacement for Collingwood, as he doesn't bowl at all. This is why I think Bopara is still very much in the frame, as he gives you that back up bowler option, crucial when one of the 3 seamers gets a niggle, which happens an awful lot in five day test cricket.
For that vacant spot you could rotate 3 players to suit different condititions. Morgan when you need not to lose a test or on flat wickets, Bopara when you want both options, and Bresnan when you do need a fourth seamer, like in Australia or South Africa. England tend not to be this flexible in selection though, rather finding one to stick with. I'm not sure if Morgan is that man, from what I've seen so far.
Could be a fascinating day's cricket. India are rallying, have loads of class with the bat, but England are in top form, the ball is swinging and Anderson gets wickets here. This is a classic series in the making, I'm thinking.
You forgot the other option for the Morgan / Ravi / Bresnan spot.
A 2nd Spinner.
Assuming England do win this series by 2 and go to number 1 in the world. They still need to do one thing to truely be great....go to India and win. And that needs an extra spinner.
I would for over there yes, but an attacking one like Monty. In the meantime I'd like them to give Ravi another fling, he's a flair player and KP won't be around for ever. We need at least one in the team who swings the bat.
We should have dropped Broad.....