I'm a great fan of Stuart Magill; I'm not sure about his religious tendencies, but hey, he's a great bowler. If Warne wasn't there, he would be an automatic choice. But Warne IS there, and is still the greatest bowler cricket has ever known. He is also a great competitor and a match-winner. Oh, and he can bat, which Magill can't. So no Magill then.
I'd need to take advice on Rashid, but would only say I would'nt attempt to blood a new test bowler in an Ashes series away from home. Call me a cautious old thing but there you are.
Bicknell was given a shot in recent years, and came in with a bang. Then what? They chose not to pursue him, and as he will be 38 in 6 weeks time, I tend to agree with them.
Monty is a great prospect. My son was at Loughborough University with him recently and pronounces him "a good bloke", even though he didn't automatically try to get falling-over-pissed every night as students are supposed to. But Monty needs to face the Aussies (in their own back yard) on a turning wicket, and we are not there yet. He will have his moment, but it isn't yet. Imagine if we had introduced him to the Aussie batsmen in full flow at the 'Gabba - they would have seriously destroyed not just his confidence but probably his career. So let's stick with Ashley, just to be safe.
Finally, we do have attacking bowlers, and they are already in the side. If it was a one-day series, it may be different, but test cricket happens over a 5 day period. It is a TEST. Not just of ability, technique, and natural talent, but mainly of mental strength, application, the ability to not buckle under everything the Aussies will no doubt be throwing at us, on and off the pitch.
I predicted two draws as being a good result for England (as a seriously biased England fan, but also a realist), but I've seen enough already to make me a little more positive, and to feel that this may yet turn out to be a competitive series.
I think our attack is good - and well-balanced - if we can get Anderson match-fit, hence more consistent, and if Harmison can perform at least half as well as we all know he can. I'm really relishing the prospect and just hope that the vagaries of the toss (see my earlier post) don't influence the series in too negative a way.