Question marks remain despite Joe Root's debut victory

Hameed is the key. if he gets back to the form to match his talent then the line-up should look something like this: Cook Hameed Jennings Root Bairstow Stokes Ali Woakes Rashid/Dawson Broad Anderson That's a seriously deep batting line-up. The bowling is up for debate, however.

Thanks for that detailed response Samuel . Whether Domingo has re-applied or not the feeling here is that Geoffrey Toyana is now first in line for the coaching job. As far as Philander is concerned , in his first spell against England he was devastating , but could not maintain that intensity ... Was that because of his poor fitness levels.. Personally I suspect it was .. Cheers

Yes his test bowling average of 39 isn’t going to grab the headlines but he does a job and is growing into his role with every game he plays. Moeen certainly had a great game with the ball against SA but I can't agree he's been improving with the ball every Test he plays. In fact, Moeen had averaged a shade under 50 with the ball over his previous two years of Test cricket, across 27 Tests. He had been struggling badly with the ball for a long time before that star turn against SA.

Is a great fifth bowling option, and when England can get away with him as the sole spinner, he is still pretty effective. I agree however that a top six containing both he and Stokes is not batsman-heavy enough, but it's a puzzling decision as in the past when Moeen was at number 8, it was probably too low and an awkward spot for him to bat at. Ideally something like Cook, Jennings, Ballance, Root, Bairstow, Stokes, Ali, Woakes, Rashid, Broad and Wood I think we may see for the Ashes. Perhaps replace Rashid with another quick bowler if they feel they can get enough from Moeen.

1. Have to agree. He's still very young, and missing the odd Test here or there won't hurt for his long term career. 2. Philander's played for quite a few counties over here now and there's been rumours that coaches have been unimpressed with his general fitness levels. Lacking proper fitness for bowling may also help explain why he's so injury-prone: it's not as if he's striving for pace or putting huge pressure on his body with his action and run-up, so it must be something else. 3. I thought Domingo had changed his mind and reapplied? 4. Agree but if De Kock is going to bat any higher than 5 he probably needs to give up the gloves for workload considerations, which considering he's turning into a fine keeper I think the coaching staff and he himself would be loathe to do. 5. Probably, but for a player of AB's class I can see why they wouldn't want to shut the door on him!

Someone on the Guardian's over by over coverage during the test made a pertinent point - England's top 7 feels more like a collection of batsmen than a batting order, if you know what I mean. Individually the parts are all pretty decent but they don't seem put together in the right way. It's probably only really the openers and Stokes who are in their ideal spots. Moeen has said he wants to bat at 5 and Bairstow has said he likes 7 yet they're playing the other way round - mainly because Moeen's average is something like 80 at 7 but under 30 everywhere else. Bairstow scored three 100s last year batting at 6 & 7 but they're taken by Mo and Stokes, so he's ended up a spot too high at 5. Root is fine at 4 but statistically 5 is his strongest position, and again his way is blocked by the three all rounders below him, as is Ballance's, who would be better off in the middle order too. Believe it or not he actually burst on to the scene batting as low as 6 for Yorkshire and piling on quick runs with the tail: even when they were charging to consecutive titles it wasn't uncommon to see Yorkshire in the 200-5 ballpark, only for Ballance and the lower order to lift them to well past 400 at a rate of knots (although given that Yorkshire had Rashid, Bresnan and Plunkett all batting down the order it wasn't as if it was a traditional tail) and he even used to be Yorkshire's death overs hitter in white ball cricket. It was only when England asked him to bat 3 that he started reigning in his game but technically he isn't really suited to the position. It's all a bit of a mess with players shoehorned in, which is why I think the batting is inconsistent. So how to sort it out? Not really sure personally, as I said I don't think it's that the individuals in the line-up lack ability but I feel they're put together wrong, and it's difficult to argue that there's anyone on the outside of the squad banging the door down. Stoneman would be a decent bet and is an opener by trade: his career stats look on the low side but he's had to open the batting at Durham for most of his career, which is arguably the toughest gig in cricket. His average over the last few seasons is excellent though even if the overall stats are still underwhelming, and it's both telling and encouraging that he's dominating on the flatter wickets down at The Oval. He's also quite an aggressive stroke-making batsman so you'd think he'd be a good foil to Cook at the top of the order or able to come in at first drop and be positive. Westley at Essex is another: a fluent player through the leg side in particular and right handed too, which would help re-balance a batting line-up that is incredibly left-hand dominant at the moment. He also actually bats at 3 for his county, so it wouldn't be an alien role for him. Otherwise the only real solution I can think of would be to promote Stokes to 3. It's not as ludicrous as it sounds in my opinion: he's the most technically orthodox and correct batsman in the batting line-up, comfortable in attack and defence off both front and back foot. The only issue is that you'd have to cut his bowling load by a huge amount, which doesn't really work for the side at the moment and therefore it's a likely non-starter. Seam isn't too much of an issue - Woakes is due back from injury shortly, and in the likes of Roland-Jones and the sibling pairs of the Overtons and the Currans England have a good array of quicks in and around the squad. Spin is more of a problem but the answer to it isn't on the horizon in the near future. At least in Dawson they have picked someone to perform a specific role and aren't trying to find a strike bowler or new Swann that doesn't exist, even if it definitely has the feel of the stopgap about it.

I'm not sure England has too many selection problems other than the top three in the line-up. Cook will fill one spot and if he finds his form in the second half of the season Hameed's inherent class should give him one of the others. The other spot is more difficult. Jennings has a chance to cement a spot but I can't see Balance making it to Australia. The spin bowling is clearly an issue but the reality is that there is no one pushing Moeen for that role at present. Incidentally, Lyon may be the better bowler but overall Moeen brings more to the game and often plays decisive roles with bat and/or ball in a way that the former doesn't.

I agree that there are some questions England supporters should be asking but South African supporters have just that few more .. 1. Rabada (who is suspended from the 2nd test ) looks a tad bowled out . He has played an enormous amount of cricket this season . Has featured in every SA series from T20 to 50 overs to tests. In addition hi appears constantly on TV adverts , actuality programmes , posters and magazines . I am actually pleased for this enforced rest. Is he being over exposed.? 2. Philander who has always had a bit of an aversion for gym work looks seriously out of shape for a frontline fast bowler . Are fitness standards not being applied? 3. SA"s fielding was poor . Coach Russell Domingo is stepping aside as he was asked to re - apply for the position . Clearly a sign that management are done with him . He has declined . Does he still have the passion for the job ? Fielding goes to coaching . 4. Is De Kock being played too far down the order ? At the moment he is the best batsman in the side and needs to be given more responsibility higher up the order. 5. Is it time to tell AB de Villiers that he either plays when selected or doesn't play at all ? In other words go your own way brother .

Lyon comprehensively outbowled Moeen in the last Ashes on Moeen's home turf: Lyon ........ 16 wickets at 28 (economy 3.3rpo) Moeen ..... 12 wickets at 45 (economy 4.4rpo) Moeen is not close to being in the same league as Lyon as a bowler, but his batting has now blossomed to the point that he earns his spot with the blade alone and should only be used as a backup bowler.

I definitely have Stokes in the Australian side. Not sure about Moeen. He is far from being a front line spinner, and I don't think you could have both Stokes and Ali in the top six.

Underrate Moeen at your peril. I'd have him in the Aussie side over Lyon anytime. Stokes would be good too

Hats off to England for beating South Africa but this Test raised more questions for me as an outsider. Jennings made 8 & 36, Balance made 20 & 34, England was 4 for not many in the first innings and went from 1 for 138 to all out 233 in it's second innings. The other interesting stat was Wood & Dawson took 2 for 132 off 35 combined overs in the first innings when the pitch was at it's best. I agree England should not get too carried away. South Africa will be a better team with Faf back and England's middle order and bowling attack as a whole still has a bit to prove. I'm also amused by your comment that Moeen Ali is "England's front line spinner". This is the same bloke who's played 38i Tests for 108 wickets at an average just under 40! I'm looking forward to seeing how he goes on the Gabba, Perth, etc in 4 months time