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David Lloyd

Tour party: *Hussain, Atherton, Vaughan, Adams, Maddy, Knight, Solanki, Flintoff, Turner, Read, Hamilton, Headley, Tudor, Gough, Mullally, Caddick, Schofield.

One-day: *Hussain, Atherton, Knight, Vaughan, Adams, Solanki, Flintoff, Alleyne, Turner, Lewis, White, Ealham, Hamilton, Gough, Mullally.

I am looking to build a team for the 2001 Ashes series in England.

This is a long-term plan with very important matches along the way. Nasser Hussain is captain and I want a team that will run through brick walls for him and for the country.

I want him to be confident, imaginative, strong, honest and never to shy away from a battle. I want him to give us a team that we will all be proud of and that we can identify with. I will tell him that the road will be rough and there will be moments of self-doubt but he is my choice, he has my fullest support.

In view of recent results, there are, inevitably, major casualties. I would need to sit down and talk through my decisions with Alec Stewart, Mark Ramprakash, and Graeme Hick. This would be the toughest time of all; Stewart will be 38 when the Ashes come around again, Hick has suffered enough, but Ramprakash can reflect, and come again.

For central contracts purposes, I would ensure that the following are fully involved and very much part of the team: Mark Butcher, John Crawley, Graeme Swann, Chris Silverwood and Paul Hutchison. In Butcher's case, he would spend time in India or Pakistan playing against quality spinners. I would challenge every other player in the land to break into the England squad.

I would introduce the players to the coach, Duncan Fletcher, wish them all the luck in the world, ask the country to get behind them and then leave them to it. My name could well be David Graveney.

Charles Randall

Tour party: *Hussain, Atherton, Maddy, James, Crawley, Flintoff, Vaughan, Hamilton, Stewart, Turner, G Swann, Gough, Caddick, Tudor, Headley, Silverwood, Harmison.

One-day: *Hussain, Knight, Vaughan, Maddy, A Brown, Adams, Flintoff, Hamilton, Ealham, Cork, Nixon, Franks, Croft, Caddick, Mullally.

England only need one spinner for their tour, because there will be no point ever fielding two in a country favouring relentless seam bowling. Graeme Swann would be strong enough to carry that responsibility, even at the age of 20.

The inclusion of Swann, who can make an impact on any game as batsman or off-spinner, would mean no place for Phil Tufnell, but it would allow England's selectors to experiment with their fast-bowling attack, selecting four specialist seam bowlers for a Test from six on tour.

In this picture, Alec Stewart must remain as wicketkeeper and middle-order batsman. He would be a second genuine all-rounder, and that must be to England's advantage. The presence of Rob Turner would guarantee back-up quality, which Chris Read could not supply.

The upper order needs compulsory surgery after such a limp summer. So I would make Mark Butcher, reluctantly, and Mark Ramprakash take the winter off, as Graham Thorpe is doing.

Steve James is a class act inexplicably ignored, a quick runner and in his prime at 31; John Crawley does not average around 50 in first-class cricket by accident; Darren Maddy plays fast bowling well.

My outright gambles would be Michael Vaughan and Steve Harmison, an intriguing fast bowler ripe for assessment before county cricket grinds inspiration out of him. Vaughan, after a good England A tour, has had a shocking championship summer, but he has ability, even as off-spin back-up for Swann.

My one-day squad is an exceptional fielding side, and I would not expect the injury-prone Darren Gough to play both Test and one-day series.

Peter Deeley

Tour party: *Hussain, Atherton, M Butcher, S James, Maddy, Stewart, B Smith, Ramprakash, Flintoff, G Swann, Read, Cork, Tudor, Gough, Caddick, Mullally, Tufnell.

One-day: *Hussain, Stewart, M Butcher, Maddy, Hick, B Smith, A Brown, Irani, Ealham, Flintoff, G Swann, Cork, Tudor, Gough, Caddick.

Do England throw out the baby with the dirty bath water after the shambles of a summer? Or do they retain a nucleus of experienced batsmen to underpin the youngsters who must be brought on?

That is the question facing the selectors. The quick attack, providing Darren Gough and Alex Tudor are fit to tour, really picks itself, with Dominic Cork surely ready to claim reinstatement.

Ben Smith has yet to catch the eye at international level but for my money he was always a better proposition than Aftab Habib. On the basis that players are no longer dropped after a poor baptism, the other Leicestershire batsman, Darren Maddy, ought not to be left out in the cold.

The search for an all-rounder of Test quality continues unabated now that Alec Stewart should be regarded only as a batsman. Andrew Flintoff is a gamble, the same goes for Ronnie Irani, but the Lancashire player has youth on his side.

These are relatively minor concerns. But where are we to find batsmen whose confidence has not been reduced to tatters by continued individual - and team - failure?

Former South Africa coach Bob Woolmer says the Australians and the South Africans cannot understand why Graeme Hick is not a permament fixture in the England team. Hick apart, Alec Stewart and Mark Ramprakash - even Michael Atherton and captain Nasser Hussain - have been at the receiving end of more defeats than is good for any player.

But the selectors will disregard them at their peril. Woolmer forecasts that after England's fortuitous Test series home win in 1998, the South Africans will be thirsting for blood. He envisages a 5-0 whitewash and though that may be wishful thinking, the damage done to young players would then be incalculable.

Tour party: *Hussain, Atherton, M Butcher, Ramprakash, Vaughan, Flintoff, Stewart, Hamilton, G Swann, White, Read, Giles, Tudor, Caddick, Gough, Headley, Giddins.

One-day: *Hussain, Knight, Adams, B Smith, Flintoff, Holloway, White, Solanki, G Swann, Hegg, Franks, Giles, Gough, Caddick, Headley.

South africa is an all-hands-on-deck sort of tour. To come back with anything other than a severe beating, England need skilful, hardy competitors who can at least contribute in other departments other than their specialist area. For that reason I've left out Alan Mullally, who was looking a bit tired anyway, and Phil Tufnell.

Ashley Giles is an inferior spinner to Tufnell but he can bowl in different styles and has a bit of steel in him. Mark Butcher edges out the unlucky Darren Maddy as the other opener because of his calm persona and extra little bit of class. Michael Vaughan's unflappable temperament qualifies him for the reserve opener spot.

Now is the ideal time to put in Andrew Flintoff at No 5 for an extended run to see what he's really made of. Ditto Gavin Hamilton at No 7, though Craig White could also be useful in this position. Flintoff's bowling looks to be developing nicely. Any of these could be a valuable fourth seamer. Ed Giddins just gets the nod ahead of Chris Silverwood for the final bowling place because he swings the ball.

My one-day side is packed with strong, muscular hitters and good 'death' bowlers (White, Gough, Giles, Headley). The way Piran Holloway bats reminds me of Mark Greatbatch, the unconventional left hander who got New Zealand off to plenty of fliers. Graeme Swann gives the ball a good thump down the order as does Paul Franks who could become England's answer to Lance Klusener. This lot should produce some exciting cricket. I'd certainly pay to watch it.

Mark Nicholas

Tour party: *Hussain, Atherton, M Butcher, Vaughan, Hick, Adams, Stewart, Turner, Flintoff, Hamilton, G Swann, Tudor, Gough, Caddick, Giles, Headley, Mullally.

One-day: A Brown, Knight, Adams, *Hussain, Holloway, Nixon, Flintoff, Solanki, Hamilton, White, Giles, M Smith, Gough, Caddick, Martin.

There would not have been many touring parties more difficult to predict than this one. The selectors are the key because Nasser Hussain and Duncan Fletcher in particular, David Graveney less so, will want men they perceive as very much their own alongside them on a tough trip.

Hussain is happy to oust the old guard if it is clear that younger players have the mental wherewithal to replace them. He wants some fresh faces to give the dressing-room a fresher air, men who will go down his chosen road.

For this very reason Hussain will want Michael Atherton, never mind his durability and skill as an opening batsman, but may well decide to travel without Mark Ramprakash.

Fletcher may give a further opportunity to fellow Zimbabwean Graeme Hick and almost certainly to Alan Mullally. He will also want better batting down the order so all-round ability may well replace specialists.

The biggest problem is to solve the position of wicketkeeper. I would take Alec Stewart as he is England's only world-class all-rounder. His keeping sparkles and as long as he bats in the first four, he will turn matches. If he goes, it should be to bat at No 4 behind Atherton, Mark Butcher and Hussain, England's successful top order against South Africa last summer.

Then the fresh faces should begin, mixes of raw, combative talents like Chris Adams and purer technical skill like Michael Vaughan.

The best of English youth is in the all-round category and both Gavin Hamilton and Andrew Flintoff need the bigger stage to confirm or deny the exciting things expected of them.

If Darren Gough and Alex Tudor stay fit, England can surprise South Africa. It is the quality of the men chosen which matters and from it must emerge a team with character, which can grow towards the Ashes in two years.