Cricket: England selectors face tough choice ahead of Sri Lanka series

Although the mantra of Geoff Miller and his fellow selectors has very much been one of consistency and continuity in selection in recent times, the retirement of Paul Collingwood and the absence through injury of Tim Bresnan has left a couple of intriguing decisions for Miller and his colleagues to make ahead of the announcement of the squad for next week's first Test in Cardiff.

Throughout the victorious winter Ashes campaign in Australia, England stuck rigidly to their game-plan of six batsmen, wicketkeeper and four bowlers - a formula that brought them success on the Australian surfaces.

England's top five batsmen are secure following their exploits during the winter. Kevin Pietersen may be returning from injury and is short on match practice so far this season, but it is highly unlikely he will not be selected.

That leaves the number six position open, and the two logical competitors are Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara. Both players, very aware that Collingwood's retirement has created the vacancy, have had contrasting fortunes in recent weeks.

Morgan, who spent the Test winter as the seventh batsmen watching his colleagues prosper from the dressing-rooms of Australia, has played with limited success in the IPL with just one 50 from 12 games.

Playing so long in the IPL means he's either motivated by the financial gains or confident in the fact that the selectors will stick with recent history and promote the next in line.

To have six weeks of T20 cricket, followed by one first-class game ahead of a Test match is a high-risk strategy by the Irishman. However, he appeared to justify that yesterday as he hit an unbeaten 156 for England Lions against Sri Lanka.

Bopara, meanwhile rejected a couple of IPL offers to remain with Essex and has scored over 400 first class runs with a couple of centuries. Bopara's medium pace may also be a factor as he can act as support to the four front-line bowlers.

The Lions squad also contains James Hildreth and James Taylor, two young players who excelled on the winter tour to the West Indies and have continued to score heavily in domestic cricket.

These two are definitely Test cricketers of the future, but this summer's series may be a year too early for them.

The selectors will know who they want at six in the order and I would imagine that there is little that could change their minds ahead of Sunday's announcement.Consistency of selection would suggest it is Morgan.

England used five seam bowlers during the Ashes and, with all bar Tim Bresnan fit, the squad will contain Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Chris Tremlett and Steven Finn.

Graham Onions, Ajmal Shahzad and Jade Dernbach will also be considered, but are unlikely to force their way in ahead of the incumbents.

Broad, Finn and Tremlett are all similar bowlers in that they are tall and rely on bounce and seam movement whereas Anderson's effectiveness is predominantly dependent on swing. Any injury doubt over Anderson would force a rethink about the balance of the attack, but, barring such a mishap, he will line up with Broad and Tremlett.

With right-arm off spinner Graeme Swann, currently in second spot in the ICC Test bowler rankings, to make up the bowling unit, England will be confident in their ability to trouble the Sri Lankan batsmen in home conditions.