Ahead of England’s first Test against India – which begins on Friday – our writers have their say on who they think should line up for the visitors.

Phil Walker – Wisden Cricket Monthly editor-in-chief

I don’t envy Joe Root. (Not true, I envy him loads, but you know.) No practice matches, a compromised lead-in, a few players sent home and an unpredictable pitch, it’s a tough one to call. The last Test at Chepauk, also against England, saw India rack up over 700 and win in the final session, while the most recent first-class match – with Ashwin playing – was done in two days. The curator is promising a real cricket wicket: seamers to be in the game on day one (hmm), runs over days two and three, and spinners coming in to play late on. Last time out, England kept scoring 400 and losing. This time they need to think about scoring 550 to avoid defeat. So, dull as it sounds: pack the batting and hang on for dear life.

The big calls for me are the openers: I fancy Burns, by a nose, to scrap a little more effectively than Sibley, and Crawley, clunky as he has been against the turning ball, to play the odd substantial innings if he gets in. Padding out the batting means a tentative go for Lawrence at six and, in the absence of Bairstow, Pope at three – after all, Root ain’t shifting up again. A further option for first-drop is Stokes – tempting technique-wise, but he’ll need to bowl 30+ overs in extreme heat. After all of that it’s the second spinner to support Leach (who’s the main man in part due to India’s clump of right-handers). Moeen v Bess is a tight one, but I’m leaning Mo-wards, for his extra sparkle and rip, and the vague promise of lower-order runs (two Test tons in India last time out).

If England are true to their word about alternating Anderson and Broad, then take your pick. I’ve gone with Anderson, but it could be either. Or both! My, it must be tempting to hang the plans and go for broke. But then how can you not play your one true quick, the darling of India, Jofra Archer? Surely he has to play. I guess what I’m saying is I don’t really know.

Jo Harman – Wisden Cricket Monthly magazine editor

So many tight calls. Sibley’s tenacity in taking England over the line at Galle has convinced me that he deserves to face up to Bumrah and co, even though his game against spin remains very much a work in progress, and Crawley’s 267 is still fresh enough in the memory that he must be retained. With Bairstow back in Yorkshire (for the record, I’d have picked him and rested him for the white-ball series if necessary) and Lawrence impressing on debut, it comes down to Burns or Pope for the final batting slot and I’ve gone for the latter, because he’s the better player with the better record. A promotion to No.3 will hold no fear for him.

As for the bowlers, given the contrast in quality and experience between England’s seamers and twirlers I was really tempted to just pick one spinner and rely on Root (and a bit of Lawrence) to fill in where required – creating space for a pace triumvirate of Anderson, Broad and Archer. But we’ve been down that road before in India, and history tells us it doesn’t end well. So Bess just edges out Moeen for the second spinner’s berth (the value of those overs in Sri Lanka shouldn’t be underestimated, even if Bess struggled at times) and Anderson’s superior record over Broad in India gets him the nod to take the new ball with Archer, with Broad ready to slot in for the second Test.

Ben Gardner – Wisden.com managing editor

This really is a tough one. The tempting thing to do is leave out one of the top three, since then you can get one of the shiny Surrey options in – either Ollie Pope now his shoulder is fully healed, or Ben Foakes, with his proficiency against spin and added value with the gloves. But the former should be given all the time he needs, and the look of India’s squad means more than just skill against spin is needed, and Buttler has shown himself to be much improved behind the sticks.

Besides, that top three really should have credit in the bank. The top two have demonstrated themselves to be capable of overcoming new challenges, and each have already played important parts in Test wins in Asia. There will still be a decent amount of new-ball blunting to do too. Zak Crawley, for me, is the most in danger, but that 267 really was quite good, and only came two Tests ago.

The other temptation is to pick Moeen Ali, but it’s so long since his last first-class game that Dom Bess still pips him. Stuart Broad comes in for James Anderson, a change to be reversed for the second Test.

Taha Hashim – Wisden.com features editor

Dom Sibley’s graft in getting to fifty against Sri Lanka was admirable and Zak Crawley deserves more time to learn in Asian conditions, too. It’s harsh on Rory Burns, but Ollie Pope has the gifts to do a job at No.3. We don’t have to talk about Jordan and Pippen, but we can do about Buttler and Foakes. The latter’s inclusion in my side has little to do with wicketkeeping, as Buttler was excellent behind the stumps in Sri Lanka. Rather, it’s Foakes’ batting – which was so impressive in the subcontinent back in 2018 – that gets him in. Foakes’ inclusion also keeps Buttler at six, where he averages 51.52 from 21 knocks. The Surrey man’s artistry lands him the gloves and he can get in shape for the rest of the series, too. (Dan Lawrence slots back in when Buttler flies home).

I’ve sung the praises of Dom Bess, but Moeen Ali is still England’s best spinner when he gets it right, and Jack Leach is there to turn it the other way. Moeen’s two Test hundreds in India is another box ticked in his favour. As for the quicks, a well-rested Jofra Archer should slot back in, while England would be wise to continue with their Broad or Anderson policy. The former slots in for the opener.

Sam Dyer – Wisden.com staff writer

While they weren’t at their best in Sri Lanka, Bess and Leach should retain their spots – finding a way to still get results despite underperforming is an invaluable skill, even if it might involve some strange decisions from the opposition. Bairstow drops out, allowing Crawley to return to No.3, where he has looked more comfortable, and Rory Burns slots back in at the top. With the pitch promising to offer some help to all, picking a third spinner feels a little like putting all my eggs in one basket, so instead Archer, Broad and Stokes form my trio of seamers.