posted Aug 19, 2008

Colly will be straight back unfortunately.

His century in the last test will have cemented his place for the next 10 years at least in both forms.

I wonder if he will replace Pietersen as one day captain too?

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posted Aug 19, 2008

eah but jurgen at ODI level collingwood should be a certain for this team. His allround ability, his fielding and his experience are crucial.

At odi level hes a must but at test level.....

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posted Aug 19, 2008

Come on selectors sort it out, start batting the batters in positions familiar to them! Why do we persist in playing people out of position, oh my god i could be talking about the England Football Team!


My ODI lineup would be -

Denly
Key
KP
Shah
Bopara
Wright
Flintoff
Napier
Foster
Swann
Anderson

Anyone else wondering why Napier, Key, Denly & Foster aren't in the squad?

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posted Aug 19, 2008

I think KP's got it wrong. Shah is not wasted at 6 or 7. He has become the best finisher in the side, like Michael Bevan used to be. Bevan averaged over 50 in ODI's but Australia never moved him!

Shah is of course a quality player, and does score quickly, but KP needs to be at 3. He needs as long as possible at the crease to score as much as possible. Its where Viv Richards batted at his best. Scoring big big ODI hundreds. I don't know what his problem is about batting at 3.

With Shah at 3 I can only presume that Bopara is the new finisher at 6 or 7. Colly and Flintoff have to be above him.

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posted Aug 19, 2008

Thank God Shah is batting at three, should allow England to take advantage of the power plays in ODI

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posted Aug 19, 2008

I can't see why people are making such a big fuss about Samit Patel, I don't think his bowling or batting are good enough, he is another "bits and pieces cricketer" so I wouldn't have him in my side. The same goes for Luke Wright who hasn't lived up to the hype or maintain his early season form. On that basis I think you have to play Shah down at No.5 or No.6. Rob Key needs to be in the team to solve the problem we have with who should open. Key was being talked about as a possible England captain just a few weeks ago and I think the least he deserves for his impressive form with Kent is a run in the side, plus his captaincy experience could be invaluable to KP who seems to like to consult senior players while captaining. Bell isn't a natural opener and prefers the No.3 slot and plays there for his county (when he plays) so I'd have him at No.3. Get Ravi in the team at No.6, Bresnan did well in his recent outing and Flintoff adds firepower lower down the order. Swann has to keep his place as do Anderson and Broad so my team looks like: Key, Prior, Bell, KP, Shah, Bopara, Flintoff, Bresnan, Swann, Broad, Anderson.
As an Essex fan I like Napier but he won't get a chance to open the bowling for England (as he does for Essex in limited overs games) and he isn't consistent enough with the bat. Foster is a better bet in the tests because he can't open the batting like Prior can, and Prior kept well against Scotland by all accounts.

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posted Aug 19, 2008

I don't get this obsession with Rob Key. He has proved on a consistent basis that he does not have the technique to withstand a prolonged interrogation by a quality international attack.

In terms of people talking up Key as a possible England captain, I think that was a predomiantly blogger based chatter rather than any serious discussion between those with the power to make these decisions.

In terms of the squad selection it seems to me if you play for a fashionable county it is a lot easier to get in the England set up or have the media incessantly making your case.

For example, Patel is currently in the squad and it appears to me it is on the basis of a strong season yet someone like James Hildreth had 2 brilliant seasons for Somerset yet was not even included in the A/Lions team (yes I realise Hildreth hasn't performed as well this season).

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posted Aug 19, 2008

I really like the look of Shah this season. He reminds me sometimes of Chanderpaul and could develop into a player as good if only he would be given the opportunity.

I welcome him as 3 in the ODI squad. I would also play him in the T20 team.

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posted Aug 19, 2008

I'm a Somerset fan and I wouldn't have Hildreth in the England side. I don't think he's tight enough with his batting and tends to be a little loose. He has all the shots, no doubt about it, and he has the potential but he's got to add sheer weight of runs to his CV. He's certainly a fair way behind Samit Patel in that respect.

I don't have a problem with people being batted out of position. Chanderpaul has opened for the West Indies in ODI cricket, Tendulkar did it to superb effect, Gilchrist opened up when he batted at 6 or 7 in Tests... what we need are proper batsmen opening. Watching Luke Wright open was painful. He looked overawed and lacking technique to deal with the new white ball. I'll reserve judgement on Bell and Prior opening until the series comes to an end.

Inzywarne:

Samit Patel is not a bits and pieces cricketer. Anyone averaging 46 in first-class cricket with the bat is not a bits n' pieces man. I believe he can be a decent middle-order player for England and his slow-left arm will come in useful in a similar way to Sanath Jayasuriya.

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posted Aug 20, 2008

I'd have had him at four, as he is weaker against the new ball and stronger against spin, but 3 is probably getting more out of him than 6, unless he performs as in India...

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