Feelin Blue? said:
Yea what about that dude they put in the squad for Thresothick. he has only played 3 ODI'S at an average or 13 pretty naiive
Noone, not even Matt
, was suggesting that Joyce is thrown in ahead of say Kp or Colly though. Since the only other options have played only a handful of tests between them, and Joyce has been in prolific form in County Cricket he was probably the most logical choice. He is also a fairly versatile batsman who can slot in a number of positions, good fielder too.
Just to throw something out there for discussion - Anyone else find it interesting that over the last 6-12 months are most in form players with the bat, with the exception of Kp, have been the three chaps whose places are all theoretically up for grabs? Colly, Bell and Cook (although not yet on this tour) Are all effectively playing for 1/2 places in the side if Vaughan and/or Tresco were available. That the form men in the side over that same period, Panesar, Bell and Colly may not even have played today if others were fit.
All of which leads me to the question, is our success in recent times down to Fletcher or in spite of him? Would he have played an out of sorts Tresco and a lacking match practice Vaughan, as he has done Giles, ahead of the players that in the last year have been our star performers?
Not really sure what I'm trying to say here, as I've made clear on many occassions Fletcher has done a lot for English cricket, but I do wonder whether he is now stuck in a position where his faith in sticking with players has gone too far? Past performances certainly deserve to earn you a place, but only for so long, and how long if others are outperfoming you in your absence? Add your thoughts chaps, debate away!
Anyway, for the first time in the last 9 days or so, I am in a good mood, but I still worry about us taking all 20 wickets if Giles has to pick up 5 of them.
