Samit Patel is far too bits and pieces for me to be in this side. He is neither a reliable 10 overs per match bowler, or a reliable Number 7, so he has to go. We need 5 specialist bowlers for me and with Bresnan we have a specialist bowler who can hold his own at Number 7. Our strongest side also has Swann and Broad at 8 and 9 and they're not the worst in the world in those two positions. Therefore for me, you have Broad, Bresnan, Swann and two others. One is probably Dernbach at the moment, which leaves the 5th bowler as the one determined by conditions. Whether that be Anderson in Seaming conditions, or Borthwick/Briggs in spinning conditions.
We have the quality in County Cricket, there's no need to carry someone like Patel, who does neither one role or the other.
Unless someone comes through as a genuine all-rounder then I think we perhaps should make Swann number seven. Stokes is maybe one of the hopes to become an all-rounder, but until then Swann can bat and with a lower order below him of Bresnan, Broad, Dernbach and spinner/Anderson in rough order then I think that will be ok. Bresnan seems able to hit quick 20s but not often go any further, Broad simply doesn't seem to be able to reproduce Test batting form in ODIs.
With Swann, Bresnan and Broad 7-9 that should be enough batting and two bowlers at the end not making it too long a tail. Those three are capable of scoring 20s, 30s, 40s and more so it isn't like they struggle to score 5-10 runs off 20-30 balls. Then there'd be no need for Bopara, Pietersen, Trott etc to bowl balls, or to bring in Patel to be a nothing in many departments.
The shame is Collingwood hit such bad for with the bat, his medium pace was more than useful if sometimes overused and other times underused. England need to stop using the part-timers for no good reason, save them for when the frontline bowlers are getting seriously tonked. If say Bresnan went for 23 off 3 overs, take him off and bring him back later when he may bowl better or with better luck.
Collingwood decline
Inns 001-020 : 369 runs @ 24.60
Inns 021-040 : 550 runs @ 42.31
Inns 041-060 : 428 runs @ 35.67
Inns 061-080 : 329 runs @ 27.42
Inns 081-100 : 575 runs @ 33.82
Inns 101-120 : 709 runs @ 47.27
Inns 121-140 : 552 runs @ 36.80
Inns 141-160 : 419 runs @ 29.93
Inns 161-180 : 802 runs @ 50.13
Inns 181-197 : 359 runs @ 23.93
His highest series average in his last four series was 21.00, BUT only last year against the aussies he averaged 41.80 and the winter before last 96.50 against the saffers. Overall he averaged 35.36 with bat and 38.68 with ball, not too shabby all things considered. Bell has picked up 107 ODI caps by averaging 34.38, Bopara 64 by averaging 30.83 (and 37.15 with ball)
Then again I think we dumped Hick way too soon as well, one of our best ODI players, but seemingly someone must have wanted him out of all formats. He was a more than useful spinner, and one of our best ODI players of the past 20 years.
Hick (120 ODIs)
3846 runs @ 38.46 & 30 wkts @ 34.20
Inns 001-030 : 1029 runs @ 42.88
Inns 031-060 : 1044 runs @ 37.29
Inns 061-090 : 1015 runs @ 36.25
Inns 091-120 : 758 runs @ 32.96
Despite a decline in the latter part of his ODI career, he still scored seven 50s in his last 30 innings. That 00/01 tour of Pakistan and Sri Lanka ended his England career while I think he still offered a lot more than some of those replacing him ever could or would
Ok...Now with the series over, will the MODS move this thread and hide it in an undisclosed section...
