England Team Discussion

[Aislabie]

Given that England are always on the lookout for quick left-armers - Atif Sheikh has opened up well against the Kiwis.

Not suggesting him as an international-ready bowler yet, but he might be worth keeping an eye on all the same.

 

[Markkkkk]

I was about to say the same thing about Sheikh...

 

[cricket_icon]

Given that England are always on the lookout for quick left-armers - Atif Sheikh has opened up well against the Kiwis.

Not suggesting him as an international-ready bowler yet, but he might be worth keeping an eye on all the same.

Yeah, think he is still in his early 20s so has a ways to go but he does bowl well on the odd occasion I've seen clips of him.

 

[bigred]

Excellent piece by Graeme Swann through George Dobell on cricinfo. Pretty much agreed with everything he said.

He was very honest about England's ODI team in his day. Totally flattered by their brief number one status. Played a lot at home for 12 months where England got away with their old style tactics. Also, very good point about Vaughan only getting into the side because he was test captain. This goes for Nasser as well. Test cricket takes such precedence in this country that we just allow the test captain to play limited overs cricket, even if they're crap.

Interesting that he feels NZ are the best test side in the world. I've been saying for a while that they could be the number one side in the rankings soon. Will Australia be any more difficult than NZ? I think the Kiwi batting is more dangerous, but the Aussies have slightly more depth to their bowling. New Zealand were having to over-bowl Boult and Southee.

Lastly, Swann is going for Ali over Rashid for the first test, purely because an ashes test is no place for a debut. Says a lot that he thinks the only reason that Ali spins the ball is because he wasn't coached as a bowler in his early years as a pro.

 

[War]

Interesting that he feels NZ are the best test side in the world. I've been saying for a while that they could be the number one side in the rankings soon. Will Australia be any more difficult than NZ? I think the Kiwi batting is more dangerous, but the Aussies have slightly more depth to their bowling. New Zealand were having to over-bowl Boult and Southee.

Not yet, AUS/SA still above them. When NZ tours AUS this later this year we will know how close/far they are from AUS & SA.

 

[blockerdave]

Could the ludicrous Paul Newman sink any lower?

He's now claiming Peter Moores never said about needing to look at the data after the Bangladesh defeat, and blames it on a BBC Website Transcription error.

He said it in a Sky Sports interview!!

 

[bigred]

Does anyone know if Gareth Roderick will eventually qualify to play for England? Every time I follow County scorecards he seems to get runs. Keeps wicket also.

 

[_Sam_]

Does anyone know if Gareth Roderick will eventually qualify to play for England? Every time I follow County scorecards he seems to get runs. Keeps wicket also.

Has a British passport which I believe automatically qualifies him?

 

[bigred]

England will be thinking about their one day side soon. It's really important that we don't do what we normally do after an Ashes and get battered in the one day series.

We need to build on the momentum built up from the NZ series, where we showed we could mix it with the best.

What would your teams be? I'm going for

1. Moeen Ali
2. Alex Hales
3. Joe Root
4. Eoin Morgan
5. Ben Stokes
6. Jos Buttler
7. Sam Billings
8. Adil Rashid
9. Liam Plunkett
10. Stuart Broad (if fit enough)
11. Steven Finn

12. Jason Roy
13. Jonny Bairstow
14. David Willey
15. Mark Wood

The good news is, that there is a good group of players to choose from now. James Taylor, James Vince, Ravi Bopara and Luke Wright are all unlucky not to get in.

I don't think there are many bowling options. Anderson should never be allowed to play One Day cricket again. Gregory, Overton x2 and Topley all have talent, but might need another domestic season before coming in. I'm not sure Jordan and Woakes are right for limited overs cricket. Woakes' one day record is pretty atrocious.

 

[cooks1st100]

I don't see how you can say Luke Wright is unlucky not to get in. He's played 50 ODI's with a batting average of 20 and his bowling figures are no better. He's clearly not good enough. Besides that and your comment about Anderson (our best bowler in ODI's also) it's a fair assessment. Glad that you didn't mention Dernbach either, who I don't rate at all.

Jordan surprises me, I would have thought his List A batting average would be higher than it is. I still think he has what it takes to be a good one day player but he's going to have to sort his batting out.

 

[bigred]

I don't see how you can say Luke Wright is unlucky not to get in. He's played 50 ODI's with a batting average of 20 and his bowling figures are no better. He's clearly not good enough. Besides that and your comment about Anderson (our best bowler in ODI's also) it's a fair assessment. Glad that you didn't mention Dernbach either, who I don't rate at all.

Jordan surprises me, I would have thought his List A batting average would be higher than it is. I still think he has what it takes to be a good one day player but he's going to have to sort his batting out.

In England, Anderson has been our best one day bowler, but he's really struggled abroad. Like the World Cup for instance, where he was poor.

Anyway, I wasn't really saying he shouldn't play because he's not good enough. It's more because I think we should protect his body, and prolong his test career.

 

[Markkkkk]

Id have Buttler open and swap Ali with the mighty James Vince![DOUBLEPOST=1438531507][/DOUBLEPOST]Also Billings out for Bairstow...

 

[bigred]

Id have Buttler open and swap Ali with the mighty James Vince![DOUBLEPOST=1438531507][/DOUBLEPOST]Also Billings out for Bairstow...

There's not enough bowling if you do that. Going in with 5 bowlers plus a bit of Root is very dangerous.

Has Buttler ever opened any form of cricket? He's an excellent finisher to an innings. Wouldn't want to move him from 6.

 

[Markkkkk]

Yea in all honesty I'm just trying to find a way to get James Vince in the side, if you havent noticed he's my favourite English player (and Briggs but he disappeared for whatever reason).

 

[_Sam_]

Yea in all honesty I'm just trying to find a way to get James Vince in the side, if you havent noticed he's my favourite English player (and Briggs but he disappeared for whatever reason).

Briggs has just been dropped by Hampshire in FC and OD (the most surprising) cricket for a young 18 year old leg spinner in Mason Crane! But of a surprise given he's one of the best limited overs spinners on the county circuit consistently. Good to see you're a developing Hants fan though .

On that note anyone see the Glamorgan v Hampshire OD game on TV today? Farcial pitch at Cardiff that resulted in the game being called off due to physical danger to the batsmen in the 2nd innings. Even more farcial that Glamorgan get a point out of it (and Hampshire dont get 2) despite being rolled over for 182 in their 50 overs.