England's ODI squad

[bigred]

Given Broad probably won't play the series against India this is the squad I'd go for.

1. Cook
2. Hales
3. Bell
4. Root
5. Morgan
6. Bopara
7. Buttler
8. Jordan
9. Tredwell
10. Finn
11. Anderson

Ballance
Stokes
Gurney
Ali

Heard Vaughan on TMS saying we can only pick 2 out of Cook/Bell/Ballance/Root. I totally disagree with that. Bell, Ballance and Root can all get on with it and kick on.

The good thing is that there are some good back up players developing now. I'd have no problem with Taylor, Vince or Patel being in the squad. I do worry about the back up bowling though looking at the England Lions figures.

 

[Champagnepapi]

Looking at Ballance's form, there is just no way he'll be on the bench. So either Hales or Bell who doesn't seem to be in the ODI plot at times have to make way for Ballance. Same with Ali.

 

[joejoe018]

Bopara out for Ali and Balance in for Bell maybe?

 

[bigred]

Bopara out for Ali and Balance in for Bell maybe?

Bopara is in unbelievable form for both Essex and the Lions. His bowling has also improved and he really has become a genuine ODI 5th bowler.

Ballance/Bell is a toss up but I think Bell is in good form again now, and in good form is England's best player.

 

[bigred]

How the hell is Bopara not in the squad?

Think team will be

1. Cook
2. Hales
3. Bell
4. Root
5. Morgan
6. Buttler
7. Stokes
8.Woakes
9. Jordan
10. Tredwell
11. Anderson

Ballance
Ali
Finn
Gurney

 

[War]

I guess Bopara has paid the price for not having a great domestic season so far.

As usual not a fan of Tredwell, i keep hoping everyday some young spinners emerges so he can be dropped. Also not too sold impressed by Gurney, he seems to be getting picked just because he is left-armer. Would have picked Meaker or Plunkett really.

 

[T.J.Hooker]

I think Bell is in good form again now, and in good form is England's best player.

Apart from KP, who is a significantly more able batsman.

 

[tonka115]

Good to see Hales in the squad and he will definitely open with Cook.

I would play either Ali or Ballance because Stokes is not in good form. I'd send him back to domestic cricket to bring his form and confidence back.

 

[KingPair]

I'd go for:

1. Hales
2. Cook
3. Bell
4. Ballance
5. Root
6. Buttler
7. Stokes
8. Woakes
9. Jordan
10. Tredwell
11. Anderson

Stability at the top, with more firepower in the middle order. Also a right-left combination early on.

Morgan misses out for now, as he's not been in great form recently (apart from 1 innings), whereas Ballance and Root have been superb in the tests.
Root could also fill in a few overs if required.

If it doesn't work, I'd consider swapping Bell with Morgan and moving Ballance up to no.3.

Shame about Bopara though.

 

[bigred]

Apart from KP, who is a significantly more able batsman.

To be honest I've always preferred Bell to KP. I also think we need to completely move on from the KP saga now. He'll never play again, and that sounds like the right decision based on what's been said in the media, and based on the rubbish Pietersen writes on twitter.

Good to see Hales in the squad and he will definitely open with Cook.

I would play either Ali or Ballance because Stokes is not in good form. I'd send him back to domestic cricket to bring his form and confidence back.

I agree that Ballance is in far better form with that bat than Stokes, but if you select Ballance you only have 4 bowlers, which doesn't work in an ODI.

I'd go for:

1. Hales
2. Cook
3. Bell
4. Ballance
5. Root
6. Buttler
7. Stokes
8. Woakes
9. Jordan
10. Tredwell
11. Anderson

Stability at the top, with more firepower in the middle order. Also a right-left combination early on.

Morgan misses out for now, as he's not been in great form recently (apart from 1 innings), whereas Ballance and Root have been superb in the tests.
Root could also fill in a few overs if required.

If it doesn't work, I'd consider swapping Bell with Morgan and moving Ballance up to no.3.

Shame about Bopara though.

It would be madness not to pick Morgan. Especially without Bopara in the side. Buttler would be the only explosive finisher in the team.

Honestly think Bopara is one of the worst omissions from an England squad in recent memory.

 

[MUFC1987]

Hales being brought in is a good decision. Bell and Cook have to go for me. Cook is the Captain, so he isn't going, so Bell has to miss out. He's ok opening because his good shots go to the boundary, but in the middle overs, those same shots will go for 1 and he'll struggle to score at a decent tempo. I'm all for picking a Woakes or Stokes at 7, which probably means that we still have one too many for that top 6. Hard to leave out Ballance, so Ali probably won't play. Which is a shame, because he's a good batsman and a decent bowling option too.

I'm not against Bopara being dropped either. I think he'll probably make the World Cup squad as a backup option, but for me, he's not in the top 6 batsmen we have available, or in the top 5 bowlers, so he's doing a bit part job, if he does play. Not worth it for me. We need specialists.

 

[Shrimper]

I guess Bopara has paid the price for not having a great domestic season so far.

As usual not a fan of Tredwell, i keep hoping everyday some young spinners emerges so he can be dropped. Also not too sold impressed by Gurney, he seems to be getting picked just because he is left-armer. Would have picked Meaker or Plunkett really.

I wouldn't say Bopara has had a poor domestic season. 47.62 average in FC cricket, he hasn't done as well in List A matches which is probably what hurt his chances but in T20 he has been superb. I suspect he'll be in the team for the T20 match. I'd go with;

Cook
Ballance
Bell
Hales
Root
Morgan
Buttler
Woakes
Tredwell
Finn
Anderson

If one of Bell/Morgan/Hales/Root doesn't play then stick in Ali and move everyone up 1.

 

[bigred]

I wouldn't say Bopara has had a poor domestic season. 47.62 average in FC cricket, he hasn't done as well in List A matches which is probably what hurt his chances but in T20 he has been superb. I suspect he'll be in the team for the T20 match. I'd go with;

Cook
Ballance
Bell
Hales
Root
Morgan
Buttler
Woakes
Tredwell
Finn
Anderson

If one of Bell/Morgan/Hales/Root doesn't play then stick in Ali and move everyone up 1.

In that team Root would have to bowl his full 10 overs. Woakes has a poor one day record so not sure I'd want him as part of a 4 man attack.

Dropping Bopara clearly means that they want to go to Australia with a proper 5 man attack so that there's 50 overs of specialist bowling. Think they'd be worried about Bopara and Root's 10 overs on the flat Aussie wickets.

 

[War]

I wouldn't say Bopara has had a poor domestic season. 47.62 average in FC cricket, he hasn't done as well in List A matches which is probably what hurt his chances but in T20 he has been superb. I suspect he'll be in the team for the T20 match. I'd go with;

Cook
Ballance
Bell
Hales
Root
Morgan
Buttler
Woakes
Tredwell
Finn
Anderson

If one of Bell/Morgan/Hales/Root doesn't play then stick in Ali and move everyone up 1.

Ye was referring to his list A record this season.

 

[KingPair]

It would be madness not to pick Morgan. Especially without Bopara in the side. Buttler would be the only explosive finisher in the team.

Good point. Morgan has been a proven performer in the past.

But personally, I'm not confident about his form coming into the series. Against Sri Lanka he only averaged 18 with a top score of 40 [Link]. Also a strike rate of 68 isn't very reassuring.
I'd rather go with those who are in proven form right now.

Interestingly Bopara didn't do much better in that series.