Fletcher defends selections

[rickyp]

"Andrew and I have the final say," he confirmed, adding that the mysterious selection committee didn't include David Graveney or any of the home selectors, but instead consisted of a panel of senior players - Andrew Strauss, Paul Collingwood and Jones - who are consulted prior to each Test. Given that Jones, who does not currently have a central contract, is one of the most contentious choices on this tour already, it is a further sign that Shane Warne was spot on in his pre-series assessment, when he claimed that Fletcher has his "favourites".

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How on earth Jones is a selector is beyond me...

Discuss]

 

[puddleduck]

Fletcher has always considered Jones to be one of the key men in the squad, he apparently gets on well with everyone and as wicket-keeper is the man who is supposed to keep the team going out in the field alongside the captain.

Still it is wrong that someone who shouldn't necessarily be playing, is getting to help pick the team.

Anyway, I already knew all of this, and was trying to convince just about every England fan in the Eng v Aus thread that Fletcher is not alone when it comes to picking the side, and that Freddie and him act as the selectors on tour.

Unfortunately noone was prepared to listen as in their eyes just about anything that is wrong with this England team is Fletchers fault. Heaven forbid that Flintoff ever be critisised about anything, or the batsman actually show some bottle :

 

[rickyp]

thanks for the fix up kev

Ive always been useless when it comes to those bloody hyperlink things

 

[sohum]

It's sad that Strauss, Collingwood and Jones complete the senior players in the team along with Flintoff. I never realized how inexperienced an international side England actually have, especially when compared with those Aussies.

 

[andrew_nixon]

Interesting trivia on how inexperienced the England team is. Only two players in the squad made their test debut in the 1990s. One is Andrew Flintoff. The other.........



Chris Read.

 

[BigCrickNan]

Interesting trivia on how inexperienced the England team is. Only two players in the squad made their test debut in the 1990s. One is Andrew Flintoff. The other.........



Chris Read.

Who sort of deserved to be dropped for making runs under pressure and keeping well :

I think by senior players he meant by age as Colly and Jones are in their thirties and Strauss has captained county and country

 

[aussie1st]

Well clearly Jones won't be getting dropped anytime soon
You shouldn't really be consulting with senior members and definitely you can't leave the final call to the captain. I know Ponting was happy with Katich opening the batting in the ODIs (well in the media anyway) so if our selectors had left the call with him, he would still be opening.

There should be someone to make those tough calls cause Freddie isn't going to drop anyone from his team.

 

[PhilD123]

Jones over Hoggard in an experienced selection panel : Surely all of the selectors should make the choice as they are the 'selectors'. I think if Graveney had a say then Monty would definitely be playing, he seems to be a big Monty fan. I am in disbelief that Jones is on the board while his place in the side should be seriously under threat.

 

[puddleduck]

Probably why Jones went for Giles, far less likely to miss a stumping or drop a thin edge off Giles than Monty

To be honest I think it may well be time for selectors to get involved in international tours, afterall a coach and captain are always going to be under extreme pressure to stick by their players as that is what makes them captaincy material. The whole point of a selection committee is to think without the bias and pick based on form. It is obviously going to be a lot harder to drop someone that you have spent the last year of your life rooming with, or having banter in the dressing rooms.

I can see the other side of the coin as well though. That once the squad is picked, the coach and captain should be able to pick based on form and how well the players have adjusted to foreign conditions, but I do worry that the above is true.

 

[aussie1st]

To be honest I think it may well be time for selectors to get involved in international tours, afterall a coach and captain are always going to be under extreme pressure to stick by their players as that is what makes them captaincy material. The whole point of a selection committee is to think without the bias and pick based on form. It is obviously going to be a lot harder to drop someone that you have spent the last year of your life rooming with, or having banter in the dressing rooms.

Exactly you guys should have brought your selectors over here thats why they are called "selectors" A coach and captain are more times than not going to stick by their players and then you're stuck with the same old players.