South Africa in England

[King Pietersen]

I think Wright would be a better option than Patel or Cook. Wright has been successful down the order in ODi's and although dissapointing in the NZ series he was very good down the order in previous series. You also need more than 5 bowlers in case one of the 5 bowls poorly or gets injured. You then have Wright, Bopara, Pietersen and Shah to bowl useful fill in overs. Wright would definitely be my choice.

 

[Skater]

I don't like Luke Wright, he doesn't look like a good enough player to be in the England team, when I watch him play I just think "journeyman". He is not a player that is going to lead us to a major trophy. He is quite happy to pload along in this current situation and it isn't good enough. Get him maturing in county cricket for some time before bringing him back. We can try some others whilst he is out.

 

[King Pietersen]

That's just the same mindset that the England selectors have regarding Keepers. Just chopping and changing every series, not giving a player time to settle into a role. Wright has massive talent, and deserves a chance to develop his skills and make himself into a top player.

 

[angryangy]

Bopara, Pietersen and Shah do not count as useful overs unless England need to block 350. Wright is maybe only barely a good enough batsman to be a number 7 and so, if he's only good enough to be a part-timer, then he really shouldn't be picked. Patel looks way better, even if his bowling is brought into question.

 

[King Pietersen]

You've not seen much of Bopara bowling have you......

He's been awesome in one day cricket for Essex this season. The Pro40 game that was shown a few weeks back he bowled quite a few overs and was brilliant. Has a fantastic slower ball out of the back of the hand which decieved even the better batsmen that day. He's an incredibly under-rated and under-used bowler at international level.

Again, you can't have seen much of Luke Wright. He was fantastic in the India series, he and Mascheranas saved a game for England against India, with Wright making a debut fifty. He's a very talented late-middle order batsman. I feel you're massively under-rating him, his bowling has also shown massive improvement. I'd have him in the team over Samit Patel personally.

 

[evertonfan]

Luke Wright's batting is limited to hitting accross the line basically. I'm happy to keep him in the team, but i'd much rather have Samit Patel. He's been a class OD player for more than a few years now.

 

[Collingwood50]

I couldn't find a place for him in my first choice team but with Colly out that leaves him a place at 6 I think.. I'd go for something like this:

Prior
Bell
Pietersen
Shah
Bopara
Wright (With Collingwood in after ban)
Flintoff
Swann
Broad
Anderson
Sidebottom

That'd be the team I'd go for anyway.

I agree, though i's swap Sidebum for another Batsman, Prehaps Cook at 3?

 

[evertonfan]

Yeah I don't really rate Sidebottom in the ODI team. I'd rather Cook as well. I'd open with him and Prior.

 

[King Pietersen]

Cook and Prior, my god, I couldn't think of a more boring opening partnership from the players we've got in the squad. Bell was awesome at the top of the order in the NZ series. Was really finding his feet in the position and playing some beautiful shots. He just needs to gain the consistency to go on and make his pretty starts into impressive hundreds. Lets just stop mixing up the opening partnerships, Bell did a good job, Wright didn't, replace the dissapointing batsman with Prior who's been great in domestic OD cricket.

 

[Skater]

Again, you can't have seen much of Luke Wright. He was fantastic in the India series, he and Mascheranas saved a game for England against India, with Wright making a debut fifty. He's a very talented late-middle order batsman. I feel you're massively under-rating him, his bowling has also shown massive improvement. I'd have him in the team over Samit Patel personally.

That game, at The Oval, ended in defeat! Wright made a lower order half century but England lost.

 

[angryangy]

Again, you can't have seen much of Luke Wright. He was fantastic in the India series, he and Mascheranas saved a game for England against India, with Wright making a debut fifty. He's a very talented late-middle order batsman. I feel you're massively under-rating him, his bowling has also shown massive improvement. I'd have him in the team over Samit Patel personally.

He can hit the ball, but he's a hack. England have no where near the batting strength of South Africa and Wright anywhere above seven would not help.

 

[Collingwood50]

Do we think Mascheranas will ever play for england again? Can he after his IPL involvement?

 

[Simbazz]

You're all Wright bashing, yet fail to realise that he hasn't yet reached his peak. I think they're doing this right, easing him into ODi's and his ever improving FC form.

The thing is, the ODi side is generally a new side. With the likes of Swann, Wright, Dimi, Bopara, and generally Shah (Questionable i know) in the International scene.

Let them develop because the likes of Wright, Shah and Bopara have a real chance of making something, as Wright is increasing in bowling pace. Dimi and Swann are quite unlikely to make much more of themselves at International level, but i'd like to see Swann in a white shirt!

 

[Ollie_H]

I think you guys under rate Luke Wright too much! He has actually turned himself from a batsmen who can bowl a tad to somebody who can bowl properly and very acurrately!

 

[Sureshot]

He's been given some quite serious roles with the ball before, so he is clearly rated well by his team-mates, and knowing him quite well he is more than a part-timer. His batting? He is a match-winner, but he isn't going to consistently smack hundreds. I think 7 suits him down to the bone.

What are we doing with the Scotland ODI on Monday? It's not live, no on-line commentary either iirc?