Dare
Chairman of Selectors
Sticking with Powell for so long, same does for Devon Smith.
He got 3 centuries against WI before the Ashes.
Did you watch any of those tons? If you had then you would know exactly why he failed against Aus, and why Warne made those comments. If it wasnt for WI extreme crap fielding he wouldnt of lasted that WI seris, let alone get 3 tons. Truly woeful.
Ealham did ok, I think it's harsh to criticise his selection and especially the Ashes 1997 (105 runs @ 35.00 & 8 wkts @ 23.88). For ODIs several players like Ealham and Hick were dropped way too early for some very ordinary cricketers coming in yet you don't mention that
MA Ealham
8 Tests, 210 runs @ 21.00 & 17 wkts @ 28.71
64 ODIs, 716 runs @ 17.46 & 67 wkts @ 32.79 (ER 4.08)
England have brought in a lot of players to do jobs, a number who should never have debuted and others who having been given a chance should have been given more than one Test. The biggest crimes were Giles playing 50+ Tests and Key being given as many Tests as he got.
POOR SELECTIONS/POLICIES
Usman Afzaal
Kabir Ali - 5 wkts @ 27.20 and only ONE TEST
Rob Bailey
Kim Barnett
Richard Blakey
Joey Benjamin
Martin Bicknell - absolute farce his treatment, especially given his ODI record
Ian Blackwell
Tim Bresnan
Simon Brown
John Childs
Rikki Clarke
Chris Cowdrey - that was a joke, even made captain!
Tim Curtis
Richard Dawson
James Foster
Jason Gallian
Ed Giddins
Aftab Habib
Warren Hegg
Adam Hollioake
Ben Hollioake
Alan Igglesden
Mark Ilott
Ronnie Irani
Steve James
Richard Johnson
Amjad Khan
James Kirtley
Jon Lewis
Darren Maddy
Sajid Mahmood
Neil Mallender
Matthew Maynard
Anthony McGrath
John Morris
Tim Munton
Phil Newport
James Ormond
Min Patel
Darren Pattinson
Dermot Reeve
Steven Rhodes
Mark Saggers
Chris Schofield
Owais Shah
Chris Silverwood
Mike Smith (of Gloucestershire, one Ashes Test in 1997)
Ed Smith
John Stephenson
Jon (Paul) Taylor
Chris Tremlett
Alec Tudor
Shaun Udal
Ian Ward
Steve Watkin
Mike Watkinson
Alan Wells
Neil Williams
And for me the worst selection 'crime' between 1988 and 2010 was picking Bicknell in 1993 and again in 2003 for the saffer series, but not picking him inbetween. He was one of the most solid and best pros in the counties and had a good ODI record (24.00 with bat, 26.69 with ball) So he failed against the aussies. It wasn't like players like Capel, Malcolm etc were cementing their places in the side. He could have been our McGrath, we'll never know. But pick me 10-20 better bowlers in the list above
Too right, shameful stuff those pitches.
Bicknell- now there's a shocker. He was pretty good, did well in 93 at Edgbaston even though Eng lost, had Steve Waugh in trouble and then they dropped him at the Oval for Watkins. Mental. then didnt recall him for 10 years, where he still did well, and then dropped him again!
There is a name you've missed, or maybe you thought he was good, the guy that opened in the 93 Ashes for a few tests, really young and crap, I cant remember his name!!! I felt sorry for him when he was dismissed 2nd ball after Australia made 650+. Mark Lathwell, is that him??
I probably haven't mentioned it but I wasn't a big fan of the selectors not not picking Trott. Also Giles over Panesar in 09 Ashes, first test was like wtf, second test really took the piss on a turning wicket we picked the guy who can't turn it over the man who at that stage was Englands best spinner by a mile. and to really rub it in Giles dropped Ponting when we were in with a very real chance and Ponting took the game from us.
OMG that tour was such a bag of ████.
Matthew Elliott made 199 against England in 1997 and 197 in 2002.
Every Time Faisal Iqbal comes to play.....