***Official*** Pakistan and England in UAE

[Woodster]

I wouldn't say it has everything, there is a real lack of players with both power and experience in that middle order. Especially with Morgan out of nick. I don't think we can hold up the likes of Bopara, Patel and Buttler and say these guys would get games as specialist bats for many other T20I sides.

Part of the reason I want Cook in there is to have more in the way of proven international batsmen.

I view T20 cricket as the lesser format, I'm happy to see the likes of Buttler, Bairstow, Stokes, Hales, etc get a go in this format just to expose them to international cricket. I agree that you could perhaps have more experience in the middle order but in this format I'd like to see the young guys take this role on and let them learn for a more important format of the game. This wouldn't be the strongest side if it was a must-win game, but just the way I see things in T20 cricket I wouldn't necessarily go that way.

Cook doesn't need T20 for me, and I don't think T20 cricket needs Cook. He invariably looks awkward in this mode and while I'm sure he could still carve out a decent enough career in T20 competitions, I'd be happy for him to sit these out and concentrate on dominating 50-over and Test cricket.

Ok yes, this side doesn't currently have everything, but imo, it covers most bases that a T20 side should and has the potential to have everything. Of course getting the performances may take time, it inevitably will do as the likes of Buttler will need time and patience to become attuned with the demands of international competition.

Morgan is out of nick but didn't realise your team was selected to play today (especially with Foster not even in the squad). It's very rare your enitre side is going to be in nick at the same time and while I appreciate Morgan is vital in our T20 side, there are still plenty of other players capable of winning us matches.

As for the power issue, I think if you look at KP, Morgan, Buttler, and if you can sneak Stokes in there, I think there should be ample boundary hitters and also enough batsmen in there to get these boys on strike.

 

[Pothas]

Agree on Cook, I think he could be a decent In it but am perfectly happy for him not to be included, it also allows Broad to be a natural captain which is something I am in favour of.

I would play Swann and Briggs today, this is the format in which he is really excelled and I am pretty confident he would do better than any of the pace men he would come in for.

 

[Howe_zat]

When has Briggs bowled for Hants? I know they used three spinners last year with him, Afridi and Tahir. I just wouldn't want to bring him in for a pacer if he's only bowled middle overs before. You'd have to give him some overs early on.

 

[Pothas]

Has bowled early on a fair few times, we played him Afridi and Tahir on a very regular basis last year.

 

[FBU]

Like your thinking Woods. I remember Foster pulling off a superb stumping to get rid of Yuvraj in the World T20, and it being one of the biggest factors in us winning the game. If we can get him down to #7 in the order than his batting won't really be needed. Ideally, he wouldn't be batting at all, and often a #7 comes in just to make sure he gets a set batsman on strike, a job the experienced man that Foster is should be able to handle.

I also think we really missed Bresnan's batting the other day. People forget just how much better a bat he is than Broad or Swann in the shortened forms.

Maybe:

KP
Cook/Hales
Bopara
Morgan
Patel
Buttler
Foster
Bresnan
Swann
Broad
Finn/Dernbach/Anderson

Bresnan hasn't had to do much batting in 20/20s.

Batting records | Twenty20 Internationals | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[Furball]

I wouldn't say it has everything, there is a real lack of players with both power and experience in that middle order. Especially with Morgan out of nick. I don't think we can hold up the likes of Bopara, Patel and Buttler and say these guys would get games as specialist bats for many other T20I sides.

Part of the reason I want Cook in there is to have more in the way of proven international batsmen.

To be honest I'd be happy enough for the likes of Cook and Anderson to stay away from T20 and stay fresh for the two senior formats. I'm happy enough with the likes of Hales and Dernbach getting their exposure to international cricket in T20.

 

[Howe_zat]

True, but there's still a couple of good examples of the sort of batting I'm talking about, and he's played a hell of a lot of really useful not-out innings when you combine them with ODIs. At the stage he comes in the formats are usually more or less the same.

More to the point, he's never messed up like Swann did on Thursday. We could really have done with him.

 

[Jacknife]

Has bowled early on a fair few times, we played him Afridi and Tahir on a very regular basis last year.

As I remember he was the first bowler the Captain would bring on out of the 3, usually in the powerplay overs as well, he's been doing that for a couple of years as well, so fairly experienced.

 

[Pothas]

Yeah normally on after a couple of overs, they have gone for the same side anyhow.

 

[Jacknife]

True, but there's still a couple of good examples of the sort of batting I'm talking about, and he's played a hell of a lot of really useful not-out innings when you combine them with ODIs. At the stage he comes in the formats are usually more or less the same.

More to the point, he's never messed up like Swann did on Thursday. We could really have done with him.

Yes I'd never say Bres was a finisher but he get definitely get you over the line when needed.

 

[Jacknife]

Interesting, see how we can set a target today then.

It's looking quite tricky to time from the looks of the first couple of overs.

 

[grecian]

CK, the king of the dot-ball, can he get out soon please.

 

[Jacknife]

Can time a thing Kieswetter, keeps hitting the end of the bat.

That's better.

 

[The_roc]

Pitch looks a bit slow and difficult to time the ball. 140 could be a good score.

 

[Jacknife]

There to be hit that ball, miss timed it, shame love watching KP.

 

[Daemon]

Damn, he was looking in good touch

 

[grecian]

Sick to death of bloody Ajmal.

 

[stumpski]

Not sure it was a percentage shot with the man there, but no doubt he intended to hit it over his head. Instead he walked off shaking his own.

 

[Woodster]

Yes it wasn't a bad idea from KP, was just trying to lift over Gul at short fine leg and didn't quite get under it. As said it was there for it.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Oh joy Kieswetter with his ****house strike rate batting alongside Bopara with his by Zimbabwean girls standard a **** strike rate.