England players and selection discussion thread

[Heboric]

There doesn't seem to be a thread for the Eng vs Ire match today. It's getting very interesting though. At 62/4, it'll be a test to see if England really do "bat deep" in the innings.

68/5

I think they will still get there

[Fuller Pilch]

So, when will Josh Little debut for England?

I suspect the contract is being typed up at the moment.

[Andy1993]

Foakes one away from 50

[marc71178]

So, when will Josh Little debut for England?

I suspect the contract is being typed up at the moment.

I guess he needs to be South African to play for New Zealand.

[theegyptian]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cr...Cup-squad.html

I for one would be much happier with Dawson as the backup spin bowling allrounder rather than Denly. Shame it's taken them this long to consider it. Shoulda played a few more games imo even if he did get injured during his last callup. Denly isn't a good enough spinner to bowl 10 overs in an ODI. Dawson more comfortable in the middle order too. Dawson certainly no star but I'd back him to do a job.

[Daemon]

Touch of inevitability about Archer playing the WC. Looks the goods.

[Prince EWS]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cr...Cup-squad.html

I for one would be much happier with Dawson as the backup spin bowling allrounder rather than Denly. Shame it's taken them this long to consider it. Shoulda played a few more games imo even if he did get injured during his last callup. Denly isn't a good enough spinner to bowl 10 overs in an ODI. Dawson more comfortable in the middle order too. Dawson certainly no star but I'd back him to do a job.

Yeah Denly doesn't really fit for me for the role he's being picked in. He's a top order batsman who can bowl who's being picked as a genuine allrounder who bats in the middle order. I think he's a marginally better player than Dawson but Dawson definitely fits the role better.

I ultimately question how necessary the role is though. If Moeen or Rashid got injured/dropped I don't think I'd be keen to replace one of them with another spin bowling allrounder. I don't think it's imperative that England select two spinners all the time.

[theegyptian]

I ultimately question how necessary the role is though. If Moeen or Rashid got injured/dropped I don't think I'd be keen to replace one of them with another spin bowling allrounder. I don't think it's imperative that England select two spinners all the time.

Ya i can see that. Dawson wouldn't play unless there was an injury to Mo or Rashid and even he wouldn't be guaranteed a spot. And with a 15 man squad spaces are limited and possibly best used elsewhere.

Still they are vulnerable to short term injuries or injury on the day later in the tournament. 4 seamers and 2 spinners is their default and favoured balance. Any kind of short term injury to mo or rashid would cause issues, especially later on in the tournaments where the wickets will likely be worn.

I certainly like the team balance with the two spinners and four seamers. Gives Morgan more options without particularly weakening the batting. If Hales was still around you could maybe make a case for dropping Stokes and playing 4 seamers and a spinner in the event of an injury to a spinner. Say Roy, Bairstow, Hales, Root, Morgan, Buttler, Woakes, T Curran, Archer, Rashid, Wood. But that's gone now.

[BSM]

Do we reckon Wiley will probably be the bowler to make way in the WC squad for Archer? He is the most limited and the most immediately vulnerable in my mind; barring Wood who's injuries could potentially rule him out anyway.

The problem is more complicated with the starting xi. I don't think you could say any of Curran, Plunkett or Woakes deserve to be dropped but one of them certainly has to be. Curran and Plunkett have looked fine enough and while Woakes has been in bad form recently, he has arguably been our best odi seamer since 2015 (Plunkett has also been very decent). Likelihood is that Woakes and Plunkett (and Wood if he makes it) will have to be constantly rotated in and out of the squad because of injury scares so that will at least make it a little easier. Here's how I think we should line up:

Roy
Bairstow
Root
Morgan
Stokes
Butler
Ali
Woakes
Curran
Archer
Rashid

[Andy1993]

Hmm i think Willey will make it in place of Woakes...Never thought i'd say that, but Woakes is clearly struggling at the moment, and Willey starting to show different part sof his game with the ball, i honestly think Woakes will miss out

[marc71178]

Hmm i think Willey will make it in place of Woakes...Never thought i'd say that, but Woakes is clearly struggling at the moment, and Willey starting to show different part sof his game with the ball, i honestly think Woakes will miss out

Clearly both are ahead of Wood though.

[slippy888]

Mason Crane seems to be a better bowler than Rashid

[Gremlin]

Ballance going well at no.3 for Yorkshire this year. Making a case yet for England?