England thread
 

Champions Trophy Preliminary Squad

Tim Ambrose, James Anderson, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Michael Carberry, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Andrew Flintoff, Simon Jones, Ed Joyce, Robert Key, Sajid Mahmood, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Phil Mustard, Graham Onions, Monty Panesar, Samit Patel, Darren Pattinson, Kevin Pietersen, Liam Plunkett, Matt Prior, Owais Shah, Ryan Sidebottom, Andrew Strauss, Graeme Swann, James Tredwell, Chris Tremlett, Luke Wright.

Your final 15?

Ambrose, Anderson, Bell, Bopara, Broad, Collingwood (C), Cook, Flintoff, Mascarenhas, Pietersen, Shah, Sidebottom, Swann, Tremlett, Wright.

Will be very surprised and disappointed if it's anything but that.

You'll be disappointed if they don't pick Luke Wright? :wacko:

Yep. Wright needs to bat down the order so they can find-out he's useless there too (as many have been clamouring for him to bat there) then be dropped and never recalled.

Anderson
Bell
Bopara
Broad
Collingwood*
Flintoff
Mascarenhas
Mustard+
Patel
Pietersen
Prior
Shah
Sidebottom
Swann
Wright

For me. Possibly a bit light on seam, but we'd got Jimmy, Fred, Sid & Broad as bankers with Swann's off-spin so just need maximum of 10 from any combo from Mascarenhas/Colly/Wright/Bopara.

Pattinson to be the not so surprise pick IMO

Will have a crack at what I think they will and should pick now

Tim Ambrose, James Anderson, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Michael Carberry, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Andrew Flintoff, Simon Jones, Ed Joyce, Robert Key, Sajid Mahmood, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Phil Mustard, Graham Onions, Monty Panesar, Samit Patel, Darren Pattinson, Kevin Pietersen, Liam Plunkett, Matt Prior, Owais Shah, Ryan Sidebottom, Andrew Strauss, Graeme Swann, James Tredwell, Chris Tremlett, Luke Wright.

I think the squad will be:

Collingwood*
Mustard+
Cook
Shah
Pietersen
Bopara
Broad
Flintoff
Sidebottom
Pattinson
Wright
Swann
Tredwell
Bell
Anderson

CBF picking exclusively from the 30, though I might end up doing so

Bell
Cook
Pietersen
Shah
Flintoff
Collingwood
Broad
Read (**** the ICL :p)
Swann
Sidebottom
Anderson
Mascarenhas
Bopara
Joyce
S Jones

Not really convinced about my own selection but meh

best xi england could do would be

mustard
wright
pietersen
bell
collingwood
flintoff
bopara
swann
broad
sidebottom
anderson

No, it wouldn't. Bopara batting below Flintoff and Collingwood? Get nothing from him down there. Mustard and Wright opening? Surefire way to 5-2 most innings'.

My 15

1. Anderson
2. Bell
3. Bopara
4. Broad
5. Collingwood
6. Flintoff
7. Jones
8. Mascarenhas
9. Mustard
10. Panesar
11. KP
12. Shah
13. Sidebottom
14. Swann
15. Wright

Two spinners is probably a must. I’ll also take Jones as an option not to bowl with the new ball or indeed at the death but to operate within the 15-40 over period - Flintoff to bowl at the death alongside Colly and some darts from Swann.

XI
Wright
Mustard
KP
Bell
Collingwood
Flintoff
Mascarenhas
Broad
Swann
Jones/Panesar
Anderson

Still astonished that people can pick Mustard. His one-day performances this season been good for you guys, have they?

Better than Ambrose, yeah

Naming a 15 man squad is tough. There are would probably be changes if I did it tomorrow.

First thing that stands out is that there is a lack of options, talent and depth.

Thought Process

I could only keep 2 of Bopara, Bell and Shah. Shah misses out based on Bells better record and Boparas big 200+ this season, though to be frank it could have been any of them.

Prior probably lucky to be included. Has a terrible record (average) at domestic level but he is stil the most capable of playing an innings (decent number of centuries). Id bat him down the order

Dimitri Mascarenhas misses out as I dont think his batting is strong enough to carry his bowling. He is certainly economical but as a specialist bowler you have to carry your share of the responsibility and he doesnt.

Luke Wright is lucky as hell. Its hard to justify his inclusion apart from the fact the only other options would be a slow scoring journeyman and we have plenty of them. He is included mainly due to lack of other options.

Jones and Plunkett excluded due to their poor record and they can let the game get away from them.

Strauss and Cook can be considered lucky and both a result of lack of quality options. Ive never believed Strauss was as terrible as some have made out. Also, Im a believer that if there is little, to nothing, to choose between 2 players then go with keeping the same players for all teams for continuity. I hate the idea of a mess of average players with caps all over. I dont think its any coincidence that the last time England were decent in ODIs that there were a number of 'specialist Test players' in the team.

Joyce included as he has a good career record and was never given a fair opportunity last time round

My 15
Ian Bell
Ravi Bopara
Paul Collingwood
Alastair Cook
Ed Joyce
Kevin Pietersen
Andrew Strauss
Matt Prior
Andrew Flintoff
Luke Wright.
James Anderson
Stuart Broad
Ryan Sidebottom
Graeme Swann
Chris Tremlett

Starting XI
Strauss
Bell
Joyce
Pietersen
Flintoff
Collingwood
Prior
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Sidebottom

A possible change being Bopara for Joyce

Frankly, I like it as much as I can given the players available.

As far as Im concerned there are only 4 automatic selections. Anderson, KP, Swann and and Flintoff

I like your squad, I really do

Ambrose who played a whole 2 games, scoring 28 and 1.

Hardly conclusive in any respect, 2 games.