*Official* West Indies Tour of Ireland and England- May/June 2025

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

A complete mess of a side/squad.

Jacks who was an opener and barely bowled is now 7 and a all rounder.

Smith jumped up to open when previously middle order.

Brook and Buttler both one too high for me.

The obsession with Jamie Overton continues when he was being used as 7 in the finisher role and your fifth/sixth bowler now he's a 8 or 9 and seemingly opening or second change!!!

Carse shouldn't be risked in such a meaningless series.

Why is Potts not selected again when he could have turned out for Durham last week instead of carrying drinks. Rew was released but not Potts!

Why is Dawson in the T20 squad but not the ODI squad? If he's not deemed too old for the T20 World Cup next year, it's a stretch to suggest he'll be too old for the 50 over World Cup the next year. Think Smith being tried at the top of the order is at least in part with a view to putting him up the order for when someone takes the gloves off him in the Test team. Going to disagree slightly on the topic of Carse, this is a potentially very important series considering World Cup qualification is on the line (although Carse is yet to prove himself in limited overs cricket, and there is no reason to have him in the T20 squad)

 

[kevinw]

If Jos is playing you don't need Smith in the side at all. Smith doesn't really have much of a record in this format anyway. Waste of an opening spot. Again, where is Sam Hain??

 

[kevinw]

I didn't realize it was Joverton rather than Coverton playing, which is even more worrying.

 

[mackembhoy]

I didn't realize it was Joverton rather than Coverton playing, which is even more worrying.

Have you been asleep for the last 8 months?

Joverton been in every white ball squad since the end of last summer and played 17 times for England

 

[kevinw]

Have you been asleep for the last 8 months?

Joverton been in every white ball squad since the end of last summer and played 17 times for England

He isn't very good though. Might be better in t20s as he can biff but even then you would only want him as one of at least six bowling options. And if he's one of five in ODIs then good luck.

 

[mackembhoy]

He isn't very good though. Might be better in t20s as he can biff but even then you would only want him as one of at least six bowling options. And if he's one of five in ODIs then good luck.

No arguments there, just Coverton hasn't been in an England squad for 3 years!

Whilst Jamie is a mainstay in recent times for some reason.

 

[Howe_zat]

Summer means Howe Snr and I at Edgbaston

 

[The_Rey]

Can't believe I'm seeing Jamie Smith slander on this thread. People saying about taking the gloves off him man he's a freakish, generational talent.

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Big fan of Bob Willis’ grandkids wearing a jersey saying ‘Grumps’

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Can't believe I'm seeing Jamie Smith slander on this thread. People saying about taking the gloves off him man he's a freakish, generational talent.

I get he won’t have the gloves forever in the Test team, but he’s so perfectly suited to what we want from a lower middle order batter in both red ball and white ball cricket, I don’t know what the fascination with having him up the order is

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

If Jos is playing you don't need Smith in the side at all. Smith doesn't really have much of a record in this format anyway. Waste of an opening spot. Again, where is Sam Hain??

The reverse Dan Worrall?

 

[Molehill]

Smith getting a working over from Seales (2 lbw shouts and a drop at slip) but somehow still there, very poor review from WI.

 

[RightArmMystery]

Two beautiful shots to end the over from Smith. Was looking nervy before the review, the two balls since has got into much better positions and hit a couple of lovely shots.

 

[The_Rey]

I get he won’t have the gloves forever in the Test team, but he’s so perfectly suited to what we want from a lower middle order batter in both red ball and white ball cricket, I don’t know what the fascination with having him up the order is

I sort of get it - his natural game is perfectly suited to a Test middle order slot.
Buuuuttttt.... this England set up are doing him a huge disservice. He has talent in playing attacking, aggressive shots, but has always been a complete batter, but since being around this set up it's almost like he tries a shot a ball. Some of his dismissals for Surrey this season have been shocking shots and decision making. If England want him higher up the order they need to encourage him to play his natural game, a bit like Root (I'd say Smith is sort of a Brook/Root hybrid when batting at his natural rhythm).

His glovework is also top notch - the only better 'keeper (ignoring batting ability) I can think of is Foakes. Probably has a few on par but for all-round game, Smith is streets ahead of anyone else. Nuts to be talking about taking the gloves off him.

 

[Molehill]

Two beautiful shots to end the over from Smith. Was looking nervy before the review, the two balls since has got into much better positions and hit a couple of lovely shots.

Yeah, now it's turned into powerplay carnage. Although, this team's ability to turn 200-1 into 295 all out shouldn't be under-estimated.

Any chance a Mod can sticky this thread please?

 

[RightArmMystery]

Smith going along beautifully now. Was never in doubt he'd do well as an opener

 

[The_Rey]

Luck boy there, Smith.

 

[Molehill]

Ironic that Smith should get out to the one he actually middled, great catch, that was travelling.

 

[RightArmMystery]

Smith going along beautifully now. Was never in doubt he'd do well as an opener

Jinxed him.

 

[The_Rey]

Bollocks. Next ball