England players and selection discussion thread

[Molehill]

I wonder how long Joe will be interested in turning out for our 50 over side.

Reckon he retires after next World Cup. He’s done well in the SA20 so should enjoy it.

 

[Hungry Llama]

Where does the boy wonder Bethel fit in all this reorganisation?

I think the management should mend their relationship with Dawson, i know hes 35, but hes a spinner so age not really a problem [as chakra showed for india] and seeing that Wood b4 his injury again is a first choice at 36, why not? I mean if they are going to put Mousley & rehan etc in the squads but hardly ever play them, presumably cos they dont think they could cope at this level, maybe try someone with experience.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

I reckon Bethell gets a run. Possibly even at 3 given how resoundingly successful the Smith experiment wasn't.

Could see a top 6 along the lines of:

Duckett
Brook / A N Opener
Bethell
Root
Smith / Brook
Buttler

As the top 6.

Who knows with the bowling. Maybe something like:

Curran
Overton
Archer
Rashid/Rehan
Mahmood/Topley

Can get some overs of spin from Root/Bethel so Curran/Overton don't have to bowl a full set each.

 

[tony p]

The problem the England selectors have is that they just play far to much INTERNATIONAL CRICKET of all types and don't really know which players are suited to which format.
We have seen far to much T20 batting in 50 over cricket by the likes of Salt & Livingstone, you are allowed to build an innings in this format (50 overs), but they both refuse to do so, to their detriment.
Why Smith is in the side, I don't know, surely he's not the 5th or 6th best one day format player in England. If England think he is, then they have problems, keep him as a test player.

 

[Molehill]

I reckon Bethell gets a run. Possibly even at 3 given how resoundingly successful the Smith experiment wasn't.

Could see a top 6 along the lines of:

Duckett
Brook / A N Opener
Bethell
Root
Smith / Brook
Buttler

As the top 6.

Who knows with the bowling. Maybe something like:

Curran
Overton
Archer
Rashid/Rehan
Mahmood/Topley

Can get some overs of spin from Root/Bethel so Curran/Overton don't have to bowl a full set each.

I quite like the idea of Brook opening, it means he probably won't face any spin for a few overs which seems to be his current bugbear.

 

[kevinw]

Stokes could be considered for ODI captain? The guy can barely walk. It's as dumb as considering Archer for Tests.

 

[Molehill]

Stokes could be considered for ODI captain? The guy can barely walk. It's as dumb as considering Archer for Tests.

Yeah, if this consideration took longer than "he's always injured", then they really are clueless.

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Brook has pulled out of the IPL for a second consecutive year to prioritise our big year ahead...I get he'll not be on a pittance with England, but it's a brave move with him now set to be banned from the IPL for the next two seasons

 

[Hungry Llama]

Since theyr gonna play 5 tests against india, a bit more practice against their bowelrs esp spinners might have been beneficial
But i'm all for his decision, if it means hes gonna play for yorks in the CC, not just endless net sessions at Looborough or wherever
england have their HQ nowadays.

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Since theyr gonna play 5 tests against india, a bit more practice against their bowelrs esp spinners might have been beneficial
But i'm all for his decision, if it means hes gonna play for yorks in the CC, not just endless net sessions at Looborough or wherever
england have their HQ nowadays.

On the flip side, he might like playing against them when it doesn’t spin! Strongly suspect this means he’ll be appointed the ODI captain, and with Pope’s position in the side suddenly not looking so secure, he might be just a Ben Stokes hamstring twang away from being the Test captain too

 

[slowfinger]

Yeah, if this consideration took longer than "he's always injured", then they really are clueless.

his aura alone could captain England to success though

he could sit at 1st slip with a cigarette in his mouth all game and not say a word and be better than Buttler at captaining the side

 

[Hungry Llama]

Back in the day it was pretty common for all kinds of sporties to smoke, but now with the emphasis on 'elite sports' and hyper fitness regimes, i'm always surprised that any sporties smoke, apart from some footy types or cagefighters who are probably on the waccy baccy most of the time.

Key suggesting stokes might be buttlers successor, seems a daft idea when la superhero is still recovering from surgery/injury and we have 10 tests against india and oz to come. Its gonna need a miracle to keep him fit for those, and the best chance is not to make him play any other international cricket in between. I wonder if stokes will really be fully fit for the zimbabwe test, which hes said hes aiming for and which could also be archers return as well. Also not convinced about archers return to 5 day tests, surely they should ask him to prove himself in the CC first?

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Back in the day it was pretty common for all kinds of sporties to smoke, but now with the emphasis on 'elite sports' and hyper fitness regimes, i'm always surprised that any sporties smoke, apart from some footy types or cagefighters who are probably on the waccy baccy most of the time.

Key suggesting stokes might be buttlers successor, seems a daft idea when la superhero is still recovering from surgery/injury and we have 10 tests against india and oz to come. Its gonna need a miracle to keep him fit for those, and the best chance is not to make him play any other international cricket in between. I wonder if stokes will really be fully fit for the zimbabwe test, which hes said hes aiming for and which could also be archers return as well. Also not convinced about archers return to 5 day tests, surely they should ask him to prove himself in the CC first?

I had a brief flicker of hope that Archer might be serious about a return to red ball cricket when he initially didn’t appear in the IPL auction list, but then he appeared later on. Still, Brook has shown him the way now…

 

[Molehill]

I don't see Archer playing red ball cricket this Summer. By the time the IPL is done, so is the early part of the Championship, he won't be donning the whites at Hove any time soon.

I'm wondering if Brook might end up being a bit like Matt Prior. A really good attacking batsman in Test Cricket who never mastered limited overs stuff despite it seemingly being a perfect fit.

 

[kevinw]

I'd very happily leave Brook out of the white ball setup. We should have completely different squads nowadays.

 

[Hungry Llama]

Under Morgan that did seem to be the usual setup, perhaps a return to that would be a good thing, with exceptions for Ducket and Bethel in odis [and maybe Root too for tourneys].

 

[Pothas]

It wasn't though. They all had a go at Test cricket. Not always with much success but it really wasn't totally separate squads. Nobody does that.

 

[Molehill]

It wasn't though. They all had a go at Test cricket. Not always with much success but it really wasn't totally separate squads. Nobody does that.

It's true. Morgan, Buttler, Roy, Hales, Plunkett, Rashid were all tried and essentially failed in Tests. Moeen was a monumental success compared to that lot.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Bit harsh to say Jos failed, IMHO.

Average of ~32 maybe not what one would've hoped from a generational talent, but it stacks up pretty well against most keeper/batsmen.

Victim of the expectations he created for himself.

 

[Molehill]

Bit harsh to say Jos failed, IMHO.

Average of ~32 maybe not what one would've hoped from a generational talent, but it stacks up pretty well against most keeper/batsmen.

Victim of the expectations he created for himself.

Given his talent, he failed. That he never really properly held down the keeper's spot sums it up. Prior averaged 40, Jos should've matched that really.