England Cricket Squad
Discussion
Interesting selection. I thought Bell had shown enough so far this season to get selected. I do rate Bopara but is he really a Test 3, seems more like a 6 to me. If Panesar is picked over Swann then the batting looks very light indeed.
This squad list os from the Grauniad but I've re-arranged it into the order I think they will bat at.
A Strauss (Middlesex, capt)
A Cook (Essex)
R Bopara (Essex)
K Pietersen (Hampshire)
P Collingwood (Durham)
M Prior (Sussex)
G Swann (Nottinghamshire)
S Broad (Nottinghamshire)
J Anderson (Lancashire)
T Bresnan (Yorkshire)
G Onions (Durham)
M Panesar (Northamptonshire)
This squad list os from the Grauniad but I've re-arranged it into the order I think they will bat at.
A Strauss (Middlesex, capt)
A Cook (Essex)
R Bopara (Essex)
K Pietersen (Hampshire)
P Collingwood (Durham)
M Prior (Sussex)
G Swann (Nottinghamshire)
S Broad (Nottinghamshire)
J Anderson (Lancashire)
T Bresnan (Yorkshire)
G Onions (Durham)
M Panesar (Northamptonshire)
5pen said:
I'd agree that it looks a bit short batting-wise, perhaps hinting that Bresnan will start as he can bat a bit.
I note that even with injuries amongst the bowlers, Harmison has missed out.
Good.I note that even with injuries amongst the bowlers, Harmison has missed out.
And I'm very pleased to see Bopara in the squad, I think he'll make an excellent number 3.
What chance KP can keep his mouth shut and make a few runs? Bopara is making him look very ordinary in India at the moment.
5pen said:
I'd agree that it looks a bit short batting-wise, perhaps hinting that Bresnan will start as he can bat a bit.
I note that even with injuries amongst the bowlers, Harmison has missed out.
Harmison deserves to miss out. He hasn't got what it takes mentally and never will, and has lived for too long off a great series in the West Indies, which, albeit briefly elevated him to No.1 in the rankings.I note that even with injuries amongst the bowlers, Harmison has missed out.
Personally, I'd be happy to never see him in an England sweater again.
hornetrider said:
Interesting selection. I thought Bell had shown enough so far this season to get selected. I do rate Bopara but is he really a Test 3, seems more like a 6 to me. If Panesar is picked over Swann then the batting looks very light indeed.
This squad list os from the Grauniad but I've re-arranged it into the order I think they will bat at.
A Strauss (Middlesex, capt)
A Cook (Essex)
R Bopara (Essex)
K Pietersen (Hampshire)
P Collingwood (Durham)
M Prior (Sussex)
G Swann (Nottinghamshire)
S Broad (Nottinghamshire)
J Anderson (Lancashire)
T Bresnan (Yorkshire)
G Onions (Durham)
M Panesar (Northamptonshire)
Playing with 12, we might have a chance This squad list os from the Grauniad but I've re-arranged it into the order I think they will bat at.
A Strauss (Middlesex, capt)
A Cook (Essex)
R Bopara (Essex)
K Pietersen (Hampshire)
P Collingwood (Durham)
M Prior (Sussex)
G Swann (Nottinghamshire)
S Broad (Nottinghamshire)
J Anderson (Lancashire)
T Bresnan (Yorkshire)
G Onions (Durham)
M Panesar (Northamptonshire)
I aso thought Bell might sneak back in - not Vaughn though - the guy is not in top from and ex-captains who return are normally not successful. Bopara number three though ... hmmmmm.
Not sure he has the technique for a number three - a one day match maybe, but not a Test cricket. Does he look as if he could bat all day to you? Not me he doesn't.
On paper does this really look like a side to win the Ashes (even with Fred back). I'm thinking not, but of course would love to be proved wrong and get to stick it to HSV every day in the summer - glorious!
Not sure he has the technique for a number three - a one day match maybe, but not a Test cricket. Does he look as if he could bat all day to you? Not me he doesn't.
On paper does this really look like a side to win the Ashes (even with Fred back). I'm thinking not, but of course would love to be proved wrong and get to stick it to HSV every day in the summer - glorious!
Fact is we don't have a quality no3. Bopara is definitly not a no 3, lets be real about that.He is a very good 6. You can tut tut Bell, but until we can find a better one, he would be my choice.
This series against Australia, could be a complete mare. This batting line up is not up to it.
This series against Australia, could be a complete mare. This batting line up is not up to it.
Carfolio said:
mouseymousey said:
What chance KP can keep his mouth shut and make a few runs? Bopara is making him look very ordinary in India at the moment.
0, and it's actually being played in SA. So very fitting.
It's funny with KP, when he first appeared on the scene here he seemed ok but now I can see why Graeme Smith said that KP would never play for South Africa if he could have anything to do with it.
KP doesnt like batting first one down, he prefers 4 and frankly with his temperament he is better there. Early in an innings, KP is a bloody nightmare!
Im unsure about Bopara at 3 aswell, but I do think he should be in the squad. Bell has all the class you will ever need, but then so did Hick and Ramps. There could be a case of we leave Bell alone for a couple of seasons, let him make big runs in CC, harden up mentally and then come back to him. I suspect he will have become an excellent batsman. We already know he has the best technique in the country, we know he can make runs, but we also know he is frail in the mental dept and until that is sorted, he cant do the England no 3 job which should be his.
Im unsure about Bopara at 3 aswell, but I do think he should be in the squad. Bell has all the class you will ever need, but then so did Hick and Ramps. There could be a case of we leave Bell alone for a couple of seasons, let him make big runs in CC, harden up mentally and then come back to him. I suspect he will have become an excellent batsman. We already know he has the best technique in the country, we know he can make runs, but we also know he is frail in the mental dept and until that is sorted, he cant do the England no 3 job which should be his.
The selection I'm struggling to understand is Foster in the 20/20 squad.
We're told that Prior is the pick in tests and ODI's because he can bat. And yet in the 20/20 where batting would seem to be a bigger priority they pick Foster. If Foster is a good enough batsman to play 20/20 surely he's good enough to play in the other forms. Because one thing is for sure - he's a far better wicketkeeper than irongloves Prior!
I like Bopara at 3, much prefer him to Shah who looks nervous, is a poor runner and an inadequate fielder. I think Bell is very gifted and technically as good as any we have but his temperament is obviously suspect. Much like Ramprakash who was the most gifted English batsman of his generation but his temperament wasn't suited to test cricket.
We're told that Prior is the pick in tests and ODI's because he can bat. And yet in the 20/20 where batting would seem to be a bigger priority they pick Foster. If Foster is a good enough batsman to play 20/20 surely he's good enough to play in the other forms. Because one thing is for sure - he's a far better wicketkeeper than irongloves Prior!
I like Bopara at 3, much prefer him to Shah who looks nervous, is a poor runner and an inadequate fielder. I think Bell is very gifted and technically as good as any we have but his temperament is obviously suspect. Much like Ramprakash who was the most gifted English batsman of his generation but his temperament wasn't suited to test cricket.
Gassing Station | Sports | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff