Originally Posted by Statto

For over half a season Tom Smith was the stand out bowler in the championship, with cheap wickets and economical bowling, he can also hold a bat down the order. He bowls at a decent pace and has already done enough to go to the England training camp in Perth. Rashid has only played the 2nd half of the season for Yorks/England U19 but has both taken regular wickets and scored runs, including batting up the order for the U19. I appreciate that you want to see the players you pick, but they have put in many good performances which may well encourage those of us over here who have seen them play to push for their selection.

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

I also don't think Rikki "Don't lose that number" Clarke should be anywhere near this side. He looked woeful with bat and ball in the ODIs he played.

Originally Posted by Statto

I dont really want him in the team either, I dont think he will go any further than slotting 2nd rate teams around coming in at 350-3. I'd rather have a proper batsman in the side at 5 (ideally Sales). As for his bowling, he wouldnt get a minor counties game for that alone.

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

Don't forget that Chelmsford is as much of a batter's paradise as the oval. Some would say more so as I believe Chelmsford may be a slightly smaller ground. The only flatter deck in the country has to be Taunton.

As for Pettini [...] he was assisted by that Hundred in 24 balls against the joke bowling of Darren Robinson and Paul Nixon last week. Good player though. And a pretty decent wicket keeper (doesn't play in that position because Essex have James Foster, but he can keep!)

Originally Posted by Collyisamackem

Varun Chopra of Essex has made some good scores this season and impressed with the under-19s.

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

In the past, I have always been in favour of selecting Foster as he offers a great blend of youth and experience coupled with solid technique with both bat and gloves. Davies looks to have more raw ability with the bat, and is equally solid with the gloves - but lacks the experience. I could happily go with either.

I struggle to see any other candidates who can match Foster or Davies. Mustard is too ideosyncratic, and although I'm a big fan of Steve Adshead as a keeper/batsman, he is only reliable (lacking the spectacular) with the gloves, and only equally as good as Foster or Davies with the bat.

Originally Posted by Statto

I personally would work off a short list of Stuart Broard, Tom Smith, Charlie Shreck, Chris Tremlett, James Bruce, Graham Onions and possibly Dimitri Mascharenhas who performs every season but his time may have passed. Kabir Ali has reasonable stats but its only division 2 batting and I just dont rate him. The first 4 and Onions all have reasonable pace about them and could open, but I would rate Mascharenhas as probably the best of the lot with an older ball, and he could be the solution to the spinner problem, pick him and two (probably Yardy and Dalrymple) batting spinners and theres plenty of bowling for the middle overs with the old ball.