I agree with Rachael. Plunkett played because Simon jones and Chris Tremlett were unavailable. We knew he was a good talent because he just missed out on selection this year. All the guys ahead of him fully deserve a chance to play A team cricket and develop their potential further for future Test selection. I cannot fathom why England don't have a proper A team when Australia does. England insist on sending young players out to the sub-continent to get hammered. There are plenty of very good players just below the age of thirty who are completely overlooked for overseas tours. Meanwhile Brad Hodge and Mike Hussey get loads of A tours and make the Australian side. I think Hussey is 27 and Hodge is 30. This is why the WAT age criteria is under 30. This is why many WAT England A players will be overlooked by the England selectors. Fletcher likes to pick them young and mold them to his style of player.

While flanflinger is griping about the exclusion of Plunkett in the A team I'm still sour over the omission of Prior who is batting 2nd in the one-dayers and looks certain to get a Test call-up someday. I'll be pushing for him again next year because he is a class act.

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