WAT England A 2006 selectors wanted

[Rachael]

On the basis of those figures, Mascarenhas, Tremlett, Doshi and Shreck look to me like "must haves": a nice balanced quartet. Crucially, I can't see how any one of them could possibly be left out in favour of Mahmood...

[flanflinger]

Mahmood is going to struggle purely on the basis of the fact that as an England player his county performances are going to be limited.

As many of you know I have had my problems with the credibility of our A team selections in the past. I am wondering how we can possibly contemplate an A team without the one guy who qualifies who will actually be on the flight to Oz!!

I know the rules state he should have played 5 County games, but surely as many England players are contracted to their Country rather than their county, then England performances should be included in a county season. Personally I think 4 wickets in an England shirt in a Test counts way more than getting a 5-6 wickets in a County game!!

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

Mahmood is going to struggle purely on the basis of the fact that as an England player his county performances are going to be limited.

How can anyone say that when he is a key player at the moment in the England Test side.
Don't forget we are selecting a W.A.T - A team - not a team for the Ashes.

Mahmmod should IMO be an Automatic choice in our side, and the attack built round him.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

I know the rules state he should have played 5 County games

No one is disputing that Mahmood is eligible for the W-a-T 'A' Team: he CAN be selected.

In terms of long term promise, Broad, Tremlett, Dalrymple and Mahmood all look interesting. In terms of what each player has done this year, Mascarenhas, Doshi and Shreck are surely more deserving.

Shreck has bowled out of his skin this year. He's been applauded from far and wide. By contrast, aside from the opening few overs on his test debut against Sri Lanka and some promising spells in his most recent game against Pakistan... all Mahood has managed is the odd crummy over interspersed within spells that have just been plain awful.

I'm happy to defend selections that might prove to be one off, momentary shots at glory: Mahmood's time may come, but if it comes down to him or Shreck then I know who justice demands.

[flanflinger]

Deserving sounds like some form of award... if you are selecting an A-team you are looking towards players who can make it for England at Test level, which means you have to look at long term prospects, not a player having a golden summer.

At present if you want to select it as an award, there is no point discussing it, just take the six highest averaging batsmen, an all rounder with either a lot of runs/wickets (or both) a keeper with the most catches and the best three bowlers. We won't need to bother discussing it.

Surely our A team should be based on more, if the selectors picked purely on numbers, then I doubt that Vaughan, Trescothick, Cook, Collingwood or Harmison would be in the England team. You need to look deeper.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Ernest

How can anyone say that when he is a key player at the moment in the England Test side.
.

Ern I think you have got confused, (you may want to read the whole of my post) what I am saying is that in terms of County performance, Mahmood will struggle to get selected, because he hasn't played that many games, but he deserves to be looked at because he is playing for England instead.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

he deserves to be looked at beacuse he is playing for England instead.

He is [has been] playing very badly for England!

[Ernest]

fair enough ff, I was replying to this part in the main.

Originally Posted by flanflinger

Mahmood is going to struggle purely on the basis of the fact that as an England player his county performances are going to be limited.

I was thinking that his performances for England in his debut and last match should make sure he does not struggle to be able to be selected.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Rachael

He is [has been] playing very badly for England!

Not that bad when you consider he has only played 4 games, and played siper spells in his debut and the last Test he played in.

Should we hold his very early form against him then we are in danger of losing a bowler that could match Flintoff.

Flintoff had horrible reviews in his first two years.

Mahmood IMO has not played long enough to have played badly - just did not find his feet at first.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Rachael

He is [has been] playing very badly for England!

I have to agree that his first few performances have not set the world on fire. But how many players who have gone on to be greats have had very poor starts to their careers?

Hayden, Kallis, McGrath, Harmison, Flintoff, Warne all had very average first few games, we have just been fortunate that the likes of Cook, Strauss, Hussey, Pietersen have found the jump quite easy.

I would say that given time he will settle down and mature, and the Headingly performance may be the start of that process. To say that he should not get selected for the A team because he has struggled initially at Test level, but players like Mascharenas should get the nod, who will never play for England, will make this years A team as ridiculous as last years!!