WAT England A 2006 selectors wanted

[Rachael]

I'm happy to run the selection process but would appreciate your views on the following:

1. Yardy as opener (he routinely bats at 3, perhaps more deserving than Ed Smith).

2. Prior as specialist batsman (as his glovework got him laughed out of the side last year)

3. Clarke as specialist batsman (if Dalrymple plays at 6)

4. Dalrymple at 6

That should do for now :-)

ps. Sales? He's batting in division 2 and averages less than Ronnie Irani, Darren Gough and Ian Blackwell...and not much more than Gareth Batty and Kadeer Ali.

pps. Newman? He's worse: he's actually behind Batty and Kadeer Ali: if he were averaging the same sort of figure in division one he'd be very credible... but in division 2?

[Mike]

Originally Posted by Rachael

3. In terms of continuity, Mascarenhas (who you picked the previous two years) has just had the season of his life: he's been one of THE bowlers of the year... and has batted well... and is a stronger candidate for bowling all-rounder than he's ever been (and you argued for him pretty vociferously in the past): you'll need to account for your change of heart in the face of great evidence of superb progress.

Mascarenhas can count himself extremely unlucky to miss a spot in my team but other factors conspired against him. The improvement of Clarke's batting and the emergence of Dalrymple as a genuine spinning option. Had I selected Doshi instead of one of the pace bowlers then Mascarenhas would certainly have been selected ahead of Dalrymple. I'd like to give Doshi another year in CC to see if he can become an effective top-order wicket taker. If he does then Mascarenhas could make the A team next year.

Originally Posted by Rachael

4. Mahmood has been nothing short of crap. He's had two crap series in Test cricket in which he's been just the odd bright over short an unmitigated failure (being completely anonymous in almost all spells and looking contributing just about nothing in most matches) and he's now been dropped from the ODI side because he can't be trusted. He's been overtaken in many eyes by a kid in nappies whose still growing, has no real experience and is still learning the basics of his trade.

Fletcher likes to pick his fast bowlers while still under developed. Of course, they'll struggle initially against seasoned opposition but Broad and Mahmood have abundant potential.

Originally Posted by Rachael

5. Last year you were vehemently against Panesar because it was 'too soon' to be picking him: you wanted him to get another season under his belt. Broad is just as bad.... and unlike Panesar has genuine competition (Tremlett, Shreck). I'm not saying he's bad... but you need to explain your change in tack!

Broad had a fine season last year in his debut season. He has improved further this season. His potential is as obvious as the sun in the sky. Panesar was mainly bowling in 2nd XIs before last year and his debut year last year consisted of only half a season. I was being cautious with Panesar. He would have been in my team this year had he qualified. That would have enabled Mascarenhas' selection ahead of Dalrymple.

Originally Posted by Rachael

6. Prior... well... as last year he still can't 'keep.

Prior has made seven stumpings in the CC to date. He needs to improve his catching but I expect he will. His batting is a great asset to the team.

Originally Posted by Rachael

Shreck may make it as THE strike bowler of the year... and after that I'm even less sure.

I considered Shreck and Onions. One of my research methods is to see how many top order batsman they bowled out in good sides. They didn't do as well as Tremlett and co:

Mascarenhas 75% of top 5 batsmen's wickets taken against good sides
Tremlett 70%
Broad 66%
Shreck 57.1%
Onions 56.2%
Bresnan 52.9%

[Rachael]

By your own criteria I'd be interested in your views on the following XI:

1. Yardy
2. Prior
3. Joyce
4. Clarke
5. Batty
6. Dalrymple
7. Davies
8. Mascarenhas
9. Broad
10.Tremlett
11. Tom Smith

Seems to me that all could be defended.... and I'm not sure many other players have made better cases: this is starting with players most deserving and THEN building a team rather than looking for the balance first... but any captain with that side ought to be pretty happy with both the depth of batting AND the bowling options.

Note: That's 4 genuine seamers plus Clarke, two passable spinners plus Yardy AND a reserve 'keeper all in one XI :-)

pps. Tom Smith looks a far better prospect than Mahmood and unlike Mahmood... he's actually had a good season and done something worth talking about!

[Mike]

Originally Posted by Rachael

I'm happy to run the selection process but would appreciate your views on the following:

Okay by me Rachael.

Originally Posted by Rachael

1. Yardy as opener (he routinely bats at 3, perhaps more deserving than Ed Smith).

That could be an option although some see him as an all-rounder. This is Smith's last qualifying year and I think he adds experience to the top of the order. Another reason why Sales got my nod. A team needs a blend of youth and experience. Joyce and Yardy's youth is complemented with experience from Newman, Smith and Sales. I think Yardy might struggle as an opener at this stage. If he improves he could move up the order in future years.

Originally Posted by Rachael

2. Prior as specialist batsman (as his glovework got him laughed out of the side last year)

3. Clarke as specialist batsman (if Dalrymple plays at 6)

Both players are too aggressive to succeed as specialist batsmen. Pietersen rides his luck but he could come unstuck if he continues his aggressive batting.

Originally Posted by Rachael

4. Dalrymple at 6

These are his scores batting at 5 and 4 against good teams in Division 1: 40,60,14,43,33,28,37,69,0,27. Consistently gets starts but if you are looking for someone who can convert some of those starts into centuries then Clarke is a better option at #6, I think.

Originally Posted by Rachael

[i]ps. Sales? He's batting in division 2 and averages less than Ronnie Irani, Darren Gough and Ian Blackwell...and not much more than Gareth Batty and Kadeer Ali.

Shah would have been an automatic choice had he had a more consistent season but he paid the price for a lack of consistency. I looked in Division 1 for a suitable replacement: Adams, Compton, Lumb, Carberry, Muchall, and Chilton all struggled against the top sides in Division 1 so I looked in Division 2 and found some good prospects there.

[Mike]

Originally Posted by Rachael

By your own criteria I'd be interested in your views on the following XI:

1. Yardy
2. Prior
3. Joyce
4. Clarke
5. Batty
6. Dalrymple
7. Davies
8. Mascarenhas
9. Broad
10.Tremlett
11. Tom Smith

The main problem I have with the batting order is that too many players are batting out of their normal position. Prior would bat at 2 in a ODI because of the fielding restrictions but he's too aggressive to bat at 2 in the longer version of the game. I can't see Clarke being successful at 4 since he'll be bowling too many overs as a change bowler. Batty will never be good enough to bat at 5 at Test level. I wouldn't include a medium-pacer like Smith unless he was as good as Mascarenhas or could make plenty of runs. I can't see Smith being a match winner at 'A' level. I don't think there is room for Prior as a specialist batsman and Smith is just not going to contribute much with bat or ball. As I see it, you need to find a couple more specialist batsmen to balance your side.

1. ??????
2. Yardy
3. Joyce
4. ??????
5. Dalrymple
6. Clarke
7. Davies +
8. Mascarenhas
9. Batty
10. Broad
11. Tremlett

[Rachael]

OK.. one thing at a time... let's deal with Clarke.

First up, Clarke is a batsman: he'd not get into any side in either division as a 1st XI specialist bowler but would walk into most as a specialist bat. He's also a very successful bat: He's no Ramps... but he's been matching Andy Flower and (more relevently) accomplished team mates like Brown and Butcher.

Secondly, whilst I'd be the first to take issue with the "it's not how, it's how many" brigade (and am known as a defender of the likes of Atherton and Richardson), Clarke's been answering his critics: he's in the top 10 of the division two listings with nearly 1000 runs at nearly 65 (including a double century, two further centuries and three fifties)!

Thirdly, the competition on the batting front is weak this year. I'm sure we'd all prefer batsmen who've proven themselves with impressive averages against division one teams... but Joyce and Yardy aside we're short on candidates.

In short... Clarke ought to be an automatic choice for a middle order spot irrespective of his bowling... and we should be prepared to trust him to show us that his defensive technique and big match temperament is up to playing responsible innings.

Can we agree on that?

ps. I think we need four real bowlers plus Dalrymple and Clarke. If that includes a specialist spinner then I think it has to be Doshi. Broad and Tremlett backedup by Mascarenhas would seem ideal to me.

[Mike]

If you're going to reduce Clarke's bowling workload then you could have a team like:

1. Yardy
2. Joyce
3. Shah
4. Clarke
5. Dalrymple
6. Prior
7. Davies +
8. Mascarenhas
9. Broad
10.Tremlett
11. Doshi

If you increase Clarke's bowling workload then swap Dalrymple and Clarke around.

[Ernest]

. Yardy
. Joyce
. Shah
. Clarke
. ???
. Prior
. Dalrymple
. Mascarenhas
. Mahmood
. Broad
. Tremlett

. Lewis???

EDIT:

Originally Posted by Mike

If you're going to reduce Clarke's bowling workload then you could have a team like

I think Clarke is not an international bowler - he would be given a chance as a batsman - who if pushed could turn his arm over.

Lewis not a great supporter of him, however he is a good like for like for Hoggard if conditions for swing are there.

Also I think one spinner is enough, we don't have enough spinners of any use to pick from in England.

[Collyisamackem]

Originally Posted by Mike

I considered Shreck and Onions. One of my research methods is to see how many top order batsman they bowled out in good sides. They didn't do as well as Tremlett and co:

Mascarenhas 75% of top 5 batsmen's wickets taken against good sides
Tremlett 70%
Broad 66%
Shreck 57.1%
Onions 56.2%
Bresnan 52.9%

Sorry Mike, but this is a slightly un-objective study isn't it? What criteria establiushes a side as "good", and who were those sides?

I will also mention the tally of wickets Onions has for this season again, but despite the attempts of many selectors it cannot be ignored.

[greg]

Too many people are batting out of position for my liking.Opening the batting is a specialist role like keeping wicket is so you need a specialist to do it.You can't just put in the bloke who bats at 3 because he could be in early anyway.

For me Davies has shown enough to be chosen as the keeper and Newman has been solid enough to keep a place as an opener so we need to find another opener to partner him.I have no problem with Yardy,Joyce and Clarke being 3,4 and 5 as they have had good seasons and Dalrymple is a popular choice at 6.

Bowling is open to discussion in my opinion but Onions deserves a place alongside Broad.

Newman
?????
Yardy
Joyce
Clarke
Dalrymple
Davies
Broad
Onions
?????
?????