Provisional Squad for Champions Trophy

[Teatime FatCat]

Originally Posted by Avkar

i ask the much repeated question why play it then?

Money, money, money..................................

[Collyisamackem]

I personally love ODI cricket, though I do favour tests slightly because they are so much more of a complex, multi-faceted game, moving between different phases of dominance, stalemate or eipc duel with varying pace and intensity. ODIs are exciting however, and really encourage attacking cricket and improvisation in all disciplines of the game, and I wish our national game and those who participate would take them more seriously. If we don't like "pyjama cricket", then why did we invent Twenty20?! We have talented players but the coaching isn't good enough or committed enough at present, and somethig has to be done. One day cricket is a financial rock for the mdoern game also, therefore it is in our interests financially as well as from a spectator and player enjoyment point of veiw to get serious about it.

[TopperHarley]

I think that if England had a reasonably settled side for the world cup in mind, you would have found this tournament as being used to field a shadow side of fringe players.

Hoever, given that the ODI side is a laughing stock, and the world cup is just around the corner, measures that reek of desperation have to be used.

The return of Gough. Firstly, unlike the bowlers used during the sri lanka series, he appears to be vaguely familiar with the concept of bowling balls which have a reasonable chance of not being ruled a wide. With a bit of luck he might pass this "skill" onto the other bowlers.

The presence of 47 "all-rounders". Flintoff, and to a slight extent collingwood are ODI all-rounders. However the others are not. Scoring a quickfire 11 with the bat and bowling 4 overs for 30 does not make one an all-rounder. It's back to the days of "bits-and-pieces" cricketers.

So far, the definitive ODI team for the world cup looks like this....


KP
Colly
Fred

thats yer lot.

We need the selectors to decide on a keeper. I'm a big fan of geraint Jones, but I think read is a better ODI player. I sincerely hope the ploy of playing two keepers with one in as a batsman is sent the way of Beetamax videos and Tab Clear.

Do we play a selection of bits and pieces bowlers, or three or four "specialist" bowlers (Anderson, harmy, Monty) and expect Flintoff and Colly to pick up the slack?

I dont think the england management have any more of a clue than i do. I am lost. And disillusioned.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by TopperHarley

So far, the definitive ODI team for the world cup looks like this....

KP
Colly
Fred

thats yer lot.

Harsh. Tresco is worthy of inclusion on that list and should they all be fit the the following have all done enough to warrant being in / around ANY final XI.

Tresco
?
?
KP
Collingwood
Flintoff
Read
Blackwell / Giles
Harmison
S. Jones
Anderson

The two question marks are spots the management would like to see filled by Vaughan and Strauss: two players whose ODI credentials don't perhaps stack up as well as they might but who hardly count as poor!

[greg]

Originally Posted by Rachael

Tresco
?
?
KP
Collingwood
Flintoff
Read
Blackwell / Giles
Harmison
S. Jones
Anderson

What about Dalrymple? I think he will have leapt ahead of Blackwell and Giles for the spinners role as he looks a better bat than the others.Jones probably won't be fit so Gough will come in for him.As for the 2 extra bats they will be Strauss as captain and Cook.

[Collyisamackem]

If Owais Shah or Ed Joyce really came up with a convincing case they could easily fill the number 3 spot. I think it's important that Strauss opens and acumulates runs steadily (but at a good strike rate, which he has so far) whilst Tresco does the boundary scoring, as is his strength. They are a good opening partnership in both forms of the game. Shah or Joyce at three would then be a good attacking option, also capable of building an innings, with KP, Colly and Freddie providing a potentially excellent middle order core. I favoured Bell at 3 before, but I don't think he can really expand as he sometimes needs to later in the innings, getting bogged down too easily.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by greg

What about Dalrymple? I think he will have leapt ahead of Blackwell and Giles

Very good point: he's certainly a prospect that would excite ANY international side. In truth, however, Blackwell has done excellently as a specialist bowler... so if they are both fit then Dalrymple's chance is likely to come alongside Blackwell.

I'd not bet against both playing quite regularly if they can stay fit: they are both better ODI options than the likes of Plunkett, Mahmood and co!

[Notts Exile]

Originally Posted by Rachael

I'd not bet against both playing quite regularly if they can stay fit: they are both better ODI options than the likes of Plunkett, Mahmood and co!

And we're seeing more frequently that taking the pace off the ball slows the scoring rate in limited overs cricket. It might not be the test by pace that Fletcher favours bu it sure seems to be working increasingly.

[darksideofthemoon]

SJones hoping to play some part in the Ashes, maybe the last two Tests, so I think he would be ready by March 2007.

[joker-mark]

Does Anyone Know Why Monty Panesar Is Off The Iic England Squad I'm Confused He's The Best Spinner We Got