Twenty20 International - Let's make a proper side

[Vrock]

Given that the test series is almost finished between England and Pakistan, there will be a Twenty20 international between the test and ODI series'.

It will be obvious that England will give their ODI side a trial-run before the series but I think half of the choices are flawed. I don't see why we should be fielding players who don't deserve to be out there for a one-off match that gives you more chance of getting injured than actually getting prepared for a series!

Anyways, names into the hat before the final XI:

Darren Maddy
Mal Loye
Jeremy Snape

[Andy Mellon]

A 20:20 XI

Ronnie Irani
Mal Loye
Darren Gough
Darren Maddy
Scott Newman
Robin Martin-Jenkins
Steve Adshead
Mark Ealham
Martyn Ball
Jeremy Snape
Stuart Broad

That'd be my team I'd play today if we couldn't play any test players and assuming that we couldn't play the unfit players. I'd replace Ball with Blackwell and Robin Martin-Jenkins with Kevin Pietersen. Gough in as pinch-hitter at 3 if an early wicket falls, or move him below Ealham if not.

[Vrock]

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

That'd be my team I'd play today if we couldn't play any test players and assuming that we couldn't play the unfit players. I'd replace Ball with Blackwell and Robin Martin-Jenkins with Kevin Pietersen. Gough in as pinch-hitter at 3 if an early wicket falls, or move him below Ealham if not.

Test players can sure play, just not pointless selections like playing someone, such as, Alastair Cook who has never shown great ability in playing attacking cricket consistently at the top level.

I won't comment on your side as a whole, Andy, until we get some more contributions from members as I don't want to get ahead of proceedings.

However, Darren Gough as pinch-hitter, surely you must be joking? He's failed very consistently this season for Essex (with the bat) in the Twenty20 Cup. He's got some shots in the bag and he certainly has lots of talent but he's struggled to make run-a-ball scores and this is only 20 overs of cricket we have, especially for a pinch-hitter that's poor form.

[Andy Mellon]

Originally Posted by Vrock

However, Darren Gough as pinch-hitter, surely you must be joking? He's failed very consistently this season for Essex (with the bat) in the Twenty20 Cup. He's got some shots in the bag and he certainly has lots of talent but he's struggled to make run-a-ball scores and this is only 20 overs of cricket we have, especially for a pinch-hitter that's poor form.

Maybe I was playing Devil's Advocate, VRock

Seriously though, I would hope that he wouldn't be required as a pinch hitter anyway, but he is a bowler I'd want in the team along with Broad, Snape and Blackwell.

[Vrock]

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

Maybe I was playing Devil's Advocate, VRock

I have no idea what you are talking about Andy...

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

Seriously though, I would hope that he wouldn't be required as a pinch hitter anyway, but he is a bowler I'd want in the team along with Broad, Snape and Blackwell.

I think, with Snape and Blackwell, the batting order would easily go down to number nine, maybe even ten. Gough has teamed up well with Bichel this season, especially in one-day cricket, they have formed an opening partnership which not only offers control but takes wickets as well. It is a shame Essex have not really had the back-up in the spin bowling department and Napier can be inconsistent; he'll have one game of great bowling and then look off the boil the next game. You could say he's the more drawn out version of Saj Mahmood in test matches.

[Andy Mellon]

Originally Posted by Vrock

It is a shame Essex have not really had the back-up in the spin bowling department and Napier can be inconsistent; he'll have one game of great bowling and then look off the boil the next game. You could say he's the more drawn out version of Saj Mahmood in test matches.

Napier? Compared with Saj Mahmood? Ho ho ho! No comparison really, Napier's only about 70mph. Not exactly threatening to a decent batsman. That said, he is a decent one day cricketer, but he's hardly played this year - mostly due to injury I think.

As for Essex's spin bowling - James Middlebrook and Tim Phillips are useful spinners, but mainly because they are both pretty decent bats as well. Its why we've been able to bat Gough down at 11 - and no matter your opinions on him; he's a better bat than a #11!!

[Vrock]

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

Napier? Compared with Saj Mahmood? Ho ho ho! No comparison really, Napier's only about 70mph. Not exactly threatening to a decent batsman.

You could say the same for Mahmood (pace only down to 80mph though) if he doesn't get it right, think back to Sri Lanka? Napier might just have done a little bit better, medium pacers do pretty well on the flat pitches of domestic cricket, especially if their accuracy is good.

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

As for Essex's spin bowling - James Middlebrook and Tim Phillips are useful spinners, but mainly because they are both pretty decent bats as well. Its why we've been able to bat Gough down at 11 - and no matter your opinions on him; he's a better bat than a #11!!

Middlebrook and Phillips are useful but they have been known to send down the odd ball of dross in an over reguarly. They do generally bowl quite well but, for Chelmsford, especially with the pitches spinning as much as they have, at times, this season a front-line spinner could have been useful.

I rate Gough in good regard as a batsman, he can't rotate the strike which is a problem coming in at three but he does have some very good cover drives in the locker. I'm sure I remember him hitting a not out fifty against Australia last year and he played plenty of shots in that innings. Definitely no bunny.

[Notts Exile]

I'd want James Benning or Mal Loye opening with Maddy. Irani's no good for team morale, outside Essex no-one seems to like him! Surprisingly, I'd have Ready behind the stumps. Sidebottom's a very good opening bowler in Twenty20 but i'm biased.

[TopperHarley]

1.Maddy
2.Loye
3.ramps
4.Shah
5.Alistair brown
6.Prior
7.Ealham
8.Gough
9.Snape
10.Broad
11.Sidebottom

For my spondulix thats the best 20/20 team going, however we all know that 1,3,5,7,9 and 11 are non-starters, and it'll likely be the test XI minus Hoggy, Bell, Panesar and mahmood and with some bits-and-pieces cricketers thrown in instead. Like Kabir Ali. Boo.

[Speedboy Salesman]

Why is Prior in there? Prior is naff.