Would you play Cook for ODI's?

[greg]

Originally Posted by acker

Ian Bell seems to have succeeded but England supporters seem to wish he didn't for some queer reason ?

I want Bell at 3 with KP and Colly to follow.Then when fit the likes of Flintoff and Bopara can follow that which on paper doesn't look a bad line up.

[acker]

Originally Posted by greg

I want Bell at 3 with KP and Colly to follow.Then when fit the likes of Flintoff and Bopara can follow that which on paper doesn't look a bad line up.

Ian Bell and Alistair Cook will have a career's until around 2021/22 please don't sell England to short term / in the meantime with solutions involving short sighted selections such as Collingwood and Flintoff.
This is where things came unstuck previously with band aid patches such as Stewart and Butcher.

[darksideofthemoon]

Cook's strike rate is 86.95 in ODIs and 77.60 in the limited overs games although he hasn't played much in this form of the game. His fielding is not that great but he is working on it. I would have him in the team.

Bell's strike rate is 68.53. Bell finds it difficult to manoeuvre the ball between fielders and in the World Cup gave quite a few bowlers maidens as he kept hitting the ball to the fielders. I wouldn't have Bell in ODIs.

[adamberry]

Originally Posted by acker

short sighted selections such as Collingwood and Flintoff. [...] band aid patches such as Stewart

That is, IMO, a bewildering statement. Saying Colly is a short-sighted selection in Tests is one thing, but when he is a mainstay in the ODI setup (and one of our better bowling options too) is ludicrous. As for Flintoff, when fit he's one of the best all-rounders in the world. As for Stewart, I seem to remember a distinguished panel recently put him as the 'keeper in an all-time England ODI line up. I hardly think these are/were bad selections by England.

My twopen'orth - Cook for the England ODI setup. Not sure about Prior opening - he did that in India without much success if I recall.

[acker]

Cook and Bell have both have about 8 years on Collingwood

[Henners]

Originally Posted by acker

Styles ?
One Day Cricket
You hit over or You hit under (hit over probably scores more)
You hit or You don't hit (You hit probably scores faster)
You get out or You don't get out (You don't get out probably gets you more runs)
You take risks or You don't take risks (The better batsman you are the less risks you have to take)

Who's your partner ? (who cares)

Its not NASA rocket science.
If Cook has the ability he will succeed.
Ian Bell seems to have succeeded but England supporters seem to wish he didn't for some queer reason ?

Obviously if it was that simple, you would be head coach by now Acker.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by acker

Ian Bell seems to have succeeded but England supporters seem to wish he didn't for some queer reason ?

Not too sure where this comes from, most England supporters (apart from Ern) see massive potential in Ian Bell, and like me, would like him to play in both forms of the game.

He does a great job at Test level, and while he keeps scoring hundreds at No 6, it is going to make the return to fitness of Flintoff a real nightmare for the selectors*.

The problem, even for a big Bell fan like me, is his ODI performance. The fact is that Bell is not the most attacking player in the world, and when you had Vaughan, Joyce and Bell in the team there were real issues of upping the run rate. Vaughan is probably finished at that level, and Joyce may have missed his opportunities, so Bell may be the right player to play the anchor role. But if you select Cook, your problem instantly returns!

The key could be the role of Matt Prior, he will almost certainly open, which means you may be able to have a more balanced side at the top, with a blaster and a stayer (Prior and Cook). With Pietersen, Bell and Collingwood + someone like Benning you can mix the style up through the side.

So I don't see a problem with Bell, just how he fits into the team...

[adamberry]

Originally Posted by acker

Cook and Bell have both have about 8 years on Collingwood

And?!? It's hardly an age issue; else Australia would have ditched McGrath and Hayden around the turn of the century and the likes of Hogg and Hussey would be preparing for jettison. If England ditch Colly, fine we can bring in Cook as the batsman, but we still have to find someone to bowl (usually 10 overs). And it ain't Bell or Cook.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by adamberry

And?!? It's hardly an age issue;

It is ironic that we are being lectured by an Aussie for not picking a youngster as skipper, preferring an older player, where there entire selection policy seems to revolve around picking 30 year olds to make their debut rather than younger talented players (and I know there are exceptions - Watson, Tait and Clark) but answer this question - who will replace Warne - Cullen or McGrath, who will probably replace McGrath - Bracken or Johnson?

[Trescothick's Footwork]

Has Tresco made himself available for the series? If so, i'd have him opening with Prior and KP coming in at 3. Collingwood 4, Cook 5, and Bell 6.