England 30 for the Twenty20 World Cup

[first change]

Squad James Anderson (Lancashire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Ravi Bopara (Essex), Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Leicestershire), Glen Chapple (Lancashire), Paul Collingwood (Durham) (captain), Alastair Cook (Essex), Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire), James Kirtley (Sussex), Jon Lewis (Gloucestershire), Mal Loye (Lancashire), Darren Maddy (Warwickshire), Dimitri Mascarenhas (Hampshire), Paul Nixon (Leicestershire), Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire), Mark Pettini (Essex), Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire), Liam Plunkett (Durham), Matt Prior (Sussex), Chris Schofield (Surrey), Owais Shah (Middlesex), Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), Jeremy Snape (Leicestershire), Vikram Solanki (Worcestershire), Chris Tremlett (Hampshire), Marcus Trescothick (Somerset), Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire), Luke Wright (Sussex), Michael Yardy (Sussex)

What does everyone think?

I find these squads rather frustrating - 30 people means that there are quite a few that have absolutely no chance of getting in the 15 and the selectors know it, and a few that should have absolutely no chance of getting anywhere near the squad, but probably will do. Glad to see some specialists in there. Oh, and Schofield? Please! Astonishing that Blackwell can't even get into a 30 man party for a slog-fest, but guess England are worried about 'attitude and fitness'.

For what it's worth, my squad would be

James Anderson (Lancashire), Ravi Bopara (Essex), Paul Collingwood (Durham) (captain), Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire), Mal Loye (Lancashire), Darren Maddy (Warwickshire), Dimitri Mascarenhas (Hampshire), Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire), Liam Plunkett (Durham), Matt Prior (Sussex), Jeremy Snape (Leicestershire), Michael Yardy (Sussex), James Hildreth (Somerset), Jon Lewis (Gloucestershire), Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire),

[Rachael]

They've certainly opened up the following possibility....

Tresco
Solanki
Maddy
Pietersen
Shah
Snape
Nixon
Flintoff
Collingwood
Bopara
Panesar

On a horses for courses basis... that should be a suitable XI.. though they may be tempted to let Tresco take the gloves (can't be much worse than Nixon / Prior) and bring in another batsman.

[greg]

I am happy enough with that squad of 30,some interesting selections in there that i know little about (Pettini and Wright) but overall i think it is a good squad.

Now bearing in mind that we have 2 tours as well this winter i would leave as many test players out as possible so the likes of Cook,Bell and Panesar can be ruled out straight away as we have better Twenty20 specialists in the squad.

I would certainly take Trescothick and Flintoff ,Tresco to find out if he is up to it and a short tour like that in a competition that isn't massively important is a good chance to test the water again and Flintoff as part of his rehab to get fit for the full tours later on.4 overs a game aren't going to harm him too much but could help build up his ankle strength and give him some sharpness.

The 15 man squad i would take would be..

Collingwood (capt),Trescothick,Prior,Maddy,Loye,Shah,Bopara,Fl intoff,Mascarenhas,Pietersen,Broad,Sidebottom,Snap e,Chapple and Bresnan.

Plenty of batting,plenty of bowling and the likes of Plunkett and Anderson are left alone for the tours which they will surely be on.

[first change]

I missed out Tresothick, who would come in for Hildreth for me.

[adamberry]

Interesting squad of 30. For what it's worth, my squad of 15 would be:

Anderson, Bopara, Broad, Collingwood (captain), Flintoff, Maddy, Mascarenhas, Panesar, Pettini, Pietersen, Plunkett, Snape, Trescothick, Wright and one of Nixon or Prior - not both. Leaving an ideal (IMO ) line-up of:

1. Trescothick
2. Pettini
3. Maddy
4. Wright / Snape (depends on pitch)
5. Pietersen (numbers 4 and 5 are interchangable, depending on the situation)
6. Flintoff
7. Collingwood
8. Nixon or Prior (wicket-keeper)
9. Broad
10. Anderson
11. Panesar

Although I agree with Rach in part - we could probably get away with dispensing with Nixon and Prior and give Tresco the gloves.

[Collyisamackem]

My team from that would be:

Trescothick
Loye
Pietersen
Maddy
Flintoff
Collingwood*
Prior+
Bopara
Plunkett
Panesar
Anderson

With Shah, Kirtley, Sidebottom and Schofield in tow. All four seem useful Twenty20 players from this season's performances, and to give some of the others a break it's worth taking the specialists in Kirtley and Schofield.

[Navdeep]

Decent squad chosen, and if England use their selections properly (i.e. not just picking 20-20 specialists to sit on the sides) they should stake a decent claim, considering a lot of the team would have played some 20-20 stuff this summer.

My team would be as follows:

Trescothick
Maddy
Wright/Loye/Cook
Pieterson
Flintoff
Collingwood
Prior
Bopara
Plunkett
Panesar
Anderson

My 1st 11 named, the extra 4 players would be Loye, Cook, Broad and probably Mascheranas.

[Henners]

I don't see why they need a 30 man squad, 20 man tops, but if 30 people travel for a 13 day tournament with about 7 games maximum (If we even qualify for the semi-final or final), it just doesn't make sense. I agree that the squad should be reduced. At least we have selected some of the best players of the game at domestic level like Maddy or Snape.

My Starting 11 is unsure of, but I would not have Cook or Bell in the team. I would have Snape and Maddy in the side, with Broad as one of the bowlers. I am not sure about Flintoff and I would want Trescothick as an opener providing he doesn't go back unavailable.

This is the team I would choose if I just happened to be a selector (Luckily I'm not)


Trescothick
Maddy
Shah
Pieterson
Collingwood
Bopara
Flintoff
Nixon
Snape
Anderson
Broad

Well that would do me...

[adamberry]

The squad of 30 is only a preliminary squad, which will be reduced to 15 as and when the selectors get round to it I suppose. I'd be reasonably happy with your side Henners, the only thing that bugs me is that Snape would be absolutely wasted at 9, especially as he doesn't usually provide a full four overs of his spinners and "moonballs".

[Henners]

I have seen Snape's record at Twenty over cricket and he is very good. I don't know if he would fit as the specialist spinner, but he certainly is effective, 36 wickets in 40 matches at an average of around 19 and his econmy is around 6 an over according to Cricinfo. (Cricinfo - Players and Officials - Jeremy Snape)

I wouldn't pick Panesar as a specialist spinner, he doesn't vary his pace enough and him bowling would = a slog-fest. Unless he could bat, I just wouldn't pick him. Blackwell would maybe make the grade, as would Yardy for their batting, but as far as spinners go, Snape may be the best choice.

Also, I was considering Kirtley in for Anderson, but being international, you need somebody who is proven at that level. I think that squad with Flintoff, Anderson and Broad leading the pace attack, with Snape doing the 'slow bowling' and Collingwood+Bopara to handle the other 4. But as you say, Snape doesn't always fill the 4 overs, so would he be worth picking?