According to TMS England have asked for extra players other than the 30 they have got, on condition of course that for every new face - one is dropped from the squad.

Reports say the rumours that England would be bringing Gough are not correct (and quite right to), but England will be bringing an experienced batsman - better late than never, November 2006 might have been a good time.

If TMS are right who should England include in their World Cup team, key should be fit after playing for the acadomy.

Now is the chance to improve - Loye and Joyce are getting better, a couple of basmen and perhaps a bowler, and who knows England could do well in this World Cup.

Can England do well with 2 or three fresh experinced new players?,
And who should they be?.

__________________
Ern

Collingwood out maybe? He has been in pathetic form with the bat and was dropped for this game so who knows.

I am not convinced Loye is good enough at the top of the innings though Joyce seems to have taken a slot.Bell at 3 and KP at 4 is fine with Strauss,Freddie and Dalrymple to follow them.

Kirtley must surely be the 1st choice option (so long as they are happy with his action: it would be criminal to select him if the additional scrutiny might lead to a report that could effectively end his career). I suspect he's the only option under consideration.

Clark, Khan and Onions will presumably be fearing the chop...

He was sick in the dressing room, according to TMS.

Well if you are not conviced - realise that Loye and Joyce put on the only DECENT opening partnership this series, if not this tour.
I would agree with kirtley, there are rumours though that Gough could be getting a fitting end to his career, also if you listened to TMS Ramrakash is under consideration.

__________________
Ern

I agree with greg. I don't think Loye is up to it. He has had five innings at the top of the order, and not one half-century. after five innings, he has an average of less than 25. I think England should open with Joyce and KP, followed by Bell, Flintoff, Colly, etc.

I think it's a shame Owais Shah and James Foster are not in the squad. I don't think the inclusion of Nixon in the team is a positive one.

__________________
Nobody has a batting stance quite like the mighty Shivnarine....

I'm happy with our Provisional 30. We have everything covered in there.

Today they were going to leave out Dalrymple but Collingwood was ill so he played.
1. Were they thinking of swapping Blackwell for Dalrymple? Maybe he has slimmed down since Xmas.
2. Lewis was bowling in the nets and running around the field but they didn't play him. Are achilles injuries long term? Maybe they feel Lewis is not making enough runs. Maybe Gough has also slimmed down. I found it strange that Gough knew 4 days ago that England made the request. Why tell Gough about it if there was not chance it would be him? Anderson says he is pain free so why not play him in a must win game. 10 overs is not going to kill him.
3. Has Geraint Jones found his form in the cricket he is playing in Australia.
4. Ramprakash's name has been mentioned for the batting. Would he replace Loye?
5. Maybe Trescothick has come right.

I wish the ECB had come out with a statement saying that they were looking for a batsman or bowler. Maybe it is more than one player.

I really do think Kirtley is the obvious candidate for a late call-up... but if we're going through other scenarios... it's just possible that one Simon Jones has been working his *** off down at the academy and is in truly awesome form... or that Harmison has been convinced that his "retirement" from ODIs was rather premature.

Do you have any ideas on why Gough would know about this request 4 days ago. Why would they tell him and build his hopes up if they were not going to pick him? I can't believe we will have to wait until the 13th to find out.

That's after ONLY five innings, and he came into a well beaten side at that, and at least has been positive.
I wonder how many England players average under 25?, but in this case the average does not matter, Loye has brought attitude to an England team thinking the Aussies are invincible, the partnership with Joyce when he was out on 29 lasted 11 overs - that's important, the worst of Tait bowling at 97MPH at times had been seen of with Joyce and Loye, Loye until he got hit on the chin was being more selective on the deliveries he hoicked, his presence in the team, plus his age an experience has helped more than another 15 runs or so.
KP opening is not IMO a good idea, England should continue to wait and see how Loye/Joyce develop, one win does not seem much, but it's the only win of the tour.
Also Flintoff want's to be batting two places below Pietersen, they don't work together.
Loye and Joyce scored at 5 runs an over, and this was kept up with the rest of the team, for once England got a good start, and notched up a competitive total.

This in turn gave the bowlers confidence, Plunkett and Mahmood and all the bowlers had the luxury of being able to go for a few runs, while getting wickets.
Lets get some continuity and momentum going, Strauss looked happier down the order - last night's England team looked balanced - so England are bringing in a new player - please not Gough, there is also a rumour it could be Ramrakask, hope so - or key.
If England do replace Loye - then lets have a decent player brought in to do it proper.

__________________
Ern