We have a thread on the team that the England selectors have picked, this is about the selectors themselves.
"Start" - does he not mean finish?? - sorry going of here, Loye was put in the England squad and team as cover for vaughan in the recent one day series in Australia.
Fair enough to put Bopara in his place but??
Elaborate please .

Right so vaughan might not play - so why is Englands player with "encouraging start to his international career" ommited from the squad??.
I see it all now - plain as daylight - the selectors are HOPING Vaughan - Lewis and Anderson will be fit, like they hoped Giles and Trescothick would be fit for the ashse series no doubt.
Wonder why not?
Oh goody - another player who is known if he is fit or not, i thought Flintoff bowled at 90MPH in the one day finals.
But Graveney is having a chat with Flintoff .

Come on Dave - as if Freddie would not want to captain England in the world Cup, Graveney really means he wants out of form Strauss to be captain.

Or - lets be fair - is Flintoff the fourth not fit player in 15 to be selected for the World Cup.

Are Englands selectors poor at best, or not?????
Link: here

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Ern

You're ranting here Ern: hardly any serious commentator had Loye down as a definite for the squad and many felt he'd played himself out of a place (been found out). Some would have picked him anyway (citing lack of alternatives), but it's a mark of how marginal his case was that most accepted that every position in the squad was certain except for a final choice between Loye and Bopara.

Loye was still considered a credible option by SOME commentators... but his was a marginal selection in every case I've encountered!

On the injury front you are also over-reacting. Vaughan has a piddling little hamstring injury: something minor, totally understood, easily managed and completely unrelated to what kept him out of the Ashes. He's no where near as serious injured as Symonds... who has made the Aussie squad.

The one thing that Agnew and co have got right is that Vaghan is the biggest injury concern.... but that's like saying someone with a graze on their knee is a greater injury concern that a couplle of guys with nose bleeds: Vaughan's fine... and Anderson, Lewis, Pietersen and co are not concerns at all.

It's not just about Loye - however.

That's the reason I am surprised - England are not rich in top 3 batsmen at the moment, even the stogy BBC said.

I was shocked that a winning side could be broke up before the WC - I know Loye has no long term future, but without him, i think england have no short term future.
It seems like Agnew has fears over Vaughan{look Below) - I think he has only played 2 matches sinse November 2005 - I could be wrong but I am 99% sure.
I agree with jonathan Agnew on this one - England have piddled about to much, what is Graveney playing with Flintoff like he is for, it will lead to tears.
Link to Agnew here

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Ern

Loye is a one trick pony he should not be in the squad. This is what my English squad would have been.

1. Vaughan (c)
2. Strauss
3. Joyce
4. Bell
5. Collingwood
6. Pietersen
7. Flintoff
8. Dalyrmple
9. Panesar
10. Bopara
11. Plunkett
12. Anderson
13. Mahmood
14. Hoggard
15. Jones/Read/Nixon/Foster any one of them would do.

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Bill Ponsford - The only one who could play in Bradman’s company and make it a duet.

I bet you would like Strauss and vaughan opening Quaggie - I can see why with their averages here .

Loye was improving with every match, that's why he was axed.

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Ern

I wouldnt have Strauss and Vaughan opening I would have Joyce and Strauss opening and if one of them was injured preferably Strauss I would have Vaughan in the side.

This is how my line up would go

Joyce
Strauss
Pietersen
Bell
Collingwood
Flintoff
Bopara
Foster
Plunkett
Hoggard
Panesar

12th Man: Vaughan

Bowling line up
Hoggard (10 overs) - I don't care that he is apparently not an ODI bowler he is able to swing a ball and hit the rights spots if he can bowl in test matches and swing a red ball.
Plunkett (10 overs) - Very impressed can swing the new ball at good pace, can be wayward. Hes a wicket taker
Flintoff (10 overs) - Good hit the deck bowler can bowl ten tight overs and get a couple of wickets
Panesar (10 overs) - Good spinner play him or a pace bowler like Anderson, depending on conditions and opposion
Bopara (5 overs) - Handy allrounder adds some batting and can bowl tightly. Mixing with Collingwood
Collingwood (5 overs) - Is as effective as a bowler as Mahmood but can bowl tighter, good batsman.

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Bill Ponsford - The only one who could play in Bradman’s company and make it a duet.