WAT Future England Test Cricketer award 2005

[Mike]

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

Please can we clarify what the award should be picked on. Based on the name, I thought it was an award for who we think would be a key player for England in the future

Keedy won the award last year despite Giles having a mortgage on the spinner's position. Same deal applies to Panesar this year. Neither player will get a call-up unless Giles breaks his bowling arm. That doesn't mean that they couldn't do a job for England should Giles be sidelined. The award should go to the player who has shown through consistency and domination at county level that they deserve a chance at Test level. In otherwords, they have demonstrated that they are the best of the best at county level and have done everything asked of them to warrant an opportunity at Test level in the near future should a vacancy come up.

On that basis, I think Shah and Joyce are ahead of Cook and Newman in the batting category and Davies has shown exceptional consistency in the past two years to be considered ahead of the other bowlers. The England selectors may feel that other types of bowlers may be more useful to the England team and overlook Davies but that doesn't alter the fact he is the best bowler this year.

[Collyisamackem]

I'll echo what Mike has said. Davies has youth AND consistency on his side, and really deserves some recognition soon. Cook's time will come soon enough.

[Kirsty Harris]

IMO, Cook is the player on the list most likely to be an England regualr come next winter; simply because bell's place is not secure in the side. Panser will not displace Giles unless he is injured, Shah has (rightly or wrongly) been ruled out for the time being, and Joyce seems to be behind Cook in terms of regaurd by the England set up. If Bell has a poor winter, I wouldn't be entirely surprised to see Cook get the chance batting at 4 next summer.

[Ernest]

I think that Tremlett should have the nod over Davies, because Tremlett has allready impressed the selectors, also he fills the role of England bowlers these days, IMHO Davies and his type do not.
Davies is not a natural replacement for any of the England players, there have been no true specialist Medium pacers in the England side for ages.

[admin]

I think Ernest has a point. Look at Naved-ul-Hasan's results in ODIs and Test matches. While he is effective in ODIs his pace isn't effective in Test matches. I can't recall a medium pacer who regularly takes wickets in Test cricket. I still won't vote for Tremlett though because his stats aren't good enough, IMO.

[Collyisamackem]

Davies has taken the wickets of top batsmen in the last two seasons for next to nothing. Maybe he's just accurate, but if you want out and out pace then so be it.

[Ernest]

Mike Hendrick played for England a few years ago, and he was well thought of like Davies, just a little faster.

However in his England career he had an average of about 25, and an econ of just over 2, but the problem was his strike rate, into the 70s.
He kept things tight, but had little penetration.

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/co...yer/14159.html

[flanflinger]

Really can't believe you are talking about Davies in this category.

If I had not missed the deadline for voting I would have objected to Davies inclsion in the Team over Plunkett.

For me to then make him the player you choosing as the most promising is astounding, especially when you have the likes of Cook, Shah and Joyce to choose from

For me choosing Davies would be an awful choice...But that is my opinon and I am not permitted now to vote (I guess)

[Ernest]

ff if you had looked up the page, you would have seen I voted for Tremlett , I was making a comparason why medium pace bowling don't work.

[admin]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

But that is my opinon and I am not permitted now to vote (I guess)

I should have made it clear that any member can vote for Future Test Cricketer. Since there was no clear winner from the voting we are trying to find a winner by discussion. If you have a preference you may make a case for them in this thread.