WAT England 'A' 2007: build up thread.

[adamberry]

Originally Posted by Ernest

If players where selected on county form adam, Ramp's would have been in the side months ago, I don't care about age so long as they get runs. [...] All Mahmood has to do to improve adam - is to get rid of that stupid slower delivery he bowls far to much, and concentrate on bowling as fast as he can, and as accurate as he can

Ramps himself has given up on a recall, the articles on Cricinfo somewhere, I can't be bothered to find it due to general tiredness.

As for Mahmood, all he possibly can do is improve, he surely can't get any worse! I don't see why he should have to bowl so quick, I'd happily see him lose half a yard of pace in order to be more accurate; that way he'd be more of a handful IMO. Even so, he hasn't done anything - yet - that would convince anyone but yourself that he warrants a WAT 'A' team place. Broad certainly has as much, if not more, potential to be an England quick if you ask me.

[Rachael]

Broad has the one thing Mahmood lacks: an action that lends itself to getting the ball in the same place time after time after time. He's also extracts a bit of bounce with the new ball, is pretty good at getting movement off the seam and is mildly promising in terms of movement in the air. It's too early to say for sure that he'll mature into something between the next Gus Fraser (a far better bowler than Malcolm) and an English Glen McGrath (to whom he is commonly likened)... but let's not overlook what appears to be exceptional mental strength - which McGrath regarded as his own strongest attribute.

Mahmood's action is perhaps more interesting than Broads... but the results are too variable... and on top of that he's the most appalling character: his pathetic levels of application (recall his failing to even back up properly in the Ashes) are extremely reminiscent of Devon Malcolm. At least Monty, for all his evdent failings, actually WORKS at being a better all-round cricketer: Mahmood can't even manage THAT!

[Mike]

Mahmood has played 8 Test matches which disqualifies him from selection to the A team.

The list of players to qualify for the England A-Team is based on:
1. Under 30 years of age
2. Played no more than 5 Test matches
3. Is a regular member of a County team ie minimum 8 matches played in the County Championship this year.

Criteria 2 & 3 have exemptions. A player can have played more matches but not recently. In otherwords, if the selectors deem that the player was picked too early for Test match duties first time around then he may be considered again on current first-class form. Mahmood still can't qualify based on exemption because his last Test match was in Sydney this year. To be fair on Mahmood he only played one home summer and showed enough promise to warrant a recall in the future. At 25 years, a couple of years in county cricket won't do any harm. I think we should consider him again in a couple of years if he hasn't already played another Test match before then.

Gareth Batty is almost 30 years old and this is his last chance to qualify for A Team selection as he'll be too old next year. He has played only 7 Test and his last one was acouple of years ago. He's only had one home summer against Bangladesh in 2005 where he only took one wicket. I think if his current county form is good enough he deserves to be considered for A Team selection by the exemption rule.

Criteria 3 also has an exemption. A player may have played less than 8 county matches provided the reason for less matches was away on international duties such as A tour, ODIs or Tests.

[Collyisamackem]

At the minute I'd be tempted to go for something like:

Denly (averaging somewhere around 45-50, outstanding against India for England Lions)
Godleman (hundred vs Pakistan U19 yesterday and average near 45)
Edwards
Shah
Joyce
Bopara
Rashid
+Mustard/Ambrose
Broad
Mark Davies/Tremlett
Kabir Ali

Other options: Onions? Swann? Sales? Gidman?

Sayers only averages 35 this season and has tailed off in the last few innings, plus he's horribly slow and the international game is faster-paced than it used to be. I'd leave him for some time before he develops some scoring shots! Sidebottom is bound to be picked for the winter tours and I see no need to consider him - he was picked in our team last year and is establishing himself now, and I am eating my hat!

Kabir Ali (50 wickets at 22.13, econ 3.27) has been a revelation in first class games this season, whilst suffering the same old problem of disappearing around the park in FPT and Pro40 matches (see Worcs' matches against Durham for example). It's notable that few English bowlers have averages below 30 in first class cricket this season - the others in the leading averages list being Harmison (53 at 22.33, econ 3.25), Caddick (66 at 22.78, econ 3.21) and Sidebottom (39 at 28.28, econ 2.64) and few overseas professionals/Kolpaks manage the same feat despite the rain and swing-friendly conditions this season. Thus, Ali really stands head and shoulders above any other seam bowling candidates and strongly forces his way in for me, but only for test match consideration as his ODI credentials are poor. I'll continue to push for Davies who has begun to find form after returning from long term injury, just having taken 7/59 for Notts and boasting career figures of 166 wickets at 23.16 in just 50 matches, economy 2.87 and averaging 30.8 this season in 7 games, bearing in mind my comments about the poor performances of bowlers in general ths season.

The keeper decision is tough. Ambrose is doing well and will probably be picked first due to that and his Sussex links, however he does boast a good average. Mustard, Davies and Foster are all in there however, and Mustard has been earning praise from all quarters for his outstanding keeping and explosive batting - he has been improving his longer innings in the CC and made two tons last year, and averaged highly in the FPT as he took apart most attacks thrown at him, earning praise from Warne. I'd push for him to be included but Ambrose would appear to have a strong case also.

Final comments for now: Edwards is impressing, and the wicket at Taunton can't be the only explanation, and Swann is doing well in a season not designed for spinners. Rashid's all-round capabilities keep him in there despite his struggles with the ball.

[Rachael]

I'd be quite happy to have an Xi from that list as a provisional side... but with Davis AND Tremlett rather than with one or the other... but Edwards has pretty much passed me by: his inclusion looks (at first glance) somewhat bizarre.

[greg]

I think Hildreth is a better prospect than Edwards at Somerset but i guess a case can be made for both.

I see Tim Bresnan is becoming more of an all rounder now too as he is closing in on a 3rd first class century of the season,not bad for a number 8 and he also averages less than 30 with the ball in the championship.

We need to look at how big a difference it makes on the averages playing in Division 1 than Division 2 as well,if a batsman averages 42 in Div 1 is that as good as a player averaging 50 in Div 2 due to it being a lesser standard?

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by greg

We need to look at how big a difference it makes on the averages playing in Division 1 than Division 2 as well,if a batsman averages 42 in Div 1 is that as good as a player averaging 50 in Div 2 due to it being a lesser standard?

I'm not prepared to be a slave to county averages in any division... but I do think anyone topping the averages in either division should put someone in the frame.

Performances in either division can be misleading: one double century on featherbed can get someone well on the way to 800-1000 runs for the season... but getting that many runs with 50s on tougher pitches is surely far more impressive.

[Collyisamackem]

Originally Posted by Rachael

but Edwards has pretty much passed me by: his inclusion looks (at first glance) somewhat bizarre.

He's been punching his weight alongside Trescothick and Langer in the Somerset top order, so much so that Edwards opens and Langer comes in at 3. He's worth more than a dismissive sentence surely?

[Statto]

Originally Posted by Collyisamackem

Denly (averaging somewhere around 45-50, outstanding against India for England Lions)
Godleman (hundred vs Pakistan U19 yesterday and average near 45)
Edwards
Shah
Joyce
Bopara
Rashid
+Mustard/Ambrose
Broad
Mark Davies/Tremlett
Kabir Ali

Other options: Onions? Swann? Sales? Gidman?

The only others that spring to mind are Paul Horton from Lancs, possibly Sayers but as someone has already said hes very slow. Jonathan Trott, Michael Lumb, Samit Patel, James Harris, Tim Lungley, maybe James Bruce or Alan Richardson could all be possiblilties but there seem to be very few putting forward watertight cases. In Sidebottoms absence Shrek has done ok for Notts.

[Statto]

By the way how have we missed Luke Wright?