Joe Root has put his name forward for the 2023 IPL. Hope with the CC, Test, Hundred, Blast, ODIs and World Cup too he won't be complaining about playing too much cricket in the next year! My money is on him not playing a single game for Yorkshire in any format next season.
Doesn't he want to play in the IPL because it's a world cup year? I know it's a different format but he obviously won't play in the blast (he couldnt if he wanted to) anyway so a bit more white ball cricket?
With the Hundred as his only source of white ball cricket it's not surprising really is it?
Root wants an IPL deal because it'll be worth a LOT of money
Yes but it's not a coincidence that he wants one THIS year.
Root probably lost £300K when he relinquished the captaincy so that isn't a coincidence either. He tried in 2018 to get into the IPL and was left "unsold". That might happen again but, even if it doesn't, because of the limited number of places for overseas players he might, like Morgan, Finch, Williamson and many other specialist overseas batsmen (I very much doubt that any IPL team will require his part time spin) before him spend some time carrying the drinks.
That is the sacrifice of being away from his family for potentially up to nine weeks he might right now be prepared to make. But, in doing so, his season would run from March to November and no doubt he will, at some point, want a break. I wouldn't mind betting that, much to the annoyance of the ECB, that will be in August during The Hundred.
Rehan Ahmed, the Leicestershire 18 year old spinner, has been officially added to the Test squad after impressing with the Lions red ball training squad in Abu Dhabi. Min Patel (Kent 2nd XI coach) is, I believe the spin coach with the Lions and I wouldn't mind betting that this was his influence. In which case, as with Hamidullah Qadri, I wouldn't be shocked if Rehan ended up in a Kent shirt in the not too distant future!
Rehan Ahmed, the Leicestershire 18 year old spinner, has been officially added to the Test squad after impressing with the Lions red ball training squad in Abu Dhabi. Min Patel (Kent 2nd XI coach) is, I believe the spin coach with the Lions and I wouldn't mind betting that this was his influence. In which case, as with Hamidullah Qadri, I wouldn't be shocked if Rehan ended up in a Kent shirt in the not too distant future!
Three first class games, 9 wickets.
I know we are desperate for spinners, but that's ridiculous
Rehan Ahmed, the Leicestershire 18 year old spinner, has been officially added to the Test squad after impressing with the Lions red ball training squad in Abu Dhabi. Min Patel (Kent 2nd XI coach) is, I believe the spin coach with the Lions and I wouldn't mind betting that this was his influence. In which case, as with Hamidullah Qadri, I wouldn't be shocked if Rehan ended up in a Kent shirt in the not too distant future!
Three first class games, 9 wickets.
I know we are desperate for spinners, but that's ridiculous
I think it's indicative of a lack of depth in the spinning department but also, perhaps, it's got something to do with what I have referred to previously - that fear that young, promising players will drift off and become involved in various T20 franchises so this is a way of suggesting to him that he shouldn't limit his options. He can also bat and already has a First Class ton to his name.
Rehan Ahmed, the Leicestershire 18 year old spinner, has been officially added to the Test squad after impressing with the Lions red ball training squad in Abu Dhabi. Min Patel (Kent 2nd XI coach) is, I believe the spin coach with the Lions and I wouldn't mind betting that this was his influence. In which case, as with Hamidullah Qadri, I wouldn't be shocked if Rehan ended up in a Kent shirt in the not too distant future!
Three first class games, 9 wickets.
I know we are desperate for spinners, but that's ridiculous
Wayne Rooney was a premier league starter at 16. If you've got it, you've got it
Rehan Ahmed, the Leicestershire 18 year old spinner, has been officially added to the Test squad after impressing with the Lions red ball training squad in Abu Dhabi. Min Patel (Kent 2nd XI coach) is, I believe the spin coach with the Lions and I wouldn't mind betting that this was his influence. In which case, as with Hamidullah Qadri, I wouldn't be shocked if Rehan ended up in a Kent shirt in the not too distant future!
Three first class games, 9 wickets.
I know we are desperate for spinners, but that's ridiculous
Wayne Rooney was a premier league starter at 16. If you've got it, you've got it
He's in the squad and probably for experience only but my comment regarding the possible reasons for him being called up stand. That said, Shane Warne had only played 7 First Class games before he played for Australia and no one could have predicted what he would go on to do given his first series return of 1-228!!!
Rehan Ahmed, the Leicestershire 18 year old spinner, has been officially added to the Test squad after impressing with the Lions red ball training squad in Abu Dhabi. Min Patel (Kent 2nd XI coach) is, I believe the spin coach with the Lions and I wouldn't mind betting that this was his influence. In which case, as with Hamidullah Qadri, I wouldn't be shocked if Rehan ended up in a Kent shirt in the not too distant future!
That’s honestly bizarre.
Also well and truly finishes Matt Parkinson’s test career. At least for now.
I really hope he doesn’t get battered if he plays. There’s a big graveyard of young talented spinners that England have destroyed in the last decade or so.
Rehan Ahmed, the Leicestershire 18 year old spinner, has been officially added to the Test squad after impressing with the Lions red ball training squad in Abu Dhabi. Min Patel (Kent 2nd XI coach) is, I believe the spin coach with the Lions and I wouldn't mind betting that this was his influence. In which case, as with Hamidullah Qadri, I wouldn't be shocked if Rehan ended up in a Kent shirt in the not too distant future!
That’s honestly bizarre.
Also well and truly finishes Matt Parkinson’s test career. At least for now.
I really hope he doesn’t get battered if he plays. There’s a big graveyard of young talented spinners that England have destroyed in the last decade or so.
I'm not saying it's right but, as I say, I wouldn't mind betting that Min Patel has had some influence here. When Seb was in the Kent Under 18s (and one of only four 18 year olds at that time) Min said to me that he would rather have 16 year old players in the squad who might make it than 18 year olds that are unlikely to. That attitude has been applied by him to the Kent 2s too where numerous 16/17 year olds have been blooded.
It's a totally different ball game playing Test cricket and as I've said I think that there is an element of inclusion here because of that fear of distracting calls from other parts of the world.
Rehan Ahmed, the Leicestershire 18 year old spinner, has been officially added to the Test squad after impressing with the Lions red ball training squad in Abu Dhabi. Min Patel (Kent 2nd XI coach) is, I believe the spin coach with the Lions and I wouldn't mind betting that this was his influence. In which case, as with Hamidullah Qadri, I wouldn't be shocked if Rehan ended up in a Kent shirt in the not too distant future!
That’s honestly bizarre.
Also well and truly finishes Matt Parkinson’s test career. At least for now.
I really hope he doesn’t get battered if he plays. There’s a big graveyard of young talented spinners that England have destroyed in the last decade or so.
I'm not saying it's right but, as I say, I wouldn't mind betting that Min Patel has had some influence here. When Seb was in the Kent Under 18s (and one of only four 18 year olds at that time) Min said to me that he would rather have 16 year old players in the squad who might make it than 18 year olds that are unlikely to. That attitude has been applied by him to the Kent 2s too where numerous 16/17 year olds have been blooded.
It's a totally different ball game playing Test cricket and as I've said I think that there is an element of inclusion here because of that fear of distracting calls from other parts of the world.
Considering Kent haven’t produced a viable front line spinner since tredwell I don’t hold much to min’s theory.
I also refer to the graveyard of spinners who’ve played for England wayyy before they were ready and who’s careers subsequently never recovered.
Rehan Ahmed, the Leicestershire 18 year old spinner, has been officially added to the Test squad after impressing with the Lions red ball training squad in Abu Dhabi. Min Patel (Kent 2nd XI coach) is, I believe the spin coach with the Lions and I wouldn't mind betting that this was his influence. In which case, as with Hamidullah Qadri, I wouldn't be shocked if Rehan ended up in a Kent shirt in the not too distant future!
That’s honestly bizarre.
Also well and truly finishes Matt Parkinson’s test career. At least for now.
I really hope he doesn’t get battered if he plays. There’s a big graveyard of young talented spinners that England have destroyed in the last decade or so.
I'm not saying it's right but, as I say, I wouldn't mind betting that Min Patel has had some influence here. When Seb was in the Kent Under 18s (and one of only four 18 year olds at that time) Min said to me that he would rather have 16 year old players in the squad who might make it than 18 year olds that are unlikely to. That attitude has been applied by him to the Kent 2s too where numerous 16/17 year olds have been blooded.
It's a totally different ball game playing Test cricket and as I've said I think that there is an element of inclusion here because of that fear of distracting calls from other parts of the world.
Considering Kent haven’t produced a viable front line spinner since tredwell I don’t hold much to min’s theory.
I also refer to the graveyard of spinners who’ve played for England wayyy before they were ready and who’s careers subsequently never recovered.
That goes pretty much for all counties if we are talking about producing spinners - Harmer was the top in Div 1 last season with 59 wickets (from 19 innings) @ 20.67 and Bess with 36 wickets (from 24 innings) @ 42.91 was the highest English qualified spinner. Matt Parkinson took 33 wickets (from 17 innings) @ 30.66.
It's not easy to learn your craft when pitches aren't conducive to spin. So, perhaps we are having to bypass the CC and give these players an opportunity to hone their skills abroad with England. Hence Ahmed's call up. Not to play but to learn and to be paid doing so thus preventing the need to earn money during the winter playing for a franchise or two. We can't centrally contract every player who might play for England in the next year or so.
Rehan Ahmed, the Leicestershire 18 year old spinner, has been officially added to the Test squad after impressing with the Lions red ball training squad in Abu Dhabi. Min Patel (Kent 2nd XI coach) is, I believe the spin coach with the Lions and I wouldn't mind betting that this was his influence. In which case, as with Hamidullah Qadri, I wouldn't be shocked if Rehan ended up in a Kent shirt in the not too distant future!
That’s honestly bizarre.
Also well and truly finishes Matt Parkinson’s test career. At least for now.
I really hope he doesn’t get battered if he plays. There’s a big graveyard of young talented spinners that England have destroyed in the last decade or so.
I'm not saying it's right but, as I say, I wouldn't mind betting that Min Patel has had some influence here. When Seb was in the Kent Under 18s (and one of only four 18 year olds at that time) Min said to me that he would rather have 16 year old players in the squad who might make it than 18 year olds that are unlikely to. That attitude has been applied by him to the Kent 2s too where numerous 16/17 year olds have been blooded.
It's a totally different ball game playing Test cricket and as I've said I think that there is an element of inclusion here because of that fear of distracting calls from other parts of the world.
Considering Kent haven’t produced a viable front line spinner since tredwell I don’t hold much to min’s theory.
I also refer to the graveyard of spinners who’ve played for England wayyy before they were ready and who’s careers subsequently never recovered.
That goes pretty much for all counties if we are talking about producing spinners - Harmer was the top in Div 1 last season with 59 wickets (from 19 innings) @ 20.67 and Bess with 36 wickets (from 24 innings) @ 42.91 was the highest English qualified spinner. Matt Parkinson took 33 wickets (from 17 innings) @ 30.66.
It's not easy to learn your craft when pitches aren't conducive to spin. So, perhaps we are having to bypass the CC and give these players an opportunity to hone their skills abroad with England. Hence Ahmed's call up. Not to play but to learn and to be paid doing so thus preventing the need to earn money during the winter playing for a franchise or two. We can't centrally contract every player who might play for England in the next year or so.
Was he in much demand among franchises this winter?
Even if pitches aren't taking much spin, and surely the long summer this year was helpful for spinners, being able to hold an end is a useful secondary skill, and that comes from experience.
Rehan Ahmed, the Leicestershire 18 year old spinner, has been officially added to the Test squad after impressing with the Lions red ball training squad in Abu Dhabi. Min Patel (Kent 2nd XI coach) is, I believe the spin coach with the Lions and I wouldn't mind betting that this was his influence. In which case, as with Hamidullah Qadri, I wouldn't be shocked if Rehan ended up in a Kent shirt in the not too distant future!
That’s honestly bizarre.
Also well and truly finishes Matt Parkinson’s test career. At least for now.
I really hope he doesn’t get battered if he plays. There’s a big graveyard of young talented spinners that England have destroyed in the last decade or so.
I'm not saying it's right but, as I say, I wouldn't mind betting that Min Patel has had some influence here. When Seb was in the Kent Under 18s (and one of only four 18 year olds at that time) Min said to me that he would rather have 16 year old players in the squad who might make it than 18 year olds that are unlikely to. That attitude has been applied by him to the Kent 2s too where numerous 16/17 year olds have been blooded.
It's a totally different ball game playing Test cricket and as I've said I think that there is an element of inclusion here because of that fear of distracting calls from other parts of the world.
Considering Kent haven’t produced a viable front line spinner since tredwell I don’t hold much to min’s theory.
I also refer to the graveyard of spinners who’ve played for England wayyy before they were ready and who’s careers subsequently never recovered.
That goes pretty much for all counties if we are talking about producing spinners - Harmer was the top in Div 1 last season with 59 wickets (from 19 innings) @ 20.67 and Bess with 36 wickets (from 24 innings) @ 42.91 was the highest English qualified spinner. Matt Parkinson took 33 wickets (from 17 innings) @ 30.66.
It's not easy to learn your craft when pitches aren't conducive to spin. So, perhaps we are having to bypass the CC and give these players an opportunity to hone their skills abroad with England. Hence Ahmed's call up. Not to play but to learn and to be paid doing so thus preventing the need to earn money during the winter playing for a franchise or two. We can't centrally contract every player who might play for England in the next year or so.
Was he in much demand among franchises this winter?
It's not about whether he was in demand it's more about whether he will be in demand. The fact that he played as a 17 year old in The Hundred (and I know you rate that competition) would have alerted the world and his mother to his potential.
Rehan Ahmed, the Leicestershire 18 year old spinner, has been officially added to the Test squad after impressing with the Lions red ball training squad in Abu Dhabi. Min Patel (Kent 2nd XI coach) is, I believe the spin coach with the Lions and I wouldn't mind betting that this was his influence. In which case, as with Hamidullah Qadri, I wouldn't be shocked if Rehan ended up in a Kent shirt in the not too distant future!
That’s honestly bizarre.
Also well and truly finishes Matt Parkinson’s test career. At least for now.
I really hope he doesn’t get battered if he plays. There’s a big graveyard of young talented spinners that England have destroyed in the last decade or so.
I'm not saying it's right but, as I say, I wouldn't mind betting that Min Patel has had some influence here. When Seb was in the Kent Under 18s (and one of only four 18 year olds at that time) Min said to me that he would rather have 16 year old players in the squad who might make it than 18 year olds that are unlikely to. That attitude has been applied by him to the Kent 2s too where numerous 16/17 year olds have been blooded.
It's a totally different ball game playing Test cricket and as I've said I think that there is an element of inclusion here because of that fear of distracting calls from other parts of the world.
Considering Kent haven’t produced a viable front line spinner since tredwell I don’t hold much to min’s theory.
I also refer to the graveyard of spinners who’ve played for England wayyy before they were ready and who’s careers subsequently never recovered.
That goes pretty much for all counties if we are talking about producing spinners - Harmer was the top in Div 1 last season with 59 wickets (from 19 innings) @ 20.67 and Bess with 36 wickets (from 24 innings) @ 42.91 was the highest English qualified spinner. Matt Parkinson took 33 wickets (from 17 innings) @ 30.66.
It's not easy to learn your craft when pitches aren't conducive to spin. So, perhaps we are having to bypass the CC and give these players an opportunity to hone their skills abroad with England. Hence Ahmed's call up. Not to play but to learn and to be paid doing so thus preventing the need to earn money during the winter playing for a franchise or two. We can't centrally contract every player who might play for England in the next year or so.
Was he in much demand among franchises this winter?
It's not about whether he was in demand it's more about whether he will be in demand. The fact that he played as a 17 year old in The Hundred (and I know you rate that competition) would have alerted the world and his mother to his potential.
Thanks - I understand what you mean now. I thought you meant that he'd been called up to prevent him playing for a franchise.
England 501-7 (Pope 146, Crawley 96, Jacks 84, Foakes 48*, Jennings 40, Livingstone 36, Duckett 28, Root 9, Overton 6*) England Lions 412-9 (Hameed 145, Haines 82, Archer 39*, Haynes 36, Ahmed 26. Bohannon 23, Smith 20, Fisher 18*, James 11, Lawrence 8, Abell 2)
No bowler in the match has picked up more than 2 wickets and 16 of them have been used and 14 of those have bowled 8 or more overs including Archer who returned figures of 9-1-38-0
Rehan Ahmed, the Leicestershire 18 year old spinner, has been officially added to the Test squad after impressing with the Lions red ball training squad in Abu Dhabi. Min Patel (Kent 2nd XI coach) is, I believe the spin coach with the Lions and I wouldn't mind betting that this was his influence. In which case, as with Hamidullah Qadri, I wouldn't be shocked if Rehan ended up in a Kent shirt in the not too distant future!
That’s honestly bizarre.
Also well and truly finishes Matt Parkinson’s test career. At least for now.
I really hope he doesn’t get battered if he plays. There’s a big graveyard of young talented spinners that England have destroyed in the last decade or so.
I'm not saying it's right but, as I say, I wouldn't mind betting that Min Patel has had some influence here. When Seb was in the Kent Under 18s (and one of only four 18 year olds at that time) Min said to me that he would rather have 16 year old players in the squad who might make it than 18 year olds that are unlikely to. That attitude has been applied by him to the Kent 2s too where numerous 16/17 year olds have been blooded.
It's a totally different ball game playing Test cricket and as I've said I think that there is an element of inclusion here because of that fear of distracting calls from other parts of the world.
Considering Kent haven’t produced a viable front line spinner since tredwell I don’t hold much to min’s theory.
I also refer to the graveyard of spinners who’ve played for England wayyy before they were ready and who’s careers subsequently never recovered.
That goes pretty much for all counties if we are talking about producing spinners - Harmer was the top in Div 1 last season with 59 wickets (from 19 innings) @ 20.67 and Bess with 36 wickets (from 24 innings) @ 42.91 was the highest English qualified spinner. Matt Parkinson took 33 wickets (from 17 innings) @ 30.66.
It's not easy to learn your craft when pitches aren't conducive to spin. So, perhaps we are having to bypass the CC and give these players an opportunity to hone their skills abroad with England. Hence Ahmed's call up. Not to play but to learn and to be paid doing so thus preventing the need to earn money during the winter playing for a franchise or two. We can't centrally contract every player who might play for England in the next year or so.
Was he in much demand among franchises this winter?
It's not about whether he was in demand it's more about whether he will be in demand. The fact that he played as a 17 year old in The Hundred (and I know you rate that competition) would have alerted the world and his mother to his potential.
Thanks - I understand what you mean now. I thought you meant that he'd been called up to prevent him playing for a franchise.
From ESPN today and exactly what I referred to yesterday as the reason why England have him involved so early in the Test cricket set up:
There is another, intriguing element to Ahmed. Even with a century and five-wicket haul with the red ball, both picked up in a County Championship match against Derbyshire at the end of the 2022 season, his white-ball game is clearly a little further developed. So much so, that he had offers for franchise cricket this winter. Had the schedules aligned differently, he would have almost certainly played in England's ODIs in Australia that immediately followed the T20 World Cup, having trained with the limited-overs squad during the summer.
Key cedes Ahmed "is going to have decisions going forward in his career and life", around which colour ball takes his fancy at various points of the year. And he has no qualms in admitting this exposure to Test cricket can sow a sizeable seed in Ahmed's head.
"He arguably could be thinking about franchise cricket but we've given him an offer he can't refuse really - a chance to be involved in Test cricket as the pinnacle. If you can play this form, you can play anything."
His 26 today came off 10 deliveries included three fours and two sixes, both off Liam Livingstone and he has the serious potential to be an all rounder in all forms of the game. Note "potential".
I blame Roots 9 on playing in the IPL, in six months time....
.........except he probably won't be so no point blaming him for something he won't be doing
Don't stop people blaming him for trying...
..........I'm not so long as the playing in the IPL then leads to him saying that he's played too much cricket and needs time off from playing for England. I think Yorkshire fans might have a different perspective on that given that he needed the ECB to excuse him from playing for them in that vital CC game even though he had, actually, played very little cricket and was fit enough to play a few rounds of golf while that match was going on. As I've said, I believe that The Hundred will almost certainly be the "sacrificial lamb" if he does play in the IPL and it will be delightful if it is because that will serve to undermine that competition.
Cricketers have got to make the most of every opportunity they are afforded but if you are on a £700K handcuff to play for your country then you should, in my opinion, be available to play as much as possible. There is a conundrum for England too because for every Smeed, who, without doubt, won't ever be good enough to play Test Cricket, there will be a Rehan Ahmed who almost certainly will. The ones that are the issue for England are those who "might" be good enough but who opt to go down the more lucrative white ball franchise route at an early age.
The ECB has received a £400m private equity approach that would see it relinquish majority ownership of The Hundred while raising funds to inject into the sport's cash-strapped counties - sky news
Very good and informative interview by Atherton with McCullum especially in talking about Rehan Ahmed (his rawness and the reason for including him inside the squad rather than outside it) but also the bit of a giveaway regarding Liam Livingstone - he hasn't played a red ball game for over a year but "you won't get him if you put restrictions around him, there's too many options out there and the skipper has done a wonderful job into coercing him into playing". Can anyone imagine 30 years ago anybody having to "coerce" a player to play for England in Test cricket? The one format of the game that truly defines a cricketer. The format that produces the most amount of money for English cricket.
From what I've heard in the last 24 hours, reinforcing what I've been saying recently (and I have no reason to doubt the information) there is a massive split coming in the game in the not too distant future driven by the money that the big franchises will be prepared to offer. England players will be given a choice as to which direction they want to go in but the division will be much more clearly defined than it is now.
In the words of Robert George Dylan Willis - "the times are a-changin' " (he never actually said that but some other bloke did!)
2 quicks plus Stoke as I predicted when the squad came out.
Interesting one. But very very deep but imagine Root will have to do a chunk of bowling. Livingstone got the nod over Jacks for the ability to turn it both ways I guess. Excited to see him play intents but more for his batting rather than bowling. But doubt we will see it much give he's at 8.
Comments
Root probably lost £300K when he relinquished the captaincy so that isn't a coincidence either. He tried in 2018 to get into the IPL and was left "unsold". That might happen again but, even if it doesn't, because of the limited number of places for overseas players he might, like Morgan, Finch, Williamson and many other specialist overseas batsmen (I very much doubt that any IPL team will require his part time spin) before him spend some time carrying the drinks.
That is the sacrifice of being away from his family for potentially up to nine weeks he might right now be prepared to make. But, in doing so, his season would run from March to November and no doubt he will, at some point, want a break. I wouldn't mind betting that, much to the annoyance of the ECB, that will be in August during The Hundred.
I know we are desperate for spinners, but that's ridiculous
I really hope he doesn’t get battered if he plays. There’s a big graveyard of young talented spinners that England have destroyed in the last decade or so.
It's a totally different ball game playing Test cricket and as I've said I think that there is an element of inclusion here because of that fear of distracting calls from other parts of the world.
I also refer to the graveyard of spinners who’ve played for England wayyy before they were ready and who’s careers subsequently never recovered.
It's not easy to learn your craft when pitches aren't conducive to spin. So, perhaps we are having to bypass the CC and give these players an opportunity to hone their skills abroad with England. Hence Ahmed's call up. Not to play but to learn and to be paid doing so thus preventing the need to earn money during the winter playing for a franchise or two. We can't centrally contract every player who might play for England in the next year or so.
England Lions 412-9 (Hameed 145, Haines 82, Archer 39*, Haynes 36, Ahmed 26. Bohannon 23, Smith 20, Fisher 18*, James 11, Lawrence 8, Abell 2)
No bowler in the match has picked up more than 2 wickets and 16 of them have been used and 14 of those have bowled 8 or more overs including Archer who returned figures of 9-1-38-0
His 26 today came off 10 deliveries included three fours and two sixes, both off Liam Livingstone and he has the serious potential to be an all rounder in all forms of the game. Note "potential".
..........I'm not so long as the playing in the IPL then leads to him saying that he's played too much cricket and needs time off from playing for England. I think Yorkshire fans might have a different perspective on that given that he needed the ECB to excuse him from playing for them in that vital CC game even though he had, actually, played very little cricket and was fit enough to play a few rounds of golf while that match was going on. As I've said, I believe that The Hundred will almost certainly be the "sacrificial lamb" if he does play in the IPL and it will be delightful if it is because that will serve to undermine that competition.
Cricketers have got to make the most of every opportunity they are afforded but if you are on a £700K handcuff to play for your country then you should, in my opinion, be available to play as much as possible. There is a conundrum for England too because for every Smeed, who, without doubt, won't ever be good enough to play Test Cricket, there will be a Rehan Ahmed who almost certainly will. The ones that are the issue for England are those who "might" be good enough but who opt to go down the more lucrative white ball franchise route at an early age.
From what I've heard in the last 24 hours, reinforcing what I've been saying recently (and I have no reason to doubt the information) there is a massive split coming in the game in the not too distant future driven by the money that the big franchises will be prepared to offer. England players will be given a choice as to which direction they want to go in but the division will be much more clearly defined than it is now.
In the words of Robert George Dylan Willis - "the times are a-changin' " (he never actually said that but some other bloke did!)
Interesting one. But very very deep but imagine Root will have to do a chunk of bowling. Livingstone got the nod over Jacks for the ability to turn it both ways I guess. Excited to see him play intents but more for his batting rather than bowling. But doubt we will see it much give he's at 8.
43 wickets in 62 First Class matches. One fivefer...