I would have liked to see Matt Parkinson in the squad and I think Brook should play ahead of Bairstow, who has played no red ball cricket this season, not sure about Pope at 3
Is it normal to announce the squad so early, 2 weeks before the 1st Test? There's a round of CC games starting tomorrow, so does it mean the England players will be pulled out?
Leach has also had a good start to the season tbf. I'd have picked him AND Parkinson in the squad, had a good look at both. Crawley...I don't know what to say really
crawley scored a century on the last tour... what's the problem?
A Test average of 28.60 from 38 innings A First Class average of 30.39 from 132 innings A total of 156 from 8 innings at an average of 19.50 in First Class cricket this season on exactly the same pitches that his opening partner. Ben Compton, has scored 670 runs from 9 innings at an average of 95.71
I doubt whether too many opening bats have been picked for England with one of those stats let alone all three.
I'm also not suggesting that England are sticking with Crawley because of their relationship but it probably hasn't helped him that Key was originally promoting him on Sky (Nasser used to call him "your boy") because he has known him since he was very young and is best mates with his dad, the multi millionaire Terry - so much so that in the middle of Key's biography there is a picture of the two with Warne and Ponting with the caption "Golf with Warne, Ponting and Crawley (the game drain). The Aussies have never beaten Crawley and I".
On another subject, it really is time that England looked at abolishing Central Contracts and rewarding players with a much higher remuneration for making squads and for playing. We are only half way through this year but look at what has happened to those that are on the list:
Moeen Ali (Worcestershire) - playing in IPL James Anderson (Lancashire) - dropped for recent tour Jofra Archer (Sussex) - injured Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire) - playing in IPL but selected for England having not played a single red ball match since March Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire) - dropped for recent tour Rory Burns (Surrey) - dropped Jos Buttler (Lancashire) - playing in IPL Zak Crawley (Kent) - playing in CC but totally out of form Sam Curran (Surrey) - dropped and injured Jack Leach (Somerset) Dawid Malan (Yorkshire) - dropped Eoin Morgan (Middlesex) Ollie Pope (Surrey) Adil Rashid (Yorkshire) Ollie Robinson (Sussex) - dropped/injured Joe Root (Yorkshire) Jason Roy (Surrey) - banned Ben Stokes (Durham) Chris Woakes (Warwickshire) - injured Mark Wood (Durham) - injured
England Increment Contracts
Dom Bess (Yorkshire) - not selected in last 14 months Tom Curran (Surrey) - injured Chris Jordan (Surrey) - at IPL but not playing Liam Livingstone (Lancashire) - injured
Well nobody can accuse Rob Key of going with obvious choices for the 2 coaching positions. First Brendon McCullum & now this. I've never even heard of this guy:
Well nobody can accuse Rob Key of going with obvious choices for the 2 coaching positions. First Brendon McCullum & now this. I've never even heard of this guy:
Well nobody can accuse Rob Key of going with obvious choices for the 2 coaching positions. First Brendon McCullum & now this. I've never even heard of this guy:
I've been advocating Robson for over a year now. He was very young when first selected for England and did alright before getting dropped after a bad run. This was much before we realised the paucity of decent openers we have and we had much higher expectations than we do now. The more recent incumbents have been given far more time and chances than he was.
He's gone away and really worked on his game, scored plenty of runs and become a senior player with captaincy experience. He really should be given a go.
Another benefit - he bats right handed! Would help break up the constant stream of lefties we have.
Odd including Bairstow when he hasn't played a first class game. Once again we dont have a bowler with a point of difference. No mystery spinner, no left arm quick, no one with real pace. I get all our quicks (Archer, Stone, Wood, Mahmood) are injured but Parky should be there or even someone like Topley or Jamie Overton who have been excellent in the CC this season.
Havent commented on this yet but with Root no longer captain I really feel like he should bat 3 now. I'm disappointed that Stokes has said he will bat 4. I got it when he was captain but without that pressure he really should be at 3. Its one of our biggest problem positions whereas I could pick about 20 players who could do a job at 4/5.
We now effectively need to find 3 players from nowhere to form a complete top 3. not likely.
Havent commented on this yet but with Root no longer captain I really feel like he should bat 3 now. I'm disappointed that Stokes has said he will bat 4. I got it when he was captain but without that pressure he really should be at 3. Its one of our biggest problem positions whereas I could pick about 20 players who could do a job at 4/5.
We now effectively need to find 3 players from nowhere to form a complete top 3. not likely.
Agreed; Root and Stokes should be 3 and 4, with a new batter- Brook, for me, and Bairstow at 6.
Havent commented on this yet but with Root no longer captain I really feel like he should bat 3 now. I'm disappointed that Stokes has said he will bat 4. I got it when he was captain but without that pressure he really should be at 3. Its one of our biggest problem positions whereas I could pick about 20 players who could do a job at 4/5.
We now effectively need to find 3 players from nowhere to form a complete top 3. not likely.
Agreed; Root and Stokes should be 3 and 4, with a new batter- Brook, for me, and Bairstow at 6.
I'm happy enough with Stokes at 6 as captain. We have plenty of middle order players who can bat 4 or 5 and will do well as long as we have a decent platform.
Havent commented on this yet but with Root no longer captain I really feel like he should bat 3 now. I'm disappointed that Stokes has said he will bat 4. I got it when he was captain but without that pressure he really should be at 3. Its one of our biggest problem positions whereas I could pick about 20 players who could do a job at 4/5.
We now effectively need to find 3 players from nowhere to form a complete top 3. not likely.
Agreed; Root and Stokes should be 3 and 4, with a new batter- Brook, for me, and Bairstow at 6.
I'm happy enough with Stokes at 6 as captain. We have plenty of middle order players who can bat 4 or 5 and will do well as long as we have a decent platform.
I actually think that batting Stokes at higher than 6 inhibits his natural game at Test level. But I am looking forward to seeing Pope bat at 3 ;-)
Havent commented on this yet but with Root no longer captain I really feel like he should bat 3 now. I'm disappointed that Stokes has said he will bat 4. I got it when he was captain but without that pressure he really should be at 3. Its one of our biggest problem positions whereas I could pick about 20 players who could do a job at 4/5.
We now effectively need to find 3 players from nowhere to form a complete top 3. not likely.
Agreed; Root and Stokes should be 3 and 4, with a new batter- Brook, for me, and Bairstow at 6.
I'm happy enough with Stokes at 6 as captain. We have plenty of middle order players who can bat 4 or 5 and will do well as long as we have a decent platform.
I actually think that batting Stokes at higher than 6 inhibits his natural game at Test level. But I am looking forward to seeing Pope bat at 3 ;-)
Completely agree, also gives him a chance of rest after bowling. Although probably only a couple of extra overs knowing England
Stokes is far better than an attacking No 6 though, as he can also play "solid" Test innings. What you don't want is (after a night watchman has been used) Stokes coming in at 7 and being stuck with the tail, where few other than Leach can stick around and defend
Is it normal to announce the squad so early, 2 weeks before the 1st Test? There's a round of CC games starting tomorrow, so does it mean the England players will be pulled out?
Crawley is in the Kent squad for this week's game which answers that question (certainly as a blanket rule)
top wicket taker and top run maker are selected .. at least the selectors are picking on form, but probably only because their hands have been forced .. be interesting to see who gets the poisoned chalice job at number 3
top wicket taker and top runr maker are selected .. at least the selectors are picking on form, but probably only because their hands have been forced .. be interesting to see who gets the poisoned chalice job at number 3
all the young tyro fast(ish) bowlers have been struck down with various maladies .. but like old Father Thames, the aging pace twins, A&B just keep rolling along
top wicket taker and top runr maker are selected .. at least the selectors are picking on form, but probably only because their hands have been forced .. be interesting to see who gets the poisoned chalice job at number 3
Root 3 Pope 4 That's what I would like to see.
it has been decided (probably by Root) that he will NO WAY bat at 3 .. probably be down to the new boy Brook or Pope
Matty Mott, ex Aussie women's coach is the new England (men's) white ball cricket coach .. all antipodeans in charge, skipper ( though he has been in UK a looong time) and both coaches
top wicket taker and top runr maker are selected .. at least the selectors are picking on form, but probably only because their hands have been forced .. be interesting to see who gets the poisoned chalice job at number 3
Root 3 Pope 4 That's what I would like to see.
it has been decided (probably by Root) that he will NO WAY bat at 3 .. probably be down to the new boy Brook or Pope
Root has seen Crawley's form, and doesn't fancy coming in to bat in the 3rd over...
The only difference between 3 and 4, if Root bats at 3, is he comes in a 8 for 1 or 12 for 2 about 12 balls apart. At least if he is at 3 number 4 might come in at 50 odd for 2.
Comments
Surprised Sam Robson hasn't been given another chance.
A First Class average of 30.39 from 132 innings
A total of 156 from 8 innings at an average of 19.50 in First Class cricket this season on exactly the same pitches that his opening partner. Ben Compton, has scored 670 runs from 9 innings at an average of 95.71
I doubt whether too many opening bats have been picked for England with one of those stats let alone all three.
I'm also not suggesting that England are sticking with Crawley because of their relationship but it probably hasn't helped him that Key was originally promoting him on Sky (Nasser used to call him "your boy") because he has known him since he was very young and is best mates with his dad, the multi millionaire Terry - so much so that in the middle of Key's biography there is a picture of the two with Warne and Ponting with the caption "Golf with Warne, Ponting and Crawley (the game drain). The Aussies have never beaten Crawley and I".
Moeen Ali (Worcestershire) - playing in IPL
James Anderson (Lancashire) - dropped for recent tour
Jofra Archer (Sussex) - injured
Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire) - playing in IPL but selected for England having not played a single red ball match since March
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire) - dropped for recent tour
Rory Burns (Surrey) - dropped
Jos Buttler (Lancashire) - playing in IPL
Zak Crawley (Kent) - playing in CC but totally out of form
Sam Curran (Surrey) - dropped and injured
Jack Leach (Somerset)
Dawid Malan (Yorkshire) - dropped
Eoin Morgan (Middlesex)
Ollie Pope (Surrey)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Ollie Robinson (Sussex) - dropped/injured
Joe Root (Yorkshire)
Jason Roy (Surrey) - banned
Ben Stokes (Durham)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire) - injured
Mark Wood (Durham) - injured
England Increment Contracts
Dom Bess (Yorkshire) - not selected in last 14 months
Tom Curran (Surrey) - injured
Chris Jordan (Surrey) - at IPL but not playing
Liam Livingstone (Lancashire) - injured
England Pace Bowling Development Contracts
Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire) - injured
Craig Overton (Somerset)
Olly Stone (Warwickshire) - injured
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/61445433
He's gone away and really worked on his game, scored plenty of runs and become a senior player with captaincy experience. He really should be given a go.
Another benefit - he bats right handed! Would help break up the constant stream of lefties we have.
Odd including Bairstow when he hasn't played a first class game. Once again we dont have a bowler with a point of difference. No mystery spinner, no left arm quick, no one with real pace. I get all our quicks (Archer, Stone, Wood, Mahmood) are injured but Parky should be there or even someone like Topley or Jamie Overton who have been excellent in the CC this season.
We now effectively need to find 3 players from nowhere to form a complete top 3. not likely.
Pope 4
That's what I would like to see.