I'm not a fan of Malan in 20/20 as he needs a few overs to get settled and you can't afford to waste too many deliveries in the shorter format. But I have to say that in the 50 overs format he appears to be the most in form of all our batsmen that play in the top 4 in the batting lineup. He's a must for me.
In all honesty I’d have malan in at number 3 for the test team, also.
If Stokes could bowl then Malan at 3 and Pope at 5 would look very strong. With Stokes not able to bowl it would mean dropping Pope.
Confusing why NZ are playing players who aren't in their WC squad, like Jamieson and Lister. Even if there were injuries, no way would Lister make the WC squad.
I'm not a fan of Malan in 20/20 as he needs a few overs to get settled and you can't afford to waste too many deliveries in the shorter format. But I have to say that in the 50 overs format he appears to be the most in form of all our batsmen that play in the top 4 in the batting lineup. He's a must for me.
In all honesty I’d have malan in at number 3 for the test team, also.
If Stokes could bowl then Malan at 3 and Pope at 5 would look very strong. With Stokes not able to bowl it would mean dropping Pope.
Not sure I'd want to do that tbh.
We also have to be a bit careful of not going down the route that we have done for this WC in Test cricket too i.e. too many older players at once. We have to build for the future and Malan is now 36 and someone who averages 27 in Test cricket whereas Pope is 25 and averages 45.25 when batting at 3
Confusing why NZ are playing players who aren't in their WC squad, like Jamieson and Lister. Even if there were injuries, no way would Lister make the WC squad.
Perhaps they don't want to give too much exposure for the England batsmen to those that will be playing in their first match of the WC in three weeks time
Not sure Malan can be dropped from opening in the first game especially as it is against NZ given he's scored 54 & 96 from two innings in this series. Roy has a maximum of one game to displace him though, if fit, but, for the reasons I've said already with the amount of travel, I'm not sure that we should be taking Roy with a back injury anyway that could manifest itself at any time.
The other advantage of opening with Malan is that we have that left/right opening combo and if, as today, followed by Root (R), Stokes (L), Buttler (R), Moeen (L), Livingstone (R) and Curran (L) it really couldn't be more balanced in that respect.
That would be my 11 for the first game of the WC. But I think they'll play Livingstone.
Brook could only play if he is called up as a replacement prior to the official announcement of the squad which could happen given Roy's fitness issues. However, we aren't going to go in with just five frontline bowlers and Livingstone has to play given his recent innings and the fact that he can turn the ball both ways. It's just a question then as to whether we play Moeen as a third spinner or bring in a fourth seamer.
That was a poor finish from us but puts into perspective Stokes' innings. No excuse for us not using up all 50 overs though given we were 336-4 with 7.2 overs to go
Atherton "95% of the staff at Durham are from clubs and State schools and that would be slightly different in the south". "Slightly different" is something of an understatement especially when one sees that, at the likes of Sussex, all 17 homegrown players went to a private school.
Atherton "95% of the staff at Durham are from clubs and State schools and that would be slightly different in the south". "Slightly different" is something of an understatement especially when one sees that, at the likes of Sussex, all 17 homegrown players went to a private school.
Scandalous isn't it
Great to see Freddie back out and about and involved in the England set up. And there is going to be another series of Field of Dreams
That would be my 11 for the first game of the WC. But I think they'll play Livingstone.
Brook could only play if he is called up as a replacement prior to the official announcement of the squad which could happen given Roy's fitness issues. However, we aren't going to go in with just five frontline bowlers and Livingstone has to play given his recent innings and the fact that he can turn the ball both ways. It's just a question then as to whether we play Moeen as a third spinner or bring in a fourth seamer.
I think the balancing act is do they get a second new ball bowler in at the expense of the 3rd spinner, Curran's batting or don't bother.
Atherton "95% of the staff at Durham are from clubs and State schools and that would be slightly different in the south". "Slightly different" is something of an understatement especially when one sees that, at the likes of Sussex, all 17 homegrown players went to a private school.
Scandalous isn't it
Surrey and Middlesex should be doing a hell of a lot more to bring in local state school pupils, no excuses for them - especially Surrey who always seem to find some money at the back of the sofa for an england hopeful or overseas star. Warwickshire and Lancashire should also do more - I can’t believe the lack of players of south Asian background at Yorkshire… well, I guess I can after recent years!
When will Wood be fit to play? He's not played since the end of the Ashes.
I think it was Atherton that said that Wood is one of those rare individuals who can literally just turn up and bowl - presumably having done the hard yards off the field. Whereas there are some who need to do the off field stuff and have two or three games under their belt to get to match fitness.
Jofra signs a new contract at Sussex. Will probably not see him play much for us but it's good he's sticking around
Fast bowlers in particular are heavily managed by England, so unless he actually plans to return to the Test team and plays a couple of warmup CC games for you, you'll maybe see him in a few Blast games a season, assuming they don't clash with England internationals!
Jofra signs a new contract at Sussex. Will probably not see him play much for us but it's good he's sticking around
He said in an interview recently that he will never leave Sussex. I suppose it won't really matter as he will very rarely ever be around to play. Think his red ball days are done.
Jofra signs a new contract at Sussex. Will probably not see him play much for us but it's good he's sticking around
Fast bowlers in particular are heavily managed by England, so unless he actually plans to return to the Test team and plays a couple of warmup CC games for you, you'll maybe see him in a few Blast games a season, assuming they don't clash with England internationals!
That's all I'd expect. I don't know if the ECB would let him play CC because of workload.
Do Sussex actually have to play Joffra any money or does he just get a CC and it's a deal that says plays for them if the ECB want him to for whatever reason?
Absolutely ridiculous that the ECB wouldn't let Ollie Robinson play this week vs Leicestershire. Hasn't played a competitive game since the start of July!
Watching the kids instead. An absorbing fightback from Kelly, who's batting very well, and Rehan Ahmed's 15 year-old brother Farhan, whose technique is looking extremely good for a number ten
Comments
With Stokes not able to bowl it would mean dropping Pope.
Not sure I'd want to do that tbh.
We also have to be a bit careful of not going down the route that we have done for this WC in Test cricket too i.e. too many older players at once. We have to build for the future and Malan is now 36 and someone who averages 27 in Test cricket whereas Pope is 25 and averages 45.25 when batting at 3
The other advantage of opening with Malan is that we have that left/right opening combo and if, as today, followed by Root (R), Stokes (L), Buttler (R), Moeen (L), Livingstone (R) and Curran (L) it really couldn't be more balanced in that respect.
2. Malan
3. Root
4. Stokes
5. Brook
6. Buttler
7. Ali
8. S Curran
9. Woakes
10. Rashid
11. M.Wood
That would be my 11 for the first game of the WC. But I think they'll play Livingstone.
Brook could only play if he is called up as a replacement prior to the official announcement of the squad which could happen given Roy's fitness issues. However, we aren't going to go in with just five frontline bowlers and Livingstone has to play given his recent innings and the fact that he can turn the ball both ways. It's just a question then as to whether we play Moeen as a third spinner or bring in a fourth seamer.
By someone in the pavilion.
7. Livingstone
Would be what I think they will pick.
Yes the tail have to go for it, but collapsing with 11 balls to go is a bit careless
Jofra signs a new contract at Sussex. Will probably not see him play much for us but it's good he's sticking around
That's all I'd expect. I don't know if the ECB would let him play CC because of workload.