It's a tough one. I reckon (from having read various articles) that there are 26 players in contention for the squad. Or at least being talked about in that context. The squad is only likely to be 15 or 16? Tough job to whittle that down. As much as Stokes is a big game player if he isn't able to balance the side with his bowling then I don't see how we fit him in the side.
Roy's form has been terrible all year so I wouldn't take him but maybe he has enough credit in the bank for England to back him once more? If we don't take him then I think you have to take Malan otherwise a lot of your top order options are ver inexperienced at that level. But I'm really not a fan of Malan.
Archer's fitness is a question as is that of Topley and Wood. I'd love to take all 3 but not sure there is space in the squad. I imagine one will be on standby. Atkinson is in the conversation but will likely only get in if 2 of the above get injured.
Who do we take as back up spinner? Do we go with Rehan/Dawson/someone else. Or hope that the batting allrounders of Livingstone/Jacks/Root could do the job if one of Rash/Mo get injured.
Root Buttler Bairstow Moeen Rashid are all certain. Beyond that I reckon everything is up for grabs. Curran is probably a cert as well given the T20 world cup he had last year and him likely being the main allrounder.
England's provisional squad for the World Cup: Jos Buttler (captain), Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes.
Archer is going as a travelling reserve and changes to the final squad can be made up to 28th September
England's provisional squad for the World Cup: Jos Buttler (captain), Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes.
Morgan, Plunkett and Archer (assuming he doesn't play) are the only ones missing from the Final four years ago but that certainly won't be the case next time round - there is every possibility that over half of this squad will have retired from international cricket given that no less than 11 of the 15 will be 36 or older at that point
Morgan, Plunkett and Archer (assuming he doesn't play) are the only ones missing from the Final four years ago but that certainly won't be the case next time round - there is every possibility that over half of this squad will have retired from international cricket given that no less than 11 of the 15 will be 36 or older at that point
It has a little bit a feel of sticking with the old guard that did it last time rather than bringing in the new exciting generation of Brook, Jacks etc. Not saying we should have chucked out a whole load of senior players but manage the transition.
Feels a little like the 2013/14 away ashes. Flower bringing in all those who did it in 2010/11 rather than those who were preforming at the time (picking Tremlett because he had done the job 3 years before rather than Plunkett who was very similar but performing much better at the time as one example, Carberry ahead of Root as another) because he was focused on his legacy rather than on the team evolving and it all went wrong.
If I have to explain to one more one-eyed Aussie that the Ashes were retained and not won and our 20+ year record in England remains intact I swear I'll give the next one a Glasgow kiss.
If I have to explain to one more one-eyed Aussie that the Ashes were retained and not won and our 20+ year record in England remains intact I swear I'll give the next one a Glasgow kiss.
If I have to explain to one more one-eyed Aussie that the Ashes were retained and not won and our 20+ year record in England remains intact I swear I'll give the next one a Glasgow kiss.
Agreed. I honestly think it is too complicated for them!
They won the competition for whinging though, which is ironic. The umpires changed the feckin ball not ENG too from a box supplied to them before the match. I think they know they'd have lost the series but for the rain at Old T, so they have to argue about the 5th
One name that passed me by for the upcoming ODI series against NZ was that of John Turner. He's placed just three FC matches, South African and recently qualified to play for England born but clocks 90mph. It seems that the likes of Atkinson, Tongue, Wood (Luke) and Turner, with their extra pace, are the ones that England are concentrating on rather than someone like Sam Cook (258 wickets at 19.76 with an E/R of 2.60) for example.
Yes...but Roy is an opener, Brook is competing with three other players to bat in the middle order - Root, Livingstone, Malan and maybe Bairstow and Stokes. Of those Malan bats at three for me as an innings builder/strike rotator. Livingstone can bowl a few overs of off-spin and Root is the best batsman in the world. Bairstow will open and is the designated spare wicket-keeper, Stokes is there as a closer and can hold his nerve when needed. Brook is unlucky but I can see why there's no place for him.
Yes...but Roy is an opener, Brook is competing with three other players to bat in the middle order - Root, Livingstone, Malan and maybe Bairstow and Stokes. Of those Malan bats at three for me as an innings builder/strike rotator. Livingstone can bowl a few overs of off-spin and Root is the best batsman in the world. Bairstow will open and is the designated spare wicket-keeper, Stokes is there as a closer and can hold his nerve when needed. Brook is unlucky but I can see why there's no place for him.
Malan can and does open (with Bairstow) and is a left handed option to do so. We could then have Root, Brook, Buttler, Stokes and Livingstone to follow
Or have Duckett as an opener instead of Roy. Or even as one writer suggested last week, Zak Crawley to open. It's a mystery how such an aggressive, quick scoring batsman, hasn't played in an ODI since 2021
The way Roy has always played is to smash it from Ball 1 - Brook can do that. Indeed at the moment if he wanted to emulate Roy , he would just get out really cheaply most time he bats.
Of all of the Selections , Roy is one that perplexes me the most. Brooke or Crawley would have been my replacement.
The way Roy has always played is to smash it from Ball 1 - Brook can do that. Indeed at the moment if he wanted to emulate Roy , he would just get out really cheaply most time he bats.
Of all of the Selections , Roy is one that perplexes me the most. Brooke or Crawley would have been my replacement.
The way Roy has always played is to smash it from Ball 1 - Brook can do that. Indeed at the moment if he wanted to emulate Roy , he would just get out really cheaply most time he bats.
Of all of the Selections , Roy is one that perplexes me the most. Brooke or Crawley would have been my replacement.
I think this means I can turn pro?
Definitely.
When Ruiz beat Anthony Joshua I claimed to have the physique of a world champion boxer - no one will take that away from me
Yes...but Roy is an opener, Brook is competing with three other players to bat in the middle order - Root, Livingstone, Malan and maybe Bairstow and Stokes. Of those Malan bats at three for me as an innings builder/strike rotator. Livingstone can bowl a few overs of off-spin and Root is the best batsman in the world. Bairstow will open and is the designated spare wicket-keeper, Stokes is there as a closer and can hold his nerve when needed. Brook is unlucky but I can see why there's no place for him.
Malan can and does open (with Bairstow) and is a left handed option to do so. We could then have Root, Brook, Buttler, Stokes and Livingstone to follow
Accepting the squad as it is, whether we like it or not, If Stokes can't bowl, how do we get that third seamer into the team? The obvious person to do that job would be Sam Curran so, if Roy does open, that presumably means that Malan has to be left out? The team would then look something like this:
Bairstow Roy Root Stokes Buttler Livingstone Curran Ali Rashid Seamer Seamer
The way Roy has always played is to smash it from Ball 1 - Brook can do that. Indeed at the moment if he wanted to emulate Roy , he would just get out really cheaply most time he bats.
Of all of the Selections , Roy is one that perplexes me the most. Brooke or Crawley would have been my replacement.
I think this means I can turn pro?
Definitely.
When Ruiz beat Anthony Joshua I claimed to have the physique of a world champion boxer - no one will take that away from me
It's always good to have a chat with a fellow pro athlete
The way Roy has always played is to smash it from Ball 1 - Brook can do that. Indeed at the moment if he wanted to emulate Roy , he would just get out really cheaply most time he bats.
Of all of the Selections , Roy is one that perplexes me the most. Brooke or Crawley would have been my replacement.
I think this means I can turn pro?
Definitely.
When Ruiz beat Anthony Joshua I claimed to have the physique of a world champion boxer - no one will take that away from me
You don't post like a larger sort of gentleman , more a slight beer belly sort of fella
Comments
Roy's form has been terrible all year so I wouldn't take him but maybe he has enough credit in the bank for England to back him once more? If we don't take him then I think you have to take Malan otherwise a lot of your top order options are ver inexperienced at that level. But I'm really not a fan of Malan.
Archer's fitness is a question as is that of Topley and Wood. I'd love to take all 3 but not sure there is space in the squad. I imagine one will be on standby. Atkinson is in the conversation but will likely only get in if 2 of the above get injured.
Who do we take as back up spinner? Do we go with Rehan/Dawson/someone else. Or hope that the batting allrounders of Livingstone/Jacks/Root could do the job if one of Rash/Mo get injured.
Root Buttler Bairstow Moeen Rashid are all certain. Beyond that I reckon everything is up for grabs. Curran is probably a cert as well given the T20 world cup he had last year and him likely being the main allrounder.
Archer is going as a travelling reserve and changes to the final squad can be made up to 28th September
Feels a little like the 2013/14 away ashes. Flower bringing in all those who did it in 2010/11 rather than those who were preforming at the time (picking Tremlett because he had done the job 3 years before rather than Plunkett who was very similar but performing much better at the time as one example, Carberry ahead of Root as another) because he was focused on his legacy rather than on the team evolving and it all went wrong.
Especially as a left hander
They won the competition for whinging though, which is ironic. The umpires changed the feckin ball not ENG too from a box supplied to them before the match. I think they know they'd have lost the series but for the rain at Old T, so they have to argue about the 5th
Of all of the Selections , Roy is one that perplexes me the most. Brooke or Crawley would have been my replacement.
Because he's a rubbish right hander.
Bairstow
Roy
Root
Stokes
Buttler
Livingstone
Curran
Ali
Rashid
Seamer
Seamer