*Official* England in West Indies

[Prince EWS]

In response to being bowled out for 51, England will probably decide that their bowling attack is not up to scratch. Sidebottom will promptly be dropped with the top six remaining unchanged.

Nah, Bell will be dropped for Anderson.

 

[Precambrian]

Owasted Shah should get the nod or I will quit watching English cricket forever.

 

[Uppercut]

Nah, Bell will be dropped for Anderson.

Would probably score more runs.

 

[Evermind]

Yeah I don't know why Shah is Owais ignored!

 

[Woodster]

I think you need to show some respect, im sure xman is feeling very boyish after your team just recieved an ass whopping from one of the worst WI side in history.

Yes, and he doesn't play Test cricket again for a number of years, which is what should happen such is his ineptitude at Test level.

 

[Woodster]

Loving some of the slightly over the top reactions guys! Still I don't blame non-Englishmen for revelling in what was a truly dismal batting performance.
Regards Hussain, he certainly wasn't using the IPL as the reason England lost the Test!!! He offered plenty of more concerning areas as to why England have blown this Test and simply suggested the IPL may have been a distraction. Fair enough no ? It may have distracted one or two, but to be fair it's not anywhere near the main reason they lost, and don't think Nasser was saying it was.

 

[Uppercut]

Loving some of the slightly over the top reactions guys! Still I don't blame non-Englishmen for revelling in what was a truly dismal batting performance.
Regards Hussain, he certainly wasn't using the IPL as the reason England lost the Test!!! He offered plenty of more concerning areas as to why England have blown this Test and simply suggested the IPL may have been a distraction. Fair enough no ? It may have distracted one or two, but to be fair it's not anywhere near the main reason they lost, and don't think Nasser was saying it was.

Indeed.

England didn't turn up, but they're a decent side. They need to ditch some dead wood and mix things up a bit, but they're not a bad team. One below-par performance doesn't change that.

I thought England were shockingly overrated this time last year, but I don't now. They aren't in the league of South Africa or India, but they should be competing with the West Indies better than that (no disrespect to them- they were fantastic). England are underperforming.

I can't help but be happy for the people in the Caribbean.

 

[duffer]

I can't help but be happy for the people in the Caribbean.

This X 1000. Also believe one of the reasons so many are celebrating this is because the Windies seem to be so many people's "2nd team" in International cricket. Just chuffed for them to be honest. The celebrations of the crowd were awesome to watch.

 

[pskov]

Yeah I don't know why Shah is Owais ignored!

It's shahmbolic really. Number three is the key position. The selectors are ravin a laugh if they think they can just trott Bell out there for the next match again. The Windies bowlers would be joyceus.

 

[Goughy]

Owasted Shah should get the nod or I will quit watching English cricket forever.

Out of interest, why?

What has made Shah so good?

 

[Uppercut]

Out of interest, why?

What has made Shah so good?

It's more to do with the fact that he's done everything he possibly can for so long- piled on runs in county cricket season after season, been one of the better players in the one-day side- but is continually overlooked for players like Ian Bell. That's not to say Shah will be a success at test level- he could just as easily badly fail- but if he still doesn't get a chance at this stage it would be a major injustice.

 

[Precambrian]

Out of interest, why?

What has made Shah so good?

Unfortunately rather than Owais Shah knocking at the doors, more the case of chucking Ian Bell out.

And Owais has performed well in the last couple of seasons, and in the ODIs too. So it is quite logical he is the go to guy at the moment.

Edit : As always UC words it better than me.

 

[Goughy]

It's more to do with the fact that he's done everything he possibly can for so long- piled on runs in county cricket season after season, been one of the better players in the one-day side- but is continually overlooked for players like Ian Bell. That's not to say Shah will be a success at test level- he could just as easily badly fail- but if he still doesn't get a chance at this stage it would be a major injustice.

It isnt a major injustice.

He has been one of the top run scorers in County cricket but the claims he has scored huge runs season after season just isnt true.

For Middlesex his 2008 was ok, his 2007 very good and his 2006 ordinary.

His OD record is much improved but he still has a terrible overall record and an improvement in OD cricket doesnt matter with regards to Test cricket.

I dont mind Shah being selected as an injury replacement or a shortterm measure but he isnt a long term option.

Im not sure where this reputation of being an amazing batsman that Shah has aquired has come from.

Should be the 3rd name on the teamsheet in T20 though.

 

[Woodster]

It isnt a major injustice.

He has been one of the top run scorers in County cricket but the claims he has scored huge runs season after season just isnt true.

For Middlesex his 2008 was ok, his 2007 very good and his 2006 ordinary.

His OD record is much improved but he still has a terrible overall record and an improvement in OD cricket doesnt matter with regards to Test cricket.

I dont mind Shah being selected as an injury replacement or a shortterm measure but he isnt a long term option.

Im not sure where this reputation of being an amazing batsman that Shah has aquired has come from.

Should be the 3rd name on the teamsheet in T20 though.

Who would you be a fan of Goughy to come into the Test side as a number 3, or if you're re-shuffling the line-up, which batsman should replace Bell, if anyone ?

I have made my feelings on the who the next batsman should be, although I'm aware you are not a fan of Ravi Bopara either. I too am an admirer of Bell and was disappointed he let himself down in that 2nd innings with an excellent chance to re-inforce his position in the side.

I would not complain with the selection of Shah, however, I believe Bopara will have the more successful Test career overall.

 

[Precambrian]

Atleast Owais deserves a chance to fail.

 

[Uppercut]

It isnt a major injustice.

He has been one of the top run scorers in County cricket but the claims he has scored huge runs season after season just isnt true.

For Middlesex his 2008 was ok, his 2007 very good and his 2006 ordinary.

His OD record is much improved but he still has a terrible overall record and an improvement in OD cricket doesnt matter with regards to Test cricket.

I dont mind Shah being selected as an injury replacement or a shortterm measure but he isnt a long term option.

Im not sure where this reputation of being an amazing batsman that Shah has aquired has come from.

Should be the 3rd name on the teamsheet in T20 though.

What Precambrian said.

Tbh, I've never been a big fan of Shah. He always gives the impression that he doesn't know what he's doing, and he could be exposed quite badly at test level. I don't think he's an amazing batsman, and I'm not going to be especially hopeful of him succeeding.

But I think he's done enough to earn a chance to prove me wrong. That, and Ian Bell really is woeful and they're the only two options on tour as far as I'm aware.

 

[Langeveldt]

My! Really????

I used to love him when he debuted. His 100 vs SA was top of the drawer stuff. Wonder his brain activity ceased soon after that.

IMHO it was the worst hundred since the turn of the century.. Appaling innings, made all the worse because it was against my side..

Bring back Vaughan for mine, proven class who should be all the more hungry now

 

[The Masterplan]

Give Shah a chance, give Bell a rest. End of story.

 

[Goughy]

Who would you be a fan of Goughy to come into the Test side as a number 3, or if you're re-shuffling the line-up, which batsman should replace Bell, if anyone ?

I have made my feelings on the who the next batsman should be, although I'm aware you are not a fan of Ravi Bopara either. I too am an admirer of Bell and was disappointed he let himself down in that 2nd innings with an excellent chance to re-inforce his position in the side.

I would not complain with the selection of Shah, however, I believe Bopara will have the more successful Test career overall.

Clearly to me it has to be Vaughan. There is no 2 ways about it.

I dont think there is an obvious replacement so pick a proven player to fill the hole until someone earns it.

Shah is on the depth chart but I dont think is ready for a starting role, same with Key. Joyce has gone backwards but a big season could change that and Bopara (along with other youngsters) isnt ready. Patel is interesting due to his record and left arm spin but I really have not seen enough of him.

Vaughan for another year or two as gatekeeper until someone is ready. I dont care if he scores runs for Yorkshire. He has a poor technique, he annoys the hell out of me but he is a better bet to score runs right now than any of the others.

As a short term measure, if Broad has to play, why not have him open (he plays really straight) as there is a long line of converted openers in Test cricket and drop one of the others to 3?

Im not nominating it, rather throwing it out there.

 

[Woodster]

Clearly to me it has to be Vaughan. There is no 2 ways about it.

I dont think there is an obvious replacement so pick a proven player to fill the hole until someone earns it.

Shah is on the depth chart but I dont think is ready for a starting role, same with Key. Joyce has gone backwards but a big season could change that and Bopara (along with other youngsters) isnt ready. Patel is interesting due to his record and left arm spin but I really have not seen enough of him.

Vaughan for another year or two as gatekeeper until someone is ready. I dont care if he scores runs for Yorkshire. He has a poor technique, he annoys the hell out of me but he is a better bet to score runs right now than any of the others.

As a short term measure, if Broad has to play, why not have him open (he plays really straight) as there is a long line of converted openers in Test cricket and drop one of the others to 3?

Im not nominating it, rather throwing it out there.

Nothing wrong with thinking outside the box and throwing Broad out there, but personally I'd be hugely surprised and disappointed should he be asked to open. Much was made of his batting last summer, and while he impressed in a couple of knocks at 8, to ask him to open is massively different. While he batted well against South Africa, I don't anticipate him batting any higher than 8 for quite some time yet.

I like Vaughan and still believe he can do a job this coming summer for England, but would be unsure of picking him without any real form or runs at the start of the season. It would send out the same message as continuing with Bell, that it is a cosy England set-up, players don't need form or runs to establish a place in the top 6, and regardless of performances outside the Test batting line-up, nobody else is really going to get a look in. I am including Vaughan still as part of that so called cosy set-up.