England 17-man squad

[four_or_six]

So, England are naming a 17-man squad at the weekend. And then there is going to be a warm up as if we're on tour, a three day match against Warwickshire before the first test.

I don't remember something like this ever happening before. What do people think of it as an idea?

 

[GIMH]

It's a good idea given the way this summer has been fragmented by the T20. 17-man squad also tells us who is in contention, though most summers if they did that they'd only wind up picking someone from outside it soon enough anyway

 

[Prince EWS]

Given England's performances at home compared to those away in recent times, I thought the last thing they'd want to do would be recreating the effects of a typical tour.

Seriously though, I don't think the warmup is a bad idea as such - after so much Twenty20 for about half the team, they could probably use a proper game to get themselves readjusted. This is, of course, providing they use it as an actual warmup and not as a selection trial.

I don't really see the point of a 17-man squad though, myself.

 

[four_or_six]

Yeah, that was kind of my thoughts. The warm-up is fine. But why have a 17-man squad? I don't see the point in taking a reserve batsman and a reserve keeper up there. Surely 13-man with a couple of spare bowlers is enough. Why start getting into things like who our reserve keeper is?

 

[four_or_six]

Just thought I'd have a go at who the 17 might be:

Strauss
Cook
Bopara
Pietersen
Collingwood
Bell
Prior
Ambrose/Davies/Foster/Read/Geraint Jones
Flintoff
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Sidebottom
Onions
Rashid
Panesar
Bresnann

I've probably missed out a quick bowler, can't think who though.

 

[GIMH]

Harmison?

 

[Prince EWS]

Harmison?

Yeah I think Harmison or possibly even Vaughan will be in the 17 ahead of either Panesar or Rashid.

It should be Gary Pratt though.

 

[four_or_six]

Harmison?

Oops yeah, instead of Bresnan or Panesar, then. Though tbh, Harmison is just another reason not to have a 17-man squad.

 

[aussie]

Just thought I'd have a go at who the 17 might be:

Strauss
Cook
Bopara
Pietersen
Collingwood
Bell
Prior
Ambrose/Davies/Foster/Read/Geraint Jones
Flintoff
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Sidebottom
Onions
Rashid
Panesar
Bresnann

I've probably missed out a quick bowler, can't think who though.

I think its pretty safe Ambrose will be the second keeper if one is chosen. Given that Freddie's batting aint up to scratch ATM & if Prior or Freddie (most likely) to be injured during the Ashes again.

If 6 pure bats then would have to play, Foster aint a test match number 7 & Davies aint ready for test as yet.

No way should Jones & Read be even thought off either.

 

[aussie]

Harmison?

Unfortunately i can see it already. Harmo has a good season for Durham - Freddie misses the Oval test - Harmo plays, rocks AUS with pace & bounce, and is picked to tour SA.

 

[four_or_six]

Unfortunately i can see it already. Harmo has a good season for Durham - Freddie misses the Oval test - Harmo plays, rocks AUS with pace & bounce, and is picked to tour SA.

Do we care if he rocks Australia first?

 

[four_or_six]

I think its pretty safe Ambrose will be the second keeper if one is chosen. Given that Freddie's batting aint up to scratch ATM & if Prior or Freddie (most likely) to be injured during the Ashes again.

If 6 pure bats then would have to play, Foster aint a test match number 7 & Davies aint ready for test as yet.

No way should Jones & Read be even thought off either.

Would like to officially state that in no way was I advocating Geraint Jones for the test team. I was just pissing about.

 

[superkingdave]

Yeah last test XI plus Flintoff, Panesar & Rashid, Bell, Ambrose/Foster & Sidebottom. Hopefully they won't go back to Harmison.

 

[Richard]

17-man squad for a home series - WTF?

Certainly hasn't ever happened before in my memory, and presumably ever. Completely pointless gesture, unless they're thinking about trying to dissuade anyone from signing for some random venture or other.

At home you pick Test by Test, simple as that.

I don't, thus, care much about who's in the 17, but yeah, it's safe to say Geraint Jones will and should never play for England again bar about 7 or 8 wicketkeepers being injured. Read, well, he should never play Tests again, though it seems with the ICL gone his international days are no longer certified over for good.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Seems a bit pointless to me. Would've thought this was what the central and incremental contracts covered.

No upside I can see. Only stands to dishearten those players who aren't named. Think Dav's list is pretty close, although really can't see Foster coming into contention with his batting unless we play six specialist batsmen and Flintoff.

&, not advocating a recall for either, but Geraint has a couple of FC tons this year & Harmy's in the wickets once more...

 

[FBU]

I think Vaughan will be in the 17. So far he is on 21*. I think 30 runs should get him into the squad.

The 11 who played in the last Test plus Flintoff, Vaughan, Bell, Rashid, Harmison , Panesar I was reading we might play 3 spinners in the 1st Test. I doubt there will be any change of personnel in the batting department so when we lose a match expect the bowling to change even if the batsmen are culpable.

I wonder how many players they will use through all 5 Tests.

01 - 17
02/03 - 16
05 - 12
06/07 -14

 

[BoyBrumby]

Could see Bresnan missing out, myself. Been in very ordinary form for Yorks with the ball and was effectively a passenger until the Windies' 2nd innings of the 2nd test. Might be room for Mick then, I suppose.

 

[Richard]

Picking Vaughan in the 17 could only be for the usual nonsensical "his presence may terrify the Aussies" stuff. He has played 8 innings this season and averages 19.57. I'm as disappointed about this as the next man, as I was hoping he'd go well and force his way back in. But he hasn't, so he shouldn't be back in.

Unless, of course, he can score 150 today.

 

[superkingdave]

And he's out for 43 (to Whelan). No thank you Mr Vaughan

 

[King Pietersen]

I'd go for:

Andrew Strauss *
Alastair Cook
Ravi Bopara
Kevin Pietersen
Paul Collingwood
Matthew Prior +
Andrew Flintoff
Stuart Broad
Graeme Swann
Ryan Sidebottom
James Anderson

Graham Onions
Tim Ambrose/Steven Davies
Samit Patel
Ian Bell
Adil Rashid
Stephen Harmison (has decent enough figures in FC games this year)