England Provisional and final World Cup Squads

[GIMH]

What a waste of talent.

 

[fredfertang]

but is it?

I can see the point of principle at stake, that coaches are entitled to set a minimum standard of fitness, but he won't bowl slow left arm or bat any better just because he sheds a stone or two - not convinced it would materially improve his fielding either.

 

[Howe_zat]

but is it?

I can see the point of principle at stake, that coaches are entitled to set a minimum standard of fitness, but he won't bowl slow left arm or bat any better just because he sheds a stone or two - not convinced it would materially improve his fielding either.

Well, it would improve his fielding at least a bit, not to mention keeping fit for long tours, back to back matches and the like. Perfectly reasonable to expect a standard of fitness.

I think mostly it's one of attitude, and Samit's is just rotten. They've said that he can't be in the side unless he's fit, and if Samit can't be arsed to shed a bit of weight to get into the national side then his priorites are clearly elsewhere.

He clearly cares more about saving some effort to work on his fitness then actually playing international cricket, which given how many people would give thier right leg for a place is unnacceptable.

If they had said to him "you can't be in the side until you work on your technique" or something, and him refusing to improve because he's fine with how he is, then we'd all be incensed.

 

[fredfertang]

Well, it would improve his fielding at least a bit, not to mention keeping fit for long tours, back to back matches and the like. Perfectly reasonable to expect a standard of fitness.

I think mostly it's one of attitude, and Samit's is just rotten. They've said that he can't be in the side unless he's fit, and if Samit can't be arsed to shed a bit of weight to get into the national side then his priorites are clearly elsewhere.

He clearly cares more about saving some effort to work on his fitness then actually playing international cricket, which given how many people would give thier right leg for a place is unnacceptable.

If they had said to him "you can't be in the side until you work on your technique" or something, and him refusing to improve because he's fine with how he is, then we'd all be incensed.

Entirely agree with the bolded parts, but still not convinced that athletic fitness is that important - of course I've probably listened to too much of the likes of Fred Trueman declaring that he didn't bowl at the top for the best part of 20 years, injury free, by training, but I can't believe there's no merit in what he used to say ad nauseum (and he was a fine fielder as well) - but then again on the other hand losing weight and the transformation of Andrew Flintoff are unlikely to be coincidental, nor the injuries I suppose

 

[BoyBrumby]

I think fitness for fitness' sake can be overrated, but equally being fit for the task is important. Cooky's marathon shift in the Ashes wouldn't have been possible without a pretty decent fitness base.

Personally I'm sure the two Andys couldn't care less what shape Sammy is (as the article states, neither Yards nor Tredders is exactly a perfect physical specimen and we can probably add Tiny Tim to the list too) but not to have even a basic level of fitness is shocking. I've seen Patel play some lengthy innings and he is palpably blowing out of his arse as they progress.

 

[pskov]

Let's say Patel was picked - could he handle 50 overs in the field in the subcontinental heat then England bat and are 3 down quickly so he has to bat 40 overs, whilst keeping the runrate up with good running between the wickets? And then go and do it again in 3 days time? That's the issue imho, not necessarily that having him fitter would make him a better player, though it certainly wouldn't hurt.

 

[BoyBrumby]

So a resounding success for our selectors so far:

Prior opening - fail

Tredwell - hack. Game, but a hack

Yardy - ditto. Slow medium left darts that seem to have been genetically engineered to go at 6-7 RPO are a boon in T20, but equate to big scores in ODIs.

Wright - why? Not even deemed worthy of a game with Collingwood out of nick and Broad & Anderson back in blighty.

Broad, Bresnan & Swann - crocked

Tremlett - not in squad, but takes 3/22 with an ER of 2.35 from 9.2 overs

 

[Woodster]

On the Patel issue, his fitness looking at him certainly needs to be improved, I'm sure there not suggesting a Peter Andre six-pack is necessary, but a general standard of fitness is essential, he clearly doesn't have it and the worse thing is, he can't be arsed to do so.

That's the main thing for me, it's his attitude and seeming unwillingness to work hard. I myself, and I'm sure plenty of others, are disgusted that a man that has the talent and opportunity to represent England, is simply tossing away the chance because he can't be bothered to do the hard yards and show to the England management that he wants it. It's that attitude and mental mindset of not willing to dig in and make sacrifices that means he will never, correctly so imo, be seen in an England shirt until he changes.

 

[Woodster]

So a resounding success for our selectors so far:

Prior opening - fail

Tredwell - hack. Game, but a hack

Yardy - ditto. Slow medium left darts that seem to have been genetically engineered to go at 6-7 RPO are a boon in T20, but equate to big scores in ODIs.

Wright - why? Not even deemed worthy of a game with Collingwood out of nick and Broad & Anderson back in blighty.

Broad, Bresnan & Swann - crocked

Tremlett - not in squad, but takes 3/22 with an ER of 2.35 from 9.2 overs

Tbf, England have to picking a side with the World Cup at the front of their mind, so giving players such as Yardy and Tredwell game time makes sense if they are to play a bigger part on pitches that should assist their bowling in the WC, despite the Aussie pitches not offering them much.

Prior got a decent ball in the last ODI. He can be judged more fairly at the end of the series.

The Wright and Tremlett issues are at this moment in time, are fair enough.

 

[BoyBrumby]

So a resounding success for our selectors so far:

Prior opening - fail

Tredwell - hack. Game, but a hack

Yardy - ditto. Slow medium left darts that seem to have been genetically engineered to go at 6-7 RPO are a boon in T20, but equate to big scores in ODIs.

Wright - why? Not even deemed worthy of a game with Collingwood out of nick and Broad & Anderson back in blighty.

Broad, Bresnan & Swann - crocked

Tremlett - not in squad, but takes 3/22 with an ER of 2.35 from 9.2 overs

In addendum:

Collingwood - Shot. Been good, isn't anymore.

Pietersen - Also crocked.

Also now Tredwell not even deemed worthy of playing at the SCG, FFS with Swann injured.

To summerize:

 

[Furball]

In addendum:

Collingwood - Shot. Been good, isn't anymore.

Pietersen - Also crocked.

Also now Tredwell not even deemed worthy of playing at the SCG, FFS with Swann injured.

To summerize:

Meh, aside from deciding that opening with Prior is a good idea there's not a lot the selectors can do. The raw talent just isn't there.

 

[Prince EWS]

Meh, aside from deciding that opening with Prior is a good idea there's not a lot the selectors can do. The raw talent just isn't there.

Brumby makes a good point about Tredwell though. If he's not selected ahead of Woakes and Tremlett even when Swann is injured, why he's in the squad ahead of them?

 

[BoyBrumby]

Meh, aside from deciding that opening with Prior is a good idea there's not a lot the selectors can do. The raw talent just isn't there.

If you're suggesting picking Wright in the XV is because we don't have better batting and/or bowling options then I'm afraid we part company.

Even if we exclude Bopara there's chaps like Taylor (List A ave of 46 with SR of 80), Buttler (ave of all but 50 with SR of 150 & who keeps wicket) & Nick Compton (39/80 SR).

 

[vic_orthdox]

Don't understand the distaste for Davies that seems to have occurred very quickly. Although from what I hear Prior is a very popular man around the English camp. But England have had very few players over their time who manage to score at a SR of 100, let alone someone who does it on average every time they bat!

 

[Furball]

Brumby makes a good point about Tredwell though. If he's not selected ahead of Woakes and Tremlett even when Swann is injured, why he's in the squad ahead of them?

Because you need spinners in India!!!!1111

Brumby, agree re: Wright, but I don't consider him as he's a waste of space.

 

[Furball]

Don't understand the distaste for Davies that seems to have occurred very quickly. Although from what I hear Prior is a very popular man around the English camp. But England have had very few players over their time who manage to score at a SR of 100, let alone someone who does it on average every time they bat!

I can understand the selection of Prior over Davies as a wicketkeeper.

It's the complete dumping of Davies altogether that's baffling - the bloke's probably the best LO bat in the country (certainly the best opener) - if you don't want him keeping, play him as a specialist bat ffs.

 

[superkingdave]

Its funny that Prior was originally selected over better keepers for his batting (albeit in tests) but is now being selected ahead of a much better batsman because of his keeping (and nepotism)

 

[Howe_zat]

Oh God, the Aussies are advising us on selection.

I was enjoying it being the other way round for a change...

This is horrible. My smug period needed to last much longer. If I'd known this would happen I'd have done more with it.

 

[Jacknife]

Even though it's obvious Prior is no opener, I have not been sold on Davies at all. I think in nearly all the games he's played he's been dropped on single figures. If catches have been held in this series and against Pakistan, he would have a terrible start to his England career. He seems to play too many shots in the air, which isn't a bad thing for a opener, as long as you can place the ball, but Davies does tend to hit them to fielders. Hopefully he'll get a chance to develop, but I'm much happier with Prior being behind the stumps, especially in the sub continent, where Davies could have found it very tricky behind the stumps.He has to come in down the order, basically where he plays in Tests and hopefully against the older ball his style of batting, will prove more successful than it was when he last payed there.
Like most on here,I cannot see why Wright is still getting these chances, especially when Bopara, has proved he can take wickets and score quickly down the order when needed and is much more likely to do so if England needed him.
Hopefully if we can get a fully fit team out on the field and the batsmen fire, we should do alright, all the teams have areas of weakness, so it's very open this time.
After the WC, it is essential we start blooding in some younger batsmen, like Taylor and Butler and start getting them around the squad.

 

[superkingdave]

Matt Prior = Armpit Rot?

Everyone has their fingers crossed he won't be as **** as he has been for his first 50 or so ODIs because Australia have fed him a lot of gash to his strengths in the test series.