***Official*** England in Sri Lanka 2014

[Pothas]

I just want Billings and Buttler to play together. We can still be rubbish and lose I just want to see it.

 

[brockley]

Joe Root for Captain,just my opinion,drop Cook and Morgan otherwise in denial.

 

[Pothas]

Well Root should hardly be guaranteed a spot in the side either.

 

[Furball]

What on earth does James Taylor have to do to get a run in the side, and who on earth thought that playing Harry Gurney was a good idea?

 

[Pothas]

Can we just have this at the World Cup please?

Hales
Ali
Trott
Taylor
Bopara
Buttler
Billings
Broad
Tredwell
Anderson
Finn

Can draw lots for who can be captain, or just give it to Broad I suppose.

 

[Goughy]

Can we just have this at the World Cup please?

Hales
Ali
Trott
Taylor
Bopara
Buttler
Billings
Broad
Tredwell
Anderson
Finn

Can draw lots for who can be captain, or just give it to Broad I suppose.

Cant argue too much with that team. Just please dont have Broad as captain

 

[Cabinet96]

Realistically, Broad and Anderson are the only senior players who you probably couldn't mount a strong argument should be dropped.

 

[grecian]

Realistically, Broad and Anderson are the only senior players who you probably couldn't mount a strong argument should be dropped.

Captain Ravi, Gotta happen.

 

[FBU]

You look at the stats for the this year or so and it's all much of a muchness for the bats. Batting records | One-Day Internationals | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPN Cricinfo. Nearly all are just above or below the 30 average mark. That's just poor all round. You need your experienced players Cook, Bell, Bopara, Morgan putting in the good performances but they average 29,34, 29,28 respectively. Compare that to their average since the last wc - 39,39,35,37 That's hardly great although Morgan and Bopara's figures are helped by their strike rates of 91 and 86 respectively ++ Bopara's bowling.


It's all compounded by the fact that the bowling reserves when the first choice lineup aren't there (which is nearly the whole time) is just awful.

Compare those stats to when we got to number 1 in 2012.
Batting records | One-Day Internationals | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPN Cricinfo
At least Morgan was our finisher. Not out in half of his innings.

 

[Cabinet96]

Those 2012 figures with Buttler would've made us contenders.

 

[Contra]

Cook's continued selection is good news for all other ODI teams. Seriously the guy simply doesn't have the range of shots required for limited overs cricket, and even at his best he's not going to be that good. At least when India pick Rohit Sharma you know that if he gets it right he can make the big score.

 

[Viscount Tom]

He's got all the leadership ability of Marshal Graziani, I know some people might not want Broad but at least he'd be different and is worth his place in the side.

 

[weldone]

I'm liking Mendis. SL should pay special attention to bowl out Mendis during middle overs (15-40). He's not good in pressure situations. He needs care. I personally think that he can be a better option than Herath in the WC.

 

[OverratedSanity]

I'm liking Mendis. SL should pay special attention to bowl out Mendis during middle overs (15-40). He's not good in pressure situations. He needs care. I personally think that he can be a better option than Herath in the WC.

Pray tell why.

 

[weldone]

because he's a better ODI bowler

I know he hasn't done very well outside SC in the limited opportunities he got, but I think he deserves more chances.

 

[cnerd123]

Hmm. Mendis hasn't been too bad actually.

Bowling records | One-Day Internationals | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPN Cricinfo

Quick query shows he's averaging 20.5 in the last year with an econ of 5.3, vs. Herath who is averaging 22.2 with an econ of 4.38.

 

[weldone]

Yea, as I said he's a good option but strictly in the middle overs. SL needs to find a genuinely good death bowler in any case. Is there a chance Malinga can be fit for the WC?

 

[YorksLanka]

He is ok but tends to go for quite a few ,quite often..I would always rather have Herath who may not always get wickets BUT usually bowls very economically which IMO is more important in ODI cricket..

 

[Prince EWS]

I think Mendis is just too straight for Australian wickets; his little variations will be almost inconsequential. Bowling finger spin in Australia is all about bounce, accuracy and control of flight, which Mendis has none of. I think you could make a case for Mendis being as good or even better than Herath as a one day bowler but in Australia and New Zealand I think he's just nerfed too much for the case to exist anymore.

 

[YorksLanka]

Yes true, possibly to quick as a spinner there too..