England players and selection discussion thread

[honestbharani]

Two of England's top seven need to bowl a minimum of ten overs per innings between them. If Curran is at seven then you need some reliable bowling elsewhere. Not sure about Bethell or even Brook as three format players tbh.

I don't mind the idea of Billings and Curran at 6-7 with five solid batters, one of whom must be able to bowl.

You already got that one in Root and maybe if you play Bethell at 4, then him as well.

Brook
Duckett
Root
Bethell
Buttler
Billings
Curran
Archer
Rashid
Mahmood
3rd seamer/2nd spinner depending on pitch

 

[Chin Music]

I still think we are overselling Curran's likely bowling benefit. I was really down on him after the last world cup and was surprised that he kept getting games in ODIs until last winter.

 

[kevinw]

I wouldn't expect Curran to bowl ten overs per game, but to share the ten with another. Though it's a good option that he can bowl out. It depends whether you rate him as a number seven with the bat really.

 

[Chin Music]

I wouldn't expect Curran to bowl ten overs per game, but to share the ten with another. Though it's a good option that he can bowl out. It depends whether you rate him as a number seven with the bat really.

I'm open minded that he could be a 7 but as I say, I have far less of a high opinion of his bowling than some do on here.

 

[wpdavid]

I'm surprised to see the Billings love on these pages. Is he actually good enough to be near the side? And at 33, is he likely to get any better now?

And surely Rashid's finished now.

 

[kevinw]

I'm surprised to see the Billings love on these pages. Is he actually good enough to be near the side? And at 33, is he likely to get any better now?

And surely Rashid's finished now.

We've had a captain out of his depth in a kid's swimming pool. I don't see Brook being any better. Billings is genuinely a good captain and probably no worse an ODI bat than Salt.

 

[Durham Fan]

Duckett
Bethell
Root
Brook
Smith
Buttler
Curran (not his biggest fan but need a batting all rounder)
Hartley
Archer
Carse
Potts

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

I'm surprised to see the Billings love on these pages. Is he actually good enough to be near the side? And at 33, is he likely to get any better now?

And surely Rashid's finished now.

As Kevinw alludes to above, all the Billings talk I've seen is from people lobbying for his captaincy. I don't think it's very likely given his age, general averageness at international level, and 40% of the current squad already being wicketkeepers. But you never know.

Rashid will play until his arm literally falls off his shoulder. Not a moment sooner.

 

[Blenkinsop]

England selectors have really stuffed up their all-rounder options in recent years. They refused to pick Dawson despite him being head and shoulders above anyone else in the domestic game. They treated David Willey as a specialist bowler although he is actually a better bat than Sam Curran and could easily have batted seven or eight, or perhaps even opened at a pinch. And they keep ignoring the fact that Livingston is a novelty bowler who gets away with it in T20 but gets found out in 50 over cricket, and doesn't have the gears or experience to bat in the middle order.

I'm honestly not sure who is left to try out. Is Lewis Gregory too old? George Hill maybe?

 

[mackembhoy]

England selectors have really stuffed up their all-rounder options in recent years. They refused to pick Dawson despite him being head and shoulders above anyone else in the domestic game. They treated David Willey as a specialist bowler although he is actually a better bat than Sam Curran and could easily have batted seven or eight, or perhaps even opened at a pinch. And they keep ignoring the fact that Livingston is a novelty bowler who gets away with it in T20 but gets found out in 50 over cricket, and doesn't have the gears or experience to bat in the middle order.

I'm honestly not sure who is left to try out. Is Lewis Gregory too old? George Hill maybe?

But Dawson averaged over 90 with the ball in 2022 in both formats he played for England. Harshly treated in the not getting further test caps no doubt.

Willey only had himself to blame as far as his all rounder status by using his muscles instead of his brains. See Livingstone repeating the same waste of batting career Willey had for England at the moment. He was harshly turfed out twice when his bowling is more than good enough. Granted the first time Archer did the business, the second time was a joke for sure. Key grubby hands all over that.

Gregory scores 77 and 40 batting at 7 and takes 4/97 opening the bowling. Never to be seen again is shameful. Just like their treatment of Hain.

They've just been obsessed with pace and hitting the ball hard. Rather than picking the best sides in both white ball formats.

 

[Hungry Llama]

Who do you leave out for Hain and Billings who seem to be the players most pundits are suggesting to be added,
Brook? Livings? Buttler? Smith? The bowling also needs an overhaul. For some time now, our quicks have been easy to
hit and rashid is our only effective spinner.

 

[Blenkinsop]

Who do you leave out for Hain and Billings who seem to be the players most pundits are suggesting to be added?

Livingston and Salt. Maybe move either Buttler or Brook up to open, if Hain and Billings don't want to. (Personally I'm a bit unconvinced about the Billings idea.)

The bowling is a bigger problem, I have no idea where we're going to find a replacement for Rashid.

 

[kevinw]

Livingston and Salt. Maybe move either Buttler or Brook up to open, if Hain and Billings don't want to. (Personally I'm a bit unconvinced about the Billings idea.)

The bowling is a bigger problem, I have no idea where we're going to find a replacement for Rashid.

Smith shouldn't be in the ODI team. Duckett, Hain, Root, Brook and Buttler is a handy top five. A mixture of solidity and explosiveness. Not sure who opens there, probably Hain tbh. If you don't want Billings that's fine (given Root is the only bowler in that top five) but not sure who captains from this top five. It probably will be Brook by process of elimination.

With bowling, I heard talk of Archer being considered for tests!! Archer, Mahmood and Turner should rotate as two right arm fasts, then we need Topley back asap. I'd rather Rehan was selected for tests only, not the short form, so once Rashid calls it a day, we need some alternatives.

 

[Blenkinsop]

Is there a reason to think that Mahmood and Turner will be any better than Carse, JOverton or Atkinson? They all seem much of a muchness to me and the latter two probably the handiest with the bat. If Topley can't stay fit then I'd like to see someone like Payne given a go.

 

[Molehill]

Smith shouldn't be in the ODI team. Duckett, Hain, Root, Brook and Buttler is a handy top five. A mixture of solidity and explosiveness. Not sure who opens there, probably Hain tbh. If you don't want Billings that's fine (given Root is the only bowler in that top five) but not sure who captains from this top five. It probably will be Brook by process of elimination.

With bowling, I heard talk of Archer being considered for tests!! Archer, Mahmood and Turner should rotate as two right arm fasts, then we need Topley back asap. I'd rather Rehan was selected for tests only, not the short form, so once Rashid calls it a day, we need some alternatives.

Hain is not an opener, if you're going to play him, stick him at 4. An alternative opener could be Jacks, he's basically like Salt but can bowl handy off spin too. He does at least play FC Cricket too so could still strengthen his batting skills (which Salt seems incapable of doing).

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

I have no idea where we're going to find a replacement for Rashid.

I'd rather Rehan was selected for tests only, not the short form, so once Rashid calls it a day, we need some alternatives.

Rehan can be our next white ball spinner and his brother can take Tests.

 

[Starfighter]

Whenever I've seen Rehan bowl I've though that, long term, his style is more suited to white ball. He's the kind of player I'd be jumping at to give opportunities.

 

[kevinw]

Is there a reason to think that Mahmood and Turner will be any better than Carse, JOverton or Atkinson? They all seem much of a muchness to me and the latter two probably the handiest with the bat. If Topley can't stay fit then I'd like to see someone like Payne given a go.

I want Carse and Atkinson to play tests and to be bowling fast, so reduce their workload as much as possible. Joverton will never be a test cricketer so could play white ball, sure.

 

[kevinw]

Hain is not an opener, if you're going to play him, stick him at 4. An alternative opener could be Jacks, he's basically like Salt but can bowl handy off spin too. He does at least play FC Cricket too so could still strengthen his batting skills (which Salt seems incapable of doing).

Am fine with Root and Hain at 3/4, which means Brook and Buttler (keeping) at 5/6. Your second opener needs to bowl a bit. Not sure about Jacks, but it's a reasonable shout.

 

[wpdavid]

Am fine with Root and Hain at 3/4, which means Brook and Buttler (keeping) at 5/6. Your second opener needs to bowl a bit. Not sure about Jacks, but it's a reasonable shout.

I wonder how long Joe will be interested in turning out for our 50 over side.