England announce Zimbabwe Squad

[Richard]

Troughton, Kabir and Rikki were hardly hunch calls.

Troughton and Clarke should never have been selected based on their List-A records.

 

[Richard]

+ Sidebottom, Dawson, Batty.

Somehow managed to miss Sidebottom, was so excited at getting onto Kirtley and Snape.
Dawson was selected in Tests - I was doing ODIs only.
Batty, meanwhile, had earnt his selection IMO.

 

[a massive zebra]

Somehow managed to miss Sidebottom, was so excited at getting onto Kirtley and Snape.
Dawson was selected in Tests - I was doing ODIs only.
Batty, meanwhile, had earnt his selection IMO.

If Batty earned his place then Kirtley most definitely did.

 

[Richard]

Look at Batty's last 3 seasons.
Look at Kirtley's 2001, 2002 and 2003!

 

[marc71178]

Would be a classic example, yet again, of a player being picked for ODIs who has a good First-Class record and a (in this case very, very, very) poor List-A-OD one.

Because it's impossible for someone just to have the ability at International level in spite of domestic performances isn't it?

Strauss I seem to remember was criticised as a selection when it was made, but doesn't look like a bad call.

 

[Richard]

No, it's not impossible, but it is far more unlikely than many seem to realise.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Troughton and Clarke should never have been selected based on their List-A records.

It's common practice to introduce players at ODI level with the intention of bringing them into Tests.

 

[Richard]

Oh, it certainly is, but it's a terrible practice.
The typical result:
A player with promise in the First-Class game, but thus-far mediocre one-day pedigree, comes into the England ODI side. He looks quite good in the odd stroke here and there, but due to boundary-reliance (a common trait in young First-Class-cricket specialists) has exactly the same problems as at the domestic level - magnified 100 times, of course.
The trouble is, those moments of looking good followed by soft strokes give the misleading impression of a "talented player without the temperament needed for international cricket" when the simple truth is, the error was in blurring the two game-forms.
As a result, Owais Shah, Jamie Troughton, Vikram Solanki and some others get written-off as no-hopers, and are never considered for Test-selection while inferior candidates, who have "shown the neccessary mental toughness" are preferred.
I mean, me, I'd prefer see any of the three above, plus Ian Bell, go to South Africa than Paul Collingwood.

 

[Craig]

Wait a minute.

Kabir has played 1 Test, took 5 wickets, and is yet to bowl in an ODI. Can't judge.

Since when have you been a Kabir Ali backer?

Solanki, Batty and Troughton demanded selection - not a hunch.

In 1999 Solanki averaged 40.57 in all first class cricket, and he averaged 30.23 and 16.50 in the National League and Natwest Trophy (List A). in 2003 where he got recalled he averaged 31.28 and 26.54 in all FC cricket. This is with the bat.

James Troughton averaged 20.70 in 2003 in List A and over 41 in FC cricket. Are you going off FC form or were you over there and watched them play or you have taken this stance so it is the usual thing that I have to be wrong 100% of the time? It is no use posting this since you won't respond as per usual.

And as for Gareth Batty in 2002 his all List A bowling figures (presumably this what got him selected for England in 02/03) he averaged 40.13 and a strike rate of 46.0 and an rpo of 5.23 an over. With the bat he averaged 17.25.

Ok you have a response to this? But I am not holding my breath out for one though.

 

[Craig]

It's common practice to introduce players at ODI level with the intention of bringing them into Tests.

So if they fail in that form of the game even though they are better off in the longer game they are then deemed as no-hopers?

 

[marc71178]

No, but an ODI is far less important than a Test (outside the 2 global Tournaments), so it is an easier introduction.

 

[biased indian]

No, but an ODI is far less important than a Test (outside the 2 global Tournaments), so it is an easier introduction.

a True English cricket supporter

 

[marc71178]

What do you mean by that?

 

[Langeveldt]

What do you mean by that?

He means that you, like a lot of England fans tend to shun ODI's...

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

So if they fail in that form of the game even though they are better off in the longer game they are then deemed as no-hopers?

Sadly that's the way it tends to go and I don't agree with it. Also it sometimes ruins a young, inexperienced player as the ODI mentality becomes engrained in him (see Ricardo Powell). On the other hand, a player may impress so greatly in ODIs that he's an undeniable callup to Tests where he impresses more (see Dwayne Bravo).

 

[chris.hinton]

Troughton is Average anyway

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Troughton is Average anyway

If only he were an Ali...

 

[Magrat Garlick]

If only he were an Ali...

Or not from Warwickshire...

 

[chris.hinton]

Well there you go

 

[marc71178]

Troughton is Average anyway

His average of 33 this summer was a bit disappointing, but his career average of 42.52 isn't that bad.