England ODI Team

[ozone]

Although obviously not an original thread, it seems appropriate to do this now Strauss has been announced as Captain for the WI games. What should the England ODI side be? Should they be working towards the next WC or should they be concentrating more on current series? Is there anyone not currently in the squad who should be?

For me, if Strauss is to play, he has to open as there are no other specialist openers staking a claim to the spot and otherwise, I would find it hard to fit him into the side. So my side would be:
Strauss
Prior
Shah
Pietersen
Collingwood
Flintoff
Patel
Swann
Broad
Anderson
Sidebottom

Probably forgotten someone, but if I recall the squad correctly, that would mean Bell, Bopara, Mascarenhas, Harmison and Davies would miss out.

 

[Richard]

...............

Modz mergz plz?

However, yes, Strauss is now obviously going to come into the ODI side, unfortunately. If he plays, I'd prefer it to be as an opener than a #4, purely because there are others who could do a job at #4 and there aren't who could as openers.

I guess Prior is going to get yet another chance - hopefully this time he won't be dropped down the order mid-series thus leading to more inconclusive results. I thought the whole point of Prior playing was that he was supposed to be good at opening the batting (which he isn't, emphatically). If that's the idea, it needs to be tested and then discarded, not fudged and blurred around like it was in India.

Either way, looking at the squad for West Indies now Strauss has been added, my bet'd be something along the lines of:
Strauss
Prior(\Davies?)
Bell
Pietersen
Collingwood
Shah \ Flintoff
Flintoff \ Shah
Swann(\Patel)
Broad
Anderson \ Harmison
Sidebottom

But there's just no way of telling, and the Test series could yet have a profound impact (much as it shouldn't).

 

[GIMH]

Give Strauss the Luke Wright role, batting down at 8 or whatever, Wright didn't bat or bowl much in the summer, at least Strauss would be a specialist captain

 

[Goughy]

Give Strauss the Luke Wright role, batting down at 8 or whatever, Wright didn't bat or bowl much in the summer, at least Strauss would be a specialist captain

I could see how that would be doable. Apart from the fact, IMO, that Strauss isnt a bad OD player. Certainly as viable as other opening options.

He doesnt have a bad record and has been part of a successful England team in the past.

Ive long thought that he should be part of the set up. When there is no exceptional OD player you pick the quality cricketer. Strauss >>>>> random gamble on a county hack.

I think this is a good thing.

 

[GIMH]

Yeah, in seriousness, he's good an opening option as Bell, Cook etc

 

[Jigga988]

If Strauss is opening surely it is worth giving a punt with Davies opening with him, at least he'll have some experience at the other end, it's pretty evident that Prior doesn't really have a roll in the OD team so why not just give Davies a go against what is a pretty pathetic OD side in the Windies.

 

[Jigga988]

Yeah, in seriousness, he's good an opening option as Bell, Cook etc

Personally liked the idea of Bopara opening but I suppose there is no room for him now, don't think there's any room for Patel either, no scence putting Patel in to bat at 8. Still the team is probobly an improvement from the team against India.

 

[Richard]

If Strauss is opening surely it is worth giving a punt with Davies opening with him, at least he'll have some experience at the other end, it's pretty evident that Prior doesn't really have a roll in the OD team so why not just give Davies a go against what is a pretty pathetic OD side in the Windies.

Not terribly keen on the idea of Davies opening TBH, would much prefer him at four or five, but the trouble is that the middle-order is packed.

Also, I hope Prior gets one more series. One more series and hopefully that'll be it - we won't see him in ODIs again. The very last thing we need is a situation where he hasn't been a conclusive failure so could return at any given time without notice.

 

[zaremba]

A little prediction - Strauss won't be as bad as most people think in the ODIs in the West Indies, and he will score at least one century.

 

[Goughy]

If Strauss is opening surely it is worth giving a punt with Davies opening with him, at least he'll have some experience at the other end, it's pretty evident that Prior doesn't really have a roll in the OD team so why not just give Davies a go against what is a pretty pathetic OD side in the Windies.

The Prior experiment has been a failure so far. Until checking I didnt realise what a good season Davies had last year. Av 50+ with SR 110+ with multiple hundreds in 2008 is pretty impressive. And he does open.

Ok, why not? Lets go for it

 

[Jigga988]

Not terribly keen on the idea of Davies opening TBH, would much prefer him at four or five, but the trouble is that the middle-order is packed.

Also, I hope Prior gets one more series. One more series and hopefully that'll be it - we won't see him in ODIs again. The very last thing we need is a situation where he hasn't been a conclusive failure so could return at any given time without notice.

He usually just clings on to his place though, gets the odd decent 60 and then some run a ball thirties or twenties and keeps his spot, frustrating TBH.

 

[GIMH]

Not terribly keen on the idea of Davies opening TBH, would much prefer him at four or five, but the trouble is that the middle-order is packed.

Also, I hope Prior gets one more series. One more series and hopefully that'll be it - we won't see him in ODIs again. The very last thing we need is a situation where he hasn't been a conclusive failure so could return at any given time without notice.

That's where he plays OD cricket though?

 

[GIMH]

The Prior experiment has been a failure so far. Until checking I didnt realise what a good season Davies had last year. Av 50+ with SR 110+ with multiple hundreds in 2008 is pretty impressive. And he does open.

Ok, why not? Lets go for it

Did you watch him bat at all? I was impressed by what I saw last season.

 

[Richard]

A little prediction - Strauss won't be as bad as most people think in the ODIs in the West Indies, and he will score at least one century.

Given that Strauss has so far managed 1 ODI century in a genuine ODI (admittedly, against West Indies), I'd be more than happy to do the old avatar bet on that one.

Seriously, Strauss has played 68 ODIs (1 DNB) and averages 28.62. In his 31 as an opener, he averages 25.16 (31.66 in his last 12 there); in his 36 as a middle-order batsman 31.87 (and 22.95 in his last 26 there).

 

[GIMH]

Played a decent innings in one of his only overseas ODIs as skipper IIRC, 80-odd V India I think

 

[Richard]

That's where he plays OD cricket though?

Don't'yo Rodgie me. And TBH, he's batted there for a whole 1 season.

Davies opening in ODIs just has Vikram Solanki written all over it. Worcestershire made the mistake of opening with him despite the fact he had precious little to recommend him to the role, so let's get him opening in ODIs.

 

[Richard]

Played a decent innings in one of his only overseas ODIs as skipper IIRC, 80-odd V India I think

74 retired hurt TBH. And I don't think it was really much more than coincidence that it was overseas or as captain really. Either way, there haven't been many and I don't expect that to change.

 

[zaremba]

Given that Strauss has so far managed 1 ODI century in a genuine ODI (admittedly, against West Indies), I'd be more than happy to do the old avatar bet on that one.

Seriously, Strauss has played 68 ODIs (1 DNB) and averages 28.62. In his 31 as an opener, he averages 25.16 (31.66 in his last 12 there); in his 36 as a middle-order batsman 31.87 (and 22.95 in his last 26 there).

Betting is for fools. Particularly if it means giving up your supercool Maurice Tate avatar in the admittedly unlikely event that you lose.

 

[Jigga988]

Given that Strauss has so far managed 1 ODI century in a genuine ODI (admittedly, against West Indies), I'd be more than happy to do the old avatar bet on that one.

Seriously, Strauss has played 68 ODIs (1 DNB) and averages 28.62. In his 31 as an opener, he averages 25.16 (31.66 in his last 12 there); in his 36 as a middle-order batsman 31.87 (and 22.95 in his last 26 there).

No reason for him not to do well though in the series, being captain will definitely motivate him. Only way I see him failing is if he tries to go attacking the power plays, can see him scoring quite slow though, especially with the slowness of Windies tracks.

 

[GIMH]

He performed in the role, though. He had a really good season last time out. The times I watched him bat (not loads, but a few) he opened, and looked good.