England Performance Squad

[BoyBrumby]

Yes that is true, and Saj Mahmood's selection in 06/07 was definetly somewhat justified in the tests that he played in. However, AFAIC hes been a failure at the international level and nothing has changed since so any calls to have him at the international level, based on the same reasoning as the last time he played (potential to cause problems with pace, bounce and movement) seems somewhat unjustified.

I do sort of agree, actually. I think Mahmood's selection says more about the paucity of other viable options than anything else. It's probably wishful thinking (ditto Amjad being there too), but didn't think it was a horrible enough call to justify the approbrium heaped on the boy.

As I said (and only Dicko replied) the non-selection of a bloke who topped the Loins' winter averages in both forms and who averages over 40 in FC and List A seems the far more egregious error.

I don't buy Dicko's contention people are used to Trott's exclusion either btw; if he wasn't considered a live option why the blimmin' flip did he even tour NZ?

 

[Richard]

Token gesture - same reason Hoggard was picked in the squad for the First Test last summer and Read was told he "was in the thoughts" of the selectors.

None of them were ever remotely likely to play and if any do again I'll be exceedingly surprised. Barring, perhaps, a wholesale change of regime.

And this is a different matter to why the general public do not moan about it; I've been resigned for a fair while to the fact that two of the three above decisions, grossly incorrect though they are, have been utter inevitabilities. Same way I've been resigned for God-knows-it-seems-like-an-eternity to the Twelfth Commandment: Stephen Harmison Shalt Never Fade From England Reckoning. Once you resign yourself to something, you cease to have the will to continually bang-on about how much of an error it is.

 

[Richard]

Lewry will probably end up as one of the best bowlers never to play for England in the last couple of decades IMO.

I'm struggling to think of anyone even on the same plane as him.

Mike Smith was certainly almost as unlucky, possibly even more so given what happened in the single Test he did play.

 

[TT Boy]

No, he's a British subject, but it isn't yet 4 years since he last played for Pakistan, so he's ineligible as of now.

Ok, I didn’t know that. 'Tough' on Azhar has his return (2007) to the Pakistan squad lasted all of a couple of months.

 

[Richard]

It's rather a shame for everyone that he ever made the Pakistan squad ITFP.

 

[The Masterplan]

Why there has become such a cult hate of Mahmood I don't know, the guy is massive 6ft 4in he is naturally quick unlike any other english bowler at the moment, bar perhaps Flintoff.

 

[King Pietersen]

Yeh, he's got pace and he's got the natural attributes, but he doesn't keep things tight and for someone that's used as a strike bowler, he doesn't take enough wickets. Averaged 32 almost 33 with the ball last season, and then was shocking in New Zealand with the A side, taking 5 wickets at 39. He may have potential, but he's not currently fulfilling that potential, and until he does so he shouldn't be considered. I'd rather have Harmison in the team, at least he performed in the County Season last year.

 

[The Masterplan]

I think you've pretty much nailed it there. He could be an international bowler, Duncan Fletcher obviously saw something in him, but he's never quite produced the goods to verify selection.

 

[tooextracool]

Token gesture - same reason Hoggard was picked in the squad for the First Test last summer and Read was told he "was in the thoughts" of the selectors.

None of them were ever remotely likely to play and if any do again I'll be exceedingly surprised. Barring, perhaps, a wholesale change of regime.
.

You would think though that as a toke guesture they would at least name him in the 30 man squad for the twenty 20 world cup. He even played some t20 internationals for england not long ago and was discarded promptly. Even Darren Pattinson hasnt managed to fade away from the England selection thoughts as fast as he did.

 

[Richard]

From what some have said, the suggestion seems to be that someone (presumably Peter Moores) decided they didn't like his attitude one bit in those Twenty20 games he played for England early in the 2007 summer, and as such he's not really been seriously considered since.

 

[Richard]

Why there has become such a cult hate of Mahmood I don't know, the guy is massive 6ft 4in he is naturally quick unlike any other english bowler at the moment, bar perhaps Flintoff.

Because he bowled worse in his Test stint than virtually anyone ever has in an extended-ish stint in a serious Test team in modern times (at least, if not ever).

It's impossible to understate how bad he was. He may have some useful natural attributes and talents, but he lacks so much in one crucial area (ie, accuracy) that he's still utterly awful.

And players that awful, while they can get better, are almost certain never to get enough better to be Test-standard.

 

[The Masterplan]

Because he bowled worse in his Test stint than virtually anyone ever has in an extended-ish stint in a serious Test team in modern times (at least, if not ever).

Harsh.

 

[FBU]

From what some have said, the suggestion seems to be that someone (presumably Peter Moores) decided they didn't like his attitude one bit in those Twenty20 games he played for England early in the 2007 summer, and as such he's not really been seriously considered since.

Who? Mahmood? Never played 20/20s under Moores.

 

[Prince EWS]

Who? Mahmood?

Trott.

 

[FBU]

Trott.

Oh, thanks.

Yes I read there was an attitude problem.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Pattinson >>>> Mahmood.

 

[Richard]

Quite true, but given that he's Australian no-one ever really thought of the prospect of him playing for England until 2008.

 

[Richard]

Harsh.

Not really. Can you name me someone, except Eric Upashantha, who did worse?

 

[BoyBrumby]

Not really. Can you name me someone, except Eric Upashantha, who did worse?

Salisbury for one. 15 or so caps from memory. Couldn't change up when anyone came after him.

Mohammad Sami for two. Averages over 50pw after 30-odd tests.

 

[TT Boy]

Salisbury for one. 15 or so caps from memory. Couldn't change up when anyone came after him.

Mohammad Sami for two. Averages over 50pw after 30-odd tests.

Add to that Daren Powell.

Powell is rather similar to Mahmood as both guys are tall, bowl back of a length with good pace and bounce yet, they have the habitual habit of bowling wide or getting the ball to do absolutely nothing (though Mahmood can reverse it…). Domestically, Garnett Kruger is another guy who completely flatters to deceive and shares the same attributes as both Mahmood and Powell.