England Squad announced

[aussie]

Shah opens for Middlesex. So he should be the first one down as an opening bat because that's where England are short.

Not convinced by Bopara at all. Doesn't have much power and isn't much good with the bat. Has the mediocre T20 record to go with it.

No worries wih Ravi, tbh. His role will be as it was in this IPL Match - the achor & blast at the end. He needs a partner that can take advantage of the first 6 overs though, so why not the best batsman in KP??. The middle order in Shah, Morgan, Colly, Flintoff etc is very solid..

 

[Scaly piscine]

Because KP has been **** in T20. Bopara isn't good enough to be worth picking a batting lineup around. He's an 'anchor' because he's not good enough to score at a decent rate on a regular basis. Doesn't average much, has an average strike rate.

 

[TT Boy]

No worries wih Ravi, tbh. His role will be as it was in this IPL Match - the achor & blast at the end. He needs a partner that can take advantage of the first 6 overs though, so why not the best batsman in KP??. The middle order in Shah, Morgan, Colly, Flintoff etc is very solid..

Expected to miss World Twenty20

 

[Shri]

Expected to miss World Twenty20

Only bowler for England who can bowl economical spells in T20s ruled out of the WC. Wouldn't be surprised if Netherlands beat England in the WC in the group stage.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Only bowler for England who can bowl economical spells in T20s ruled out of the WC. Wouldn't be surprised if Netherlands beat England in the WC in the group stage.

Disguised it very well in the IPL, it must be said. If he could disguise a slower ball as well he'd be in buisness.

 

[Shri]

Disguised it very well in the IPL, it must be said. If he could disguise a slower ball as well he'd be in buisness.

Was clearly not in good form in the IPL.

 

[superkingdave]

So Flintoff officially ruled out...and replaced by Rashid, who isn't even getting into Yorkshire's T20 side so far this season!

 

[King Pietersen]

Eugh. The selectors have clearly been listening to David Lloyd's oddball theory that every team needs a leg-spinner to come on and bowl 4 overs =/ Bresnan would surely have been a better option given his good performance in that last ODi?

 

[grecian]

Very odd decision indeed. Surely Allenby or Schofield would of been better shouts?

 

[Neil Pickup]

Is Rashid going to play? Perhaps they just want him spending more time with the squad. This probably makes Napier the starting option.

 

[James_W]

Napier is going to gun it.

 

[aussie]

Best balance wihout Freddie is probably:

Bopara
KP
Shah
Morgan
Collingwood
Foster
Napier
Mascarenhas
Swann
Broad
Anderson

The whole dynamics is messed up now, just have to hope for the best...

 

[FBU]

Key's averages this season

f/c 16.50 HS 26
l/a 14.87 HS 27
20/20 7.00 HS 7

So absolutely anyone in the squad will do better than Key.

 

[pietersenrocks]

England were obviously going to play Freddie & Mascarenhas. Since, Fred is injured, it leaves the place for an-all-rounder.

Wright & Napier are the only ones who are going to take it, but the kind of form Wright has showed in the T20 cup, I don't think Napier is gunna play the first game.

 

[TT Boy]

Best balance wihout Freddie is probably:

Bopara
KP
Shah
Morgan
Collingwood
Foster
Napier
Mascarenhas
Swann
Broad
Anderson

The whole dynamics is messed up now, just have to hope for the best...

The best balance is putting a guy up to open, who doesn't open?

 

[pietersenrocks]

Eugh. The selectors have clearly been listening to David Lloyd's oddball theory that every team needs a leg-spinner to come on and bowl 4 overs =/ Bresnan would surely have been a better option given his good performance in that last ODi?

Schofield(Leg Spinner) was the best options to replace Freddie,IMO. We already have Anderson, Broad & Sidebottom as three front-line bowlers, backed up by Wright & Napier. Onions bowled well in Tests and is bowling well in the T20 cup, he sure is a better option than Bresnan. There's no point in reserving Onions for Test Cricket, when he's capable of delivering in any form of the game.

 

[Goughy]

So Flintoff officially ruled out...and replaced by Rashid, who isn't even getting into Yorkshire's T20 side so far this season!

Very strange decision.

 

[TT Boy]

Schofield(Leg Spinner) was the best options to replace Freddie,IMO. We already have Anderson, Broad & Sidebottom as three front-line bowlers, backed up by Wright & Napier. Onions bowled well in Tests and is bowling well in the T20 cup, he sure is a better option than Bresnan. There's no point in reserving Onions for Test Cricket, when he's capable of delivering in any form of the game.

Not him again. He got hit into the brewery last 20/20 WC.

Bresnan's ability with the bat, also gives him the edge over Onions.

 

[aussie]

The best balance is putting a guy up to open, who doesn't open?

Kallis was opening for RCB in the IPL, even though he doesn't really a was pretty good.

England might as well give KP the oppurtunity to bat most plus they also need to get the best bowling combination now that Freddie is out. So its a bit crazy ATM.

So a slight rethink:

Bopara
?
KP
Shah
Morgan
Collingwood
Foster
Mascarenhas
Swann
Broad
Anderson

? - I dont want to pick Key. Maybe pick Napier or Wright & depending on whether England bat first or chasing, the partner to Bopara would be either Napier/Wright, KP or Shah.

 

[King Pietersen]

I'd open with Shah on reflection and bring Napes into the middle order.