Well, time to make the comeback to this thread...
Firstly, couldn't really agree more with this post:
You pick **** the team will play ****.
Though in fairness there appears to be a lack of talent in the English OD domestic game but still that isnt close to the best XI.
Secondly, good to see Tim, KiWi and Edmunds back.
And surprised, TSTL.
Thirdly, haha at those who thought England were odds-on faves for the ODIs because of the Twenty20s. I don't really know what happened in them - I think we won them both didn't we? - but you have to love (as well as cringe at) the impulsiveness of those both on the side of the Tasman and the side of the Atlantic who go and base ODI predictions on Twenty20s.
Fourthly, a few thoughts about England selection...
Agree with those saying Bopara at seven is stupid. Not entirely convinced he'd do much at three either, but he'd certainly have a damn sight more chance than he does at seven. Just before his case, though, we had Dalrymple, and any number before then too, so that's not terribly surprising. Needs to be dropped for mine, but quite why anyone would want to replace him (a batsman who bowls a little bit) with Mascarenhas (a bowler who can sometimes slog a few) is beyond me. Mascarenhas should play, but at the expense of a bowler. You pick Mascarenhas with batting in mind, you're going to be rudely awakened, as we were with another fine bowler whose batting skill ended-up working against him, Mark Ealham.
Cook has to play the whole series for mine, ideally with Mustard too. Mustard should never have been near the side, but hopefully he'll get this series, fail and never be seen again, and hopefully the same thing'll happen to the old Mustard, Matthew Prior, as it happened to the previous Mustard\Prior, Geraint Jones. Wright I don't ever see being much of a success in ODIs, he's so far had half a decent season in domestic cricket. Need to do rather more than that to convince me. Should never be anywhere near the squad, and the notion of him playing ahead of Cook is laughable. Which probably means it'll happen before this series is out.
If Cook still doesn't do well in this series he has to go, though, and not get brought back unless he does some serious improvement at domestic OD cricket. I'm so sick of seeing players like him, Strauss, Vaughan, and countless others, who were good Test players being in-and-out and crap for ages at ODIs. But I don't see it stopping any time soon, it's been going-on ever since I started watching the game.
Still don't see any of Bell, Collingwood or Shah ever being any great shakes at ODIs, I'll see what Collingwood does for the rest of this series then post my thoughts on him in a separate thread. Bell obviously has to play as of now, as does Shah, but as long as they continue to get picked we're never going to have a batting side of any great note.
I can see this series being a huge step backwards for Swann. Without bowling remotely badly, he's been absolutely smashed in a handful of overs. Circumstances haven't helped, but is that likely to change? Would prefer Mascarenhas instead of him currently, though I see both as being integral in WC2011. Somerset: Swann >>>>>>> MSP in the OD game.
The running has been abysmal, but amazed anyone blamed Shah for the Collingwood instance in the First ODI. Collingwood had no business setting-off before the ball had passed the infield, which it hadn't. The rest of the time, though, it's hardly been that surprising, and had said batsmen not been run-out I can't shake the feeling they'd have found proper ways to get out before long anyway.
Fifthly, ITSTL to hear about this Millmow character. Evidently the latest hate-figure to come out of New Zealand. Will look forward to the Phlegms, Davises et al bashing throughout this series.
Sixthly, rather surprising to see Ryder and McCullum score so well in the Second ODI, even if they were both dropped in single-figures. Crap bowling, of course, but surely a bit better than the sort of stuff Ryder's struggled against in domestic cricket. It truly was alarming to come accross him for the first time though - I've honestly never seen someone so young look so old.
FFS, I simply cannot believe O'Brien gets picked again. This is beyond ludicrous. Even Mustard is in danger of scoring if he's in the NZ side. Mind, Martin's bowled OK in the 2 games so far... something I'd thought not terribly far short of impossible. Let's hope Patel plays the last 2 games, not O'Brien. Been really impressed, and delighted too, with Oram's recent bowling form. To send down 7 overs for 12, mostly in a game that was effectively a 20-over one, is a magnificent feat.
Have to say I'm a little surprised at the New Zealand buoyance too - never read a tour-thread full of Kiwis before now. Await your possible reactions in the Test-matches with interest.
Finally, congratulations if you read all of this without falling asleep.