*Official* England in West Indies 2022

[Tom Flint]

I don't see the point in option 3 if they aren't committed. I have no trust that if selected for the test sqauds that pooran would play each series selected for. Him playing one series a year isn't going to benefit the side. They would be better giving a chance to players who actually want to play and hope one comes good. The likes of blackwood and Campbell have been available when ever called upon its a shame they haven't done as well as hoped but at least they want to be there. If pooran as much as I like him wanted to play tests he would go and play 2 games for Trinidad. It's not that hard. The selectors probably know he is the best middle order option but also won't pick him and allow him to pick and choose series.
Hety and Lewis are different as they have played red ball before esp hety who was playing tests consistently. I'd give them both a go

 

[GotSpin]

Didn’t Hety score **** all in the FC comp anyway?

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Didn’t Hety score **** all in the FC comp anyway?

That’s about right. He looked good in the first innings of the first game of the season, made around 30 something …after that he sucked…

 

[Beamer]

That’s about right. He looked good in the first innings of the first game of the season, made around 30 something …after that he sucked…

That's the trouble. He played 4 innings, failed and now that will be it for another year. Even excellent players can fail, he needs a run of 4 or 5 FC games.

 

[Beamer]

I don't see the point in option 3 if they aren't committed. I have no trust that if selected for the test sqauds that pooran would play each series selected for. Him playing one series a year isn't going to benefit the side. They would be better giving a chance to players who actually want to play and hope one comes good. The likes of blackwood and Campbell have been available when ever called upon its a shame they haven't done as well as hoped but at least they want to be there. If pooran as much as I like him wanted to play tests he would go and play 2 games for Trinidad. It's not that hard. The selectors probably know he is the best middle order option but also won't pick him and allow him to pick and choose series.
Hety and Lewis are different as they have played red ball before esp hety who was playing tests consistently. I'd give them both a go

See this is why I'd call Pooran's bluff. I'd select him on the condition that West Indies test selection always comes ahead of franchise cricket. If he isn't happy with that, we know where he stands and can move on without him.

 

[Prince EWS]

See this is why I'd call Pooran's bluff. I'd select him on the condition that West Indies test selection always comes ahead of franchise cricket. If he isn't happy with that, we know where he stands and can move on without him.

Maybe they've tried that and he said no.

 

[Beamer]

Maybe they've tried that and he said no.

From what we know they have asked him to play FC cricket before being considered. Pooran's position is he'd love to but it's really difficult with his schedule and he'd like the selectors to compromise.

 

[cnerd123]

the future of cricket is going to be separate white ball and red ball squads with very little overlap. Probably suits the West Indies to go down that route.

I think major cricket boards need to invest less into their white ball structures. You don't really need a domestic white-ball league or A Team tours to play white ball cricket. Have a franchise T20/OD comp, let your best white ball guys play franchise stuff around the world, and then just pick them when available for ODIs and T20Is. Put more resources into domestic FC comps, A-Team tours to play red ball cricket, identify specialists like a Kraigg Braithwaite, and build your Test teams from there. Prioritise Test cricketers in your central contracts and leave your best white ball talent to earn their living from the franchise circuit + ODI/T20I match fees.

 

[chris.hinton]

the future of cricket is going to be separate white ball and red ball squads with very little overlap. Probably suits the West Indies to go down that route.

I think major cricket boards need to invest less into their white ball structures. You don't really need a domestic white-ball league or A Team tours to play white ball cricket. Have a franchise T20/OD comp, let your best white ball guys play franchise stuff around the world, and then just pick them when available for ODIs and T20Is. Put more resources into domestic FC comps, A-Team tours to play red ball cricket, identify specialists like a Kraigg Braithwaite, and build your Test teams from there. Prioritise Test cricketers in your central contracts and leave your best white ball talent to earn their living from the franchise circuit + ODI/T20I match fees.

England only has one Domestic White ball league & the better players are either playing for England or playing in the 100.

 

[Beamer]

the future of cricket is going to be separate white ball and red ball squads with very little overlap. Probably suits the West Indies to go down that route.

I think major cricket boards need to invest less into their white ball structures. You don't really need a domestic white-ball league or A Team tours to play white ball cricket. Have a franchise T20/OD comp, let your best white ball guys play franchise stuff around the world, and then just pick them when available for ODIs and T20Is. Put more resources into domestic FC comps, A-Team tours to play red ball cricket, identify specialists like a Kraigg Braithwaite, and build your Test teams from there. Prioritise Test cricketers in your central contracts and leave your best white ball talent to earn their living from the franchise circuit + ODI/T20I match fees.

If we do go down that route our test team will continue to be poor. We just don't have the economic profile, population size and player pool to divide our resources like that and still be effective. It would mean that talented batsmen will be forced to choose the white ball route as that is their best chance of putting a roof over their heads (e.g Rovman Powell). It can take years to get a CWI contract and they are not generous anyway compared to other teams.