*Official* England in West Indies

[GIMH]

Had never noticed Amjad Khan being much of a batsman TBH. If he bats ahead of Anderson there'd best be good reason.

Anyway, that tail is better than:
Prior
Sidebottom
Hoggard
Anderson \ Harmison
Panesar
and also:
Irani
Caddick
Mullally
Tufnell
Giddins

You don't count Prior as part of the tail, though, surely?

 

[four_or_six]

Huh, I thought Amjad Khan was a youngster coming through, but actually he's a 28-year-old who has only played 63 FC matches and has a bowling average over 30. Doesn't sound too exciting.

 

[GIMH]

According to cricinfo Khan is definitely in

 

[King Pietersen]

21 wickets at 20.61 last year, averaged 30 the year before, and 28 the year before that. It's his first 4 seasons that mar his overall FC record. He did well last season and that probably warrants his selection. Certainly a better option than the others that the Sky Team are hyping, Mahmood and Plunkett. I'd have preferred to see Davies though, seeing his record.

 

[GIMH]

Rumours of Monty to play

So that would be

Strauss
Cook
Shah
Pietersen
Collingwood
Prior
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Khan
Panesar

Maybe Bopara in for Shah with a shuffled order, dunno

Could just be idle speculation, hope Monty sits this one out tbh

 

[King Pietersen]

Cricinfo believe the line-up will be:

1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Owais Shah, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Ravi Bopara, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Stuart Broad, 9 James Anderson, 10 Graeme Swann, 11 Amjad Khan.

I'll be disappointed if Monty comes in. If we want to bring in another spinner for a batsman it has to be Rashid. Won't happen though, Broad doesn't want to bat at 7, and Rashid's nowhere near good enough. So i see them going with the team above.

 

[sammy2]

khan the pelter ?

 

[GIMH]

Yeah, that's the team I would pick if I was told I had to pick Khan

 

[Scaly piscine]

Oh lord. Panesar's back. The least attacking option they could have gone with, plus the worst with the bat and in the field with a frail lower order.

Unless it's the first time for ages this pitch will be good for spin there's no sense to that selection.

 

[GIMH]

team confirmed on cricinfo

1 Andrew Strauss, 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Owais Shah, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Matt Prior (wk), 7 Stuart Broad, 8 Graeme Swann, 9 James Anderson, 10 Amjad Khan, 11 Monty Panesar

Interesting to see how Prior & Broad deal with their elevations up the order

 

[Prince EWS]

team confirmed on cricinfo

1 Andrew Strauss, 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Owais Shah, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Matt Prior (wk), 7 Stuart Broad, 8 Graeme Swann, 9 James Anderson, 10 Amjad Khan, 11 Monty Panesar

That's a terrible team TBPH.

 

[GIMH]

England bat first

Need centuries from the top 5 IMO

 

[King Pietersen]

Panesar in for Bopara? WTF? That means Broad at 7 and Swann at 8, stupidly long tail. Not enough batting I don't think. Rashid should have been in ahead of Panesar. Panesar's going to disappoint.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

This Amjad Khan lad seems to have a ridiculously rubbish record for a bowler in county cricket. Surely there are better options.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Don't get me wrong I agree with the 5 bowlers in this situation but Panesar was the last one I would go with unless it turns out to be a 250 all out bunsen.

Haven't heard a thing about Khan that makes him stand out either.

 

[Steulen]

In all probability this is another flat pitch and England will be perfectly safe by the time the tail starts at 5 down

 

[GIMH]

What worries me here is that if Monty has a rather good game and outbowls Swann, who is injured, he may reclaim his #1 spinner berth, I don't think he deserves it

 

[Manee]

Panesar in for Bopara? WTF? That means Broad at 7 and Swann at 8, stupidly long tail. Not enough batting I don't think. Rashid should have been in ahead of Panesar. Panesar's going to disappoint.

Broad is capable of batting seven and I believe it is the only position he can bat while justifying his place in the team.

 

[Nate]

Oi, Bopara make some runs. *Bopara tons up* Ummmm, shmeh, get out.

Most hilarious English side I've ever seen tbh.

 

[Prince EWS]

I'd almost actually go as far to say that the West Indies team is better on paper than the England team for this match. Almost.

EDIT: Nah not even close with Taylor out.