Who to replace Kevin Pietersen

[TT Boy]

Dwayne Smith also has the ability to hit the ball hard, cleanly and a long, long way. Sadly for Benning, he plays a fair few Dwayne Smith shots to get himself out. I don't think he's ready for the big stage, and certainly not ready to face Australia.

 

[marc71178]

Dravid is not a stroke maker either, and neither was Bevan. You don't have to be a strokemaker to be successful.

But you can't have 3 or 4 of that sort of player in your top 7 and be successful in ODIs

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

That could well be right, but the time has come now where we have to stop only picking players we think are ready, because there simply aren't enough of them left with any talent. Dwayne Smith had to at least be given a chance before people knew he wasn't good enough - Benning might not last too long in the international arena, but the potential good outweighs the bad when it comes to picking him IMO. If we pick him over Solanki and he fails, we've barely done much worse than we would have done with Solanki - if he succeeds, we've got ourselves a handy player.

I think it was pretty obvious that Dwayne Smith wasn't good enough before he was given the chance. He averaged just over 20 in both forms of the game IIRC and had no hundreds in either form. Benning has a significantly better career record, but I still think he plays way too loosely at the moment.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

...or unless you have the fortune to bowl at the Canadian tail or get the new ball against Bangladesh in murk.

He'd still average less than most English bowlers.

 

[Barney Rubble]

I think it was pretty obvious that Dwayne Smith wasn't good enough before he was given the chance. He averaged just over 20 in both forms of the game IIRC and had no hundreds in either form. Benning has a significantly better career record, but I still think he plays way too loosely at the moment.

Fair enough, I didn't know about Dwayne Smith's previous record.

Bottom line is that England couldn't do much worse than Solanki, though. As long as it's someone new I'll be happy.

 

[gunner]

owais shah

 

[silentstriker]

But you can't have 3 or 4 of that sort of player in your top 7 and be successful in ODIs

Of course you can, if they are consistent, they'll do just fine. Scoring at an average of about 4-4.5 is fine up until over 40.

 

[McKanga]

One best batsman broken.

Seven ODIs to go.

Who to call up as cover?......

I understand a call has been put in to South Africa to see who else is for hire.

 

[ripper868]

cook. he's young, and on this tour is only going to learn more. he looks a bright light for englands future, i dont think it really matters who though TBH, anyone who goes in is not going to change the results terribly much either way

 

[_Ed_]

As much as I don't want him to leave the Auckland squad, I'd love to see Loye get a chance.

 

[Craig]

Ally Brown, Stuart Law, or Mal Loye, we need someone who can do something different to the others.

They're all getting on a bit, but as we've called up Shaun Udal and Paul Nixon recently, I don't think that would be a major drawback.

The thought of Solanki, Shah or Key, just feels me, with the cold chill of mediocrity.

Wouldn't be a short term fix in the way Martin Bicknell was called three and a half years ago against South Africa? Didn't know Stuart Law was qualified, but if so why not pick him just to upset the Australians a bit Imagine a few traitor chants from the crowd

If not Mal Loye.

 

[Speersy]

Hasn't Ravi Bopara allready been called up. I don't think anyone mentioned his name.

 

[Speersy]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21053523-23212,00.html

 

[Craig]

Haven't seen Bopara bat so I can't comment very much.

 

[adharcric]

Dasa is clearly the only one who had a clue. Bopara has been called up as Pietersen's replacement.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Hasn't Ravi Bopara allready been called up. I don't think anyone mentioned his name.

Fair enough call if we had one eye on the future rather than being half-way competitive at the WC (as forlorn an ambition as that obviously is), but that being so WTF did a 36-year-old just get called up for the first time?

 

[Dasa]

Dasa is clearly the only one who had a clue. Bopara has been called up as Pietersen's replacement.

 

[Nishant]

he's a good batsmn...but still suprised at the decison!

 

[marc71178]

Of course you can, if they are consistent, they'll do just fine. Scoring at an average of about 4-4.5 is fine up until over 40.

So we're on about 160-180 with 10 overs to go - not going to get too many big scores that way.

 

[adharcric]

You really shouldn't have more than two grafters in a one-day side. Having two in the middle-order already means that the slog overs may not be utilized effectively.
Having one of them open means that the powerplays may not be utilized effectively. That's why a grafter should come in at 3 - keep him away from powerplays and slog overs.