Jordan and Prior in the England Test squad

[The Large One]

Full England squad:
Cook, Robson, Root, Bell, Ballance, Moeen Ali, Prior, Broad, Jordan, Anderson, Woakes, Plunkett

But... Plunkett?

 

[martin tyler]

End of Sussex season

 

[Big_Unit]

Full England squad:
Cook, Robson, Root, Bell, Ballance, Moeen Ali, Prior, Broad, Jordan, Anderson, Woakes, Plunkett

But... Plunkett?

Plunkett's bowling a pretty heavy ball this season apparently - 24 wickets at 24.8 in the CC.

 

[S'hampton Seagull]

So it seems Ali and Root will be part time spinners and will both play. Seamers will be Broad, Anderson, Jordan and then either Plunkett or Woakes.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Woakes? I assume Stokes isn't fit enough. Out of that lot, I would go with

Cook, Robson, Root, Bell, Ballance, Moeen Ali, Prior, Broad, Jordan, Anderson, Plunkett

 

[S'hampton Seagull]

Woakes? I assume Stokes isn't fit enough. Out of that lot, I would go with

Cook, Robson, Root, Bell, Ballance, Moeen Ali, Prior, Broad, Jordan, Anderson, Plunkett

That would be my team also.

 

[Luke93]

Where's Tredwell?? No full-time spinner worries me

 

[Luke93]

Also, no Bresnan?? He's a better, more experienced, Woaks.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

I'm slightly concerned by the recent trend of England selections. England's most succesful period in my lifetime coincided with a very settled side, that was 'harder to get out of, than into'.

Now we are heading back into the realm of not knowing our best side, and players like Bairstow, Finn, Compton, Stokes, etc being in for a series, then discarded. Its unhelpful.

I also fundamentaly disagree with having completely different squads for each form of the game. You might have a couple of specialist big hitters that come in for the T20s but on the whole, the best cricketers should play, all the games.

People like Dernbach are never, ever going to be Test cricketers, so don't waste time playing them at all.

 

[Mellotron]

I don't know if I could care any less about cricket right now, with the World Cup a WEEK away.

 

[albion534]

I'm slightly concerned by the recent trend of England selections. England's most succesful period in my lifetime coincided with a very settled side, that was 'harder to get out of, than into'.

Now we are heading back into the realm of not knowing our best side, and players like Bairstow, Finn, Compton, Stokes, etc being in for a series, then discarded. Its unhelpful.

I also fundamentaly disagree with having completely different squads for each form of the game. You might have a couple of specialist big hitters that come in for the T20s but on the whole, the best cricketers should play, all the games.

People like Dernbach are never, ever going to be Test cricketers, so don't waste time playing them at all.

But he looks so cool with his sleeve tattoo

 

[hans kraay fan club]

I don't know if I could care any less about cricket right now, with the World Cup a WEEK away.

Its a very valid point. Bear in mind though, that the earliest WC games kick off about 8pm. We'll need something to watch (at work) during the DAY.

 

[Gwylan]

Where's Tredwell?? No full-time spinner worries me

You seen his average?

Moeen has got more wickets at a significantly higher average this season. And I think, without checking, he did better last year too. Tredwell had a shocking average last year

 

[Seagull over Canaryland]

I'm slightly concerned by the recent trend of England selections. England's most succesful period in my lifetime coincided with a very settled side, that was 'harder to get out of, than into'.

Now we are heading back into the realm of not knowing our best side, and players like Bairstow, Finn, Compton, Stokes, etc being in for a series, then discarded. Its unhelpful.

I also fundamentaly disagree with having completely different squads for each form of the game. You might have a couple of specialist big hitters that come in for the T20s but on the whole, the best cricketers should play, all the games.

People like Dernbach are never, ever going to be Test cricketers, so don't waste time playing them at all.

Agreed (mostly). England have drifted since Cook became Captain - somehow we have turned the no.1 test side into a ponderous and inconsistent team that most sides now fancy their chances against. We have to hope that the Moores / Cook era will see a refocus. I suppose they should be applauded for ringing the changes and trying youngsters but it seems harsh to see Carberry and Compton have been discarded in favour of Robson who now seems to be the next big hope, yet Root who is clearly a decent player but lost his form retains his place.

Maybe Finn and Bresnan will return to the squad if they can show consistent form and fitness, so it is understandable that Woakes, Jordan and Plunkett are getting a chance. OK maybe one of them will miss out.

Out of interest would you have indulged Pietersen? Yes it's a hypothetical question now that his best mate Moores is back in charge but would have been interesting if KP had been on top form.

Finally It will be interesting to see how Prior does. Obviously I would like to see him do well but hasn't been in brilliant form over the last 12 months so part of me also feels his recent injury gave him the chance to quietly retire from Test cricket with a very decent record. I also guess the lack of really outstanding Test standard keepers might be in the selectors thinking. Bairstow hasn't stepped up. I would give Buttler the gloves for all forms of cricket, give him the chance to become our Adam Gilchrist. I think most spectators would vote for that too.

 

[Guinness Boy]

I'm slightly concerned by the recent trend of England selections. England's most succesful period in my lifetime coincided with a very settled side, that was 'harder to get out of, than into'.

Now we are heading back into the realm of not knowing our best side, and players like Bairstow, Finn, Compton, Stokes, etc being in for a series, then discarded. Its unhelpful.

I also fundamentaly disagree with having completely different squads for each form of the game. You might have a couple of specialist big hitters that come in for the T20s but on the whole, the best cricketers should play, all the games.

People like Dernbach are never, ever going to be Test cricketers, so don't waste time playing them at all.

Very much this.

Its a very valid point. Bear in mind though, that the earliest WC games kick off about 8pm. We'll need something to watch (at work) during the DAY.

Also this. I'm thinking of calling it the summer of divorce.

 

[Mr Icicle Boots]

Much as expected, quite happy with the squad and i tend to agree with the team suggested above. Only gripes being Woakes, who i'm totally underwhelmed by as a cricketer but I guess he's a direct replacement for Stokes (Not fit or a reminder to stop being a total spanner) and Prior? I like Prior but considering he was dropped for being pretty abject in Oz and hasn't really proved his fitness; how does he get in??. At least we haven't gone back to Carberry, Rankin etc.

 

[sten_super]

I don't think Woakes has it in him to be a Test cricketer - he doesn't bowl fast enough and his batting is not good enough for anything above 7 (I know he played at 6 in the last Ashes Test last summer). A couple of years ago Andrew Miller described him as 'this generation's Ramprakash, too good for County Cricket but not good enough for England' and I've seen nothing to challenge that view.

I'm a bit disappointed that Prior has come back in, but I can see the logic given how few first class games Buttler has kept in. I think in 12 months time Buttler will be in the team.

I'm also unconvinced by the process that has seen them pick Moeen Ali. Is he in the team on the basis of being the a off-spin? If so, that's fine, but I worry that he's been picked because he can do a bit of both batting and bowling when he would not get picked solely on the basis of either.

 

[Giraffe]

I'm slightly concerned by the recent trend of England selections. England's most succesful period in my lifetime coincided with a very settled side, that was 'harder to get out of, than into'.

Now we are heading back into the realm of not knowing our best side, and players like Bairstow, Finn, Compton, Stokes, etc being in for a series, then discarded. Its unhelpful.

I also fundamentaly disagree with having completely different squads for each form of the game. You might have a couple of specialist big hitters that come in for the T20s but on the whole, the best cricketers should play, all the games.

People like Dernbach are never, ever going to be Test cricketers, so don't waste time playing them at all.

Totally and completely agree. For me the wheels started falling off Matty Prior's game when he was dropped from the one day squad. A decision that to this day still doesn't make sense.

There is little or no difference between ODI's and test matches now. Innings in test matches are very often not much more than 50 overs anyway as the pace of game has changed. Stick with a hard core that gives the squad belief and confidence and that continuity will serve you well.

 

[Albion 4ever]

Where's Tredwell?? No full-time spinner worries me

He is playing 2nd XI cricket for Kent as cannot get in their Championship side.

There are no decent spinners playing in County Cricket at the moment, so we will have to play 4 seamers and 2 part-time spinners, much like Soth Africa.

 

[keaton]

You seen his average?

Moeen has got more wickets at a significantly higher average this season. And I think, without checking, he did better last year too. Tredwell had a shocking average last year

He also can't get into the Kent team and they play in the second division.

Plunkett has by all accounts being bowling brilliantly and can bat. I thought he was discarded too soon the first time