Bressy out, Woakes in

For NZ-

http://www.espncricinfo.com/new-zealand-v-england-2013/content/current/story/601967.html

Oh joy. He'll probably take a bag as well. Then follow up with a bag in early May v NZ. Then, when the sun comes out (maybe) and the stronger Aussie batting line-up appears, he'll help lose us a Test or two. F*cking joke, IMO.

He's an all rounder based on the weather. When it's damp and overcast in late April and early May, he's a bowler who takes bags of wickets, and when the sun comes out from June until August, he's a batsman who scores quickly at number 8.

You could probably decide if you need to wear sunblock or not based on whether he's taking wickets or making runs.

If the England selectors hadn't lately started to develop an unfortunate loyalty to two or three players in particular, I would be glad to say "Try him out, see how he goes".

In the confidence that if he wasn't showing the signs (and actually more approach and "shaping up" than wickets), he would be left out again for consideration v Australia.

But when they have stuck with Dernbach, Bresnan, Kieswetter for a bit too long in the one-dayers, when they are clearly out of form or worse, it's a bit worrying.

The biggest problem has become the seam and swing department - potentially for Tests as well. With injuries and "not up to its". Which of course is whey they are now giving Woakes a go.

If you're a Pommie, you have to hope Anderson keeps going (and adds a yard or two if possible), Broad some sort of mojo back (and speed), Finn stops clinking the bails, Tremlett is miracle-cured, Onions continues his comeback with determination and deviation (ball, not necessarily sexual), even that Bresnan bounds back in a Hoggard capacity .... or at least four of the above. Don't know enough if Stokes is an outside contender.

If they can get even three of those running freely, Woakes will have to do very well to make a case.

You'd hope.

Unless you are anything other than a Pomegranate, of course!

I mean, in the article, they're talking about his lack of pace and how he might do well in NZ. What a ridiculous stance that is. What, is it all about how we fair against a low ranked team, now? Are we so worried about the outcome of the series that we have to have a horse for a course? It's about giving someone experience to thrive against the better sides.

And, I'm sorry to pipe up again, but seriously - what does Woakes do about his lack of pace? Has he tried bulking up? Has he tried a longer run-up? Or does he just reckon he's fine, because he takes wickets until June? You'd have to surmise the latter.

Sam. Mahmood?

Rikki and Chopra in the Lions squad?

I'm astounded Toby Roland-Jones hasn't got a look-in. He does everything that Woakes does but is a couple of inches taller and 5mph quicker.

He's in the other squad, along with Smerk's favourite.

Stokes, Foakes, and Woakes.

No Alfie Noakes though.

Plenty of bokes.

Shane Warne - Smokes.

Daz Cullinan - Chokes.

FFS, they've gone and picked the wrong Overton twin for the Lions squad. They've picked medium pace, lower middle order batsman Craig, whereas Jamie is the exciting one who can bowl 90mph+ at 18.

We like dobbers who can bat very mildly. Who's going to replace Woakes FFS?

I called this one a while ago... well, I thought it would be the home Snoozer series that booked him in for the Ashes, but instead he gets to start a bit earlier... always got the impression he was something of a "chosen one" with the selectors who would get more than his fair chance in all formats.

At least it's not Dernbach, that's one positive. Wasn't he in a Test squad a year or so ago, or at least on the fringes of the picture?

Henry wrote:I'm astounded Toby Roland-Jones hasn't got a look-in. He does everything that Woakes does but is a couple of inches taller and 5mph quicker.

Performs "favours" for Gilo?

So, as soon as Ashley Giles becomes a more prominent member of the England set up, suddenly Chris Woakes is getting Test call ups and Rikki Clarke is back to being a bright young thing (at 31) and sent on another Lions tour.

Coincidence? Keith Barker will be next, you wait.

Woakes is f*cking mince. They've replaced one toothless dobber in Bresnan with a slightly thinner, crapper version.

Still, good to know Bresnan's elbow which has been operated on twice in the last 18 months is still not fixed. Round of applause for the England medical team - and selectors for continuing to play him even though he's struggling with it.

Wait - is that James Harris in the ODI squad? Deary me - it's dobbergeddon.

Douchebag is still in the ODI squad - for the life of me, I can't think why.

I can only see his name on the T20 list...

beamer wrote:I can only see his name on the T20 list...

That's it then, I knew he was in one but not the other.

I see Luke Ronchi is now in the NZ squad.

England are so gonna smash the Snoozies.

Brass Monkey wrote:
And, I'm sorry to pipe up again, but seriously - what does Woakes do about his lack of pace? Has he tried bulking up? Has he tried a longer run-up? Or does he just reckon he's fine, because he takes wickets until June? You'd have to surmise the latter.

Oh dear:

Hopes that England bowling coach, David Saker, can coax a little more pace out of him seem optimistic, too. Woakes has worked hard on that aspect of his game and may well have already reached optimum.

He was absolute fodder in the ODI he played against India the other day. Not Dernbach-like "oh, a wide half tracker, thanks very much" fodder. It was actual "it makes no difference where you bowl it, that's all-you-can-eat buffet bowling any way you shape it."

He's got no pace. No bounce. His bowling has actually regressed badly in the last couple of years as his batting has improved - his run up and action make his look like a part timer.

There's no justification for picking him. He hasn't been considered good enough up until now to play international cricket, yet has been called up at a time where his game has declined from the state it was in when he wasn't considered anywhere near good enough to be called up. Work that one out.

Dello wrote:Work that one out.

It's quite easy to work out, I reckon - his batting. Just like certain players before him, his batting is influencing his inclusion as a bowler. It's a ridiculous way to go about things - it hasn't worked before and I don't think it will work now. As you say, he hasn't deserved a squad chance before now, but because Bresnan is the one who has fallen by the wayside - rather than Onions, it looks they're going for the batting-filler.