So what's England's best ODI side then?

All things considered? Two new balls is making a difference outside of the Sub Continent. It's not as easy to just tee off like it was when Jayasuriya and co were going beserk a few years back, so having not found a decent ODI opening batsman who scores quickly since Trescothick retired, England have got a bit lucky in that the game is evolving back towards their strengths (or bad habits) which is a slow, steady start.

Let's pick an English ODI side for the Champions Trophy next Summer. Mine would be-

Cook
Root
Trott
Pietersen
Morgan
Buttler+
Stokes
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Finn

Steady accumulators at the top, explosive hitting from number four down to Swann at nine. That's probably our best ODI bowling attack as well. Jimmy is pretty decent in English conditions, and Broad (if he EVER gets fully fit again) is a good ODI bowler. You could get 10 overs out of Stokes and Root.

Thoughts?

In Root, Buttler and Stokes, you've got three utterly unproven players, so it's a bit hard to suggest they should be in the "best ODI side". Not sure Root is a one day player, to be honest.

I think Hales is worth a go at the top. He knows how to play properly as a decent FC opener if the ball's dancing, and he can biff if it's not. With Trott and Cook in the top three, he's bookended by blockers, so can go out and have a bit of a go. Not a pinch-hitter per se, but someone a bit more attacking than Ian "dab to third man" Bell.

Stokes has been tailor made for 6 or 7 in limited overs cricket, but last year was a write off for his development - after his smashed hand finally healed, he never really got going with the bat. Hopefully this summer will see him back on track.

Buttler, I don't feel, is even half the player the hype would have you believe. Just a lower order slogger who comes off every once in a while. I look forward to being proven wrong, though.

Stokes is one good season away from being tried. Again, he looks shitmunchery against spin bowling, but we need his useful bowling IMO. He's nothing special, but he's got a mild bit of nip and can tonk.

You might as well say Jonny Bairstow.

Jonny Bairstow.



The problem is, we don't know.

And the reason we don't know is, there has been no consistency. (Sometimes worse than that.)

Jonny Mehstow.

The Stokemeister has his bowling. Not convinced about Samit Fat - so need a bowlerish type at 7ish who can do the do.

Steven Crook?

The incumbent player has to be able to bat. Not swish wildly because he feels like it.

Andre Adams.

He must be British by now.


Napes.

Lets be honest- Ravi Bopara is probably one of our six best ODI bowlers. Hi stats are better than both Dernbach and Bresnan. And in theory, he is a decent enough batsman down the order.

If he can get his mind right, he shouldn't be discounted.

He can be, now.

Brass Monkey wrote:Jonny Mehstow.

"Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for... THE JOHNNY MEH SHOW!!!"

*Ocean Colour Scene shit song (take your pick)*

Dello wrote:
*Ocean Colour Scene shit song (take your pick)*

His collection of inept dismissals would last longer than one of them.

Henry wrote:All things considered? Two new balls is making a difference outside of the Sub Continent. It's not as easy to just tee off like it was when Jayasuriya and co were going beserk a few years back, so having not found a decent ODI opening batsman who scores quickly since Trescothick retired, England have got a bit lucky in that the game is evolving back towards their strengths (or bad habits) which is a slow, steady start.

Let's pick an English ODI side for the Champions Trophy next Summer. Mine would be-

Cook
Root
Trott
Pietersen
Morgan
Buttler+
Stokes
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Finn

Steady accumulators at the top, explosive hitting from number four down to Swann at nine. That's probably our best ODI bowling attack as well. Jimmy is pretty decent in English conditions, and Broad (if he EVER gets fully fit again) is a good ODI bowler. You could get 10 overs out of Stokes and Root.

Thoughts?

Word is that Buttler's keeping isn't up to it - yet! A top three of Cook, Root, Trott? That's a bit lacking in gears for me. I'd go with Cook and Trott to open with KP at 3.

Bairstow should be in the mix - maybe not as a specialist keeper though.

The bowling looks ok - but we'll need a second spinner just in case Swann's elbow goes AWOL - Tredders or Sammyboy though?

Oh yes and Prior to keep please.

Basil wrote:The bowling looks ok - but we'll need a second spinner just in case Swann's elbow goes AWOL - Tredders or Sammyboy though?

It depends if you want a batsmen (Samit Patel - 481 @ 34, 23 wickets @ 45 in 34 ODIs) or a bowler (James Tredwell - 39 @ 9.75, 18 wickets @ 25, econ 4.82, S/R 31, in 12 ODIs) to bowl. I like my bowlers to be bowlers, really.

Basil wrote:
The bowling looks ok - but we'll need a second spinner just in case Swann's elbow goes AWOL - Tredders or Sammyboy though?

Oh yes and Prior to keep please.

Patel hasn't taken a wicket for about 12 ODIs and counting.

Prior (60+ ODIs for runs @ 24) to be recalled - again - over "failure" Kieswetter (40-odd ODIs for runs @ 31)? Has he not had ample opportunities to prove he's not up to it?

Dello wrote:

Basil wrote:
The bowling looks ok - but we'll need a second spinner just in case Swann's elbow goes AWOL - Tredders or Sammyboy though?

Oh yes and Prior to keep please.

Patel hasn't taken a wicket for about 12 ODIs and counting.

Prior (60+ ODIs for runs @ 24) to be recalled - again - over "failure" Kieswetter (40-odd ODIs for runs @ 31)? Has he not had ample opportunities to prove he's not up to it?

Prior is head and shoulders the better keeper, a prerequisite I woud have thought given that the Champions Trophy is being played over here with a new ball at each end.

Kieswetter has an embarrassing inability to rotate the strike. I's prefer to have Prior 'in the trenches' ahead of Kieswetter, but Buttler is a major talent. And look at his List A record.

*Cue ranting from some about how most of his runs have come at Taunton*

the choice for england in answer to this question...either load up with imports if you care about jamodis or save for them for test cricket

Excuse me, horald, I think you'll find that Ironald Bell is Coventry's finest.

should the belfard not be sent there?

Worse. He should be sent to Sydney. To live with Mudgealicious.

poor I Ron...not even he deserves that dire fate

now "Mudgealicious" is certainly a word...

word

Basil wrote:

Dello wrote:

Basil wrote:
The bowling looks ok - but we'll need a second spinner just in case Swann's elbow goes AWOL - Tredders or Sammyboy though?

Oh yes and Prior to keep please.

Patel hasn't taken a wicket for about 12 ODIs and counting.

Prior (60+ ODIs for runs @ 24) to be recalled - again - over "failure" Kieswetter (40-odd ODIs for runs @ 31)? Has he not had ample opportunities to prove he's not up to it?

Prior is head and shoulders the better keeper, a prerequisite I woud have thought given that the Champions Trophy is being played over here with a new ball at each end.

Why not go the whole hog and bring back Chris Read? Or Jack Russell.

Prior can't score ODI runs. The standard of his glovework isn't the most pressing issue. Dhoni's a poor keeper, for example...

If the keeper is going to bat at six or seven we need the guy most likely to clear the ropes. Imo that's Buttler.

but me no buts on that