Announcing the squad

by Guest Fri 19 Oct 2007, 10:16

at 11.30 today

by Brass Monkey Fri 19 Oct 2007, 11:40

England have dropped Andrew Strauss from their Test squad just a month after awarding the Middlesex opener a year-long central contract.
The left-hander is the most notable omission from the 15-man squad to play three Tests in Sri Lanka in December.
But there is no fairytale return for Mark Ramprakash, 38, with Owais Shah and Ravi Bopara both named.
Steve Harmison will be added to the squad assuming he can prove his fitness in domestic cricket in South Africa.
Strauss made a blazing entry into international cricket in the summer of 2004 and went on to score two centuries in the 2005 Ashes success.
But since then his form has gradaully tailed away and he has not played any one-day internationals under coach Peter Moores.
Chairman of selectors David Graveney said: "He hasn't performed to the level he can do in terms of play. He's extremely disappointed, understandably, and it would be strange if he wasn't.
"But he's a fighter and we believe he will come back into the frame very quickly.
"The selection of the seven batsmen gives us the very best opportunity to counter the obvious threats that Sri Lanka will present."

by Geoffrey Trueman Fri 19 Oct 2007, 11:44

So then, no Strauss, Ramprakash, Tremlett and Harmison. Prior and Mustard are the keepers and there's no third spinner. Cook and Vaughan will open.

Pretty straight forward really.

by Brass Monkey Fri 19 Oct 2007, 11:45

I expect this means that Virgil will open, maybe Spineless will get his wish and bat at 3 with Ace coming in at 6 - which, IMO, wrong. I expect they're trying to hide people from Mutt-ear.

by Geoffrey Trueman Fri 19 Oct 2007, 11:47

Vaughan
Anderson
Bell
Bopara
Broad
Collingwood
Cook
Hoggard
Mustard
Panesar
Pietersen
Prior
Shah
Sidebottom
Swann

by beamer Fri 19 Oct 2007, 11:47

Well it's an inexperienced squad with a few gambles in there. 4 uncapped players out of 15, and no real cover at opener - I suppose if anything happens to Vaughan or Cook then Bell will open, I can't see them using a pinch-hitting keeper in Tests!

It's a big opportunity for the likes of Broad, Bopara, Swann, Shah and Mustard to make a name for themselves in Test cricket, and it's at least good to see they haven't gone for negative selections in a series we're unlikely to win anyway.

by Brass Monkey Fri 19 Oct 2007, 11:51

Broad, Anderson, Hoggard, Sidebottom -> folly IMO, such a 'much of a muchness' it's unbelievable - with a left-arm and negligible differences in pace being the 'variation'. Ridiculae.

Not that I would'nt have taken all of them, just would've had one of the taller fookers instead of one of the keeps.

by Leo Fri 19 Oct 2007, 11:51

Bopara FFS.

by Brass Monkey Fri 19 Oct 2007, 11:52

I do like the accuracy factor of the bowlers though.

by Brass Monkey Fri 19 Oct 2007, 11:53

Leo wrote:Bopara FFS.

Stay strong Leo.

by Geoffrey Trueman Fri 19 Oct 2007, 11:54

beamer wrote:It's a big opportunity for the likes of Broad, Bopara, Swann, Shah and Mustard to make a name for themselves in Test cricket, and it's at least good to see they haven't gone for negative selections in a series we're unlikely to win anyway.

My thoughts exactly. I think it also shows that Moores and the selectors are trying to get the ODI and test teams as close as possible.

by Leo Fri 19 Oct 2007, 11:57

Newspaper reports suggest Vaughan is responsible for this travesty.

Git.

by beamer Fri 19 Oct 2007, 11:59

So this is the breakdown in terms of age and caps. When was the last time we sent out a squad as young/inexperienced as this? Only Vaughan and Hoggard have played more than 30 Tests, and more than half the squad are 25 or under.

Vaughan age 32/70 Tests
Anderson 25/19
Bell 25/30
Bopara 22/0
Broad 21/0
Collingwood 31/27
Cook 22/21
Hoggard 30/64
Mustard 25/0
Panesar 25/20
Pietersen 27/30
Prior 25/7
Shah 28/2
Sidebottom 29/7
Swann 28/0

by Brass Monkey Fri 19 Oct 2007, 12:06

Leo wrote:Newspaper reports suggest Vaughan is responsible for this travesty.

Git.

Yeah, bet he was the ******. Just as he axed Thorpey prematurely, the scummy sh!t. If we'd have drawn/lost the Ashes due to Bell's sh!thouse set of 5 matches, I'd have been so livid - the fact we won dampened any anger, which was replaced by joy. I just hope more than anything that Vaughan is in turn shunted out prematurely, after winning the Ashes back.

by JKLever Fri 19 Oct 2007, 12:08

Apparently Harmison will tour if he proves his fitness, so theres your pace Danny

sadly nothing there about proving his accuracy.

Im an Essex fan but got to say Bopara isn't ready yet IMO, although talented.
The problem they had is that if they selected Ramps they would probably feel bound to pick him in the test side.

by taipan Fri 19 Oct 2007, 12:15

JKLever wrote:The problem they had is that if they selected Ramps they would probably feel bound to pick him in the test side.

Surely that would have been the reason for selecting him in the first place?

by Brass Monkey Fri 19 Oct 2007, 12:16

JKLever wrote:Apparently Harmison will tour if he proves his fitness, so theres your pace Danny

sadly nothing there about proving his accuracy.

Im an Essex fan but got to say Bopara isn't ready yet IMO, although talented.
The problem they had is that if they selected Ramps they would probably feel bound to pick him in the test side.

Oh right, well I'm glad of that. TBH fook accuracy, we'll have that in stacks. For the most part, Jimmy was accurate and Sidey & Hoggy always are anyway. As are Monty and Swanny. We need some vicious wicket-taking balls. He only need bowl 5 a match, which is a possibility.
As for Bops, they could've been thinking about a number 6 who can turn his arm over and fill in a few overs.

by Brass Monkey Fri 19 Oct 2007, 12:22

Amazing that they'd drop Strauss in a way though, I mean bar KP and Mick our whole line-up was inconsistant, Bell being the worst, but no-one was markedly more poor than others. It's a bit 'Sorry Andrew, you had to do it when the ball was doing plenty but we just feel that although you averaged the 4th most for an English bat in the series we'd let you go'.

by JKLever Fri 19 Oct 2007, 12:25

Yeah, but he looked completely out of form all summer, not just against India like the others.

He'll come back but I can't really argue against his non selection in a place like SL

by Brass Monkey Fri 19 Oct 2007, 12:33

JKLever wrote:Yeah, but he looked completely out of form all summer, not just against India like the others.

He'll come back but I can't really argue against his non selection in a place like SL

No, I suppose his 'new' game wont like the lack of apparent bounce I suppose. Cook was as muntery as he was though and IRB has hardly covered himself in glory.

It's just frustrating, I know you'll have highlights, check him out in SA and before when he was rinsing it - so many more runs down the ground... only squaring up when there was some width.

by JKLever Fri 19 Oct 2007, 12:45

Batfink Begins wrote:
JKLever wrote:Yeah, but he looked completely out of form all summer, not just against India like the others.

He'll come back but I can't really argue against his non selection in a place like SL

No, I suppose his 'new' game wont like the lack of apparent bounce I suppose. Cook was as muntery as he was though and IRB has hardly covered himself in glory.

It's just frustrating, I know you'll have highlights, check him out in SA and before when he was rinsing it - so many more runs down the ground... only squaring up when there was some width.

No question, but bowlers have learned his weak areas and are bowling better to him.

Not convinced Cookie is going to prosper either to be fair.

by JKLever Fri 19 Oct 2007, 12:45

Bell of course, will naturally score a shedload

by Merlin Fri 19 Oct 2007, 12:53

JKLever wrote:Apparently Harmison will tour if he proves his fitness, so theres your pace Danny

sadly nothing there about proving his accuracy.

Im an Essex fan but got to say Bopara isn't ready yet IMO, although talented.
The problem they had is that if they selected Ramps they would probably feel bound to pick him in the test side.

Aye, I'm glad sanity prevailed and Ramps was shut out.
It's time the issue moved on ... I blame Bumble (and Leo) for starting it!

I disagree re Bopara ... he looks sound and his focus is amazing for a rookie .. the trouble is that the slimeBell has first shout on a spot ... the travesty would be if he shunted Shah out of it.

Harmie needs time ... the pace attack chosen (Hoggs apart who needs practice) has been tried, tested and passed (at ODI level anyway).

Why 2 keepers? And if so, does Mustard just go along to carry drinks as SusSEX dominates the selection?

by Brass Monkey Fri 19 Oct 2007, 12:54

JKLever wrote:Bell of course, will naturally score a shedload

by JKLever Fri 19 Oct 2007, 12:58

Not sure how Mustard gets a test squad place though, with his mighty FC average of 25.

I think he deserves a decent 20-25 game run in all conditions in the ODI's however

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