The Cricket Thread 2014

[PaulWinch again]

I don't think you can have Ballance, Morgan and Root. Stokes has to be in for Morgan or Ballance.

[dcdavecollett]

Jordan really impresses with his pace and bounce.

It's funny, but watching his run-up, you don't really expect him to generate so much speed. He does look a bit ungainly.

Perhaps a coach could sort out his approach to the wicket.

Having said that, they tried to do that with Graham Dilley in the 80s. According to Boycott, after the coaches had finished with him, he had a run-up like Dennis Lillee and the pace of Dennis Amiss!!

[paul_e]

For me there's some definites and a couple of 1 from 2 choices:

Cook
Carberry/Robson
Bell
Root
Ballance
Stokes
Keis/Buttler
Jordan
Broad
Anderson
Panesar/Ali (at 6 with everyone moving down 1)

Everyone who I've given a line to themselves is looking guaranteed a place right now, based on form and comments in the press.  The real decision to be made is the spinner,  I think I'd go with Ali, I love the idea or Jordan and Broad at 9 and 10, that gives us run scorers right into the tail.

[peter w]

Cook
Carberry
Root
Bell
Ballance
Stokes
Prior
Broad
Jordan
Borthwick (or Ali)
Anderson

[Monty]

I prefer Peter's team to Paul's, though I too would be more inclined to go with Ali over Borthwick or Panesar. I just think that, given the inexperience in the side and particularly in the bowling, having Prior's experience behind the stumps would be a very useful aid to the transition between generations.

[peter w]

I'd just go with Borthwick because it's Sri Lanka and not India, and bowling at Durham really does him no favours. He can also bat and although I agree that Ali is a better turner and bat at this stage, if Borthwick can show that he's developed and added turn and control to his bounce and control then he'd be very useful against India. If he or Carberry - and to a lesser degree, Prior - fail then I'd go for Ali, AN Other for Carberry (haven't decided yet), and Buttler against India.

[PaulWinch again]

Prior's achilles is a big trouble apparently so I think he's out. I want Ali in there because I think he's earned it based on last year, and Robson is a better long term option than Carberry. The reason I want Kies in is because at the moment he's a better gloveman than Buttler, and Buttler needs to play some 4 day cricket to improve his glove work.

[taylorsworkrate]

Carberry has never really scored runs in division 1.

I think there is a sizeable gap between the divisions, and we shouldn't be picking players based purely on division 2 form. Kerrigan is proof of that

[paul_e]

Carberry has never really scored runs in division 1.

I think there is a sizeable gap between the divisions, and we shouldn't be picking players based purely on division 2 form. Kerrigan is proof of that

Kerrigan will be a very good spinner, the problem was he didn't think he deserved to be there, and it showed.  He was excellent for the Lions in Feb.

Like PWA I'm pretty sure Prior has all but been ruled out of the Sri Lanka tests which is why I ignored him.

Aside from that, I'd definitely have Bell coming in before Root and Jordan in before Broad.

[Villan For Life]

I'd favour a different approach to the keeper question. I think we need the best glove man behind the stumps and not someone selected for his batting ability. Al lack of a credible spin option puts more pressure on the other bowlers to take wickets. When difficult chances come along from these bowlers, you want your keeper to take them. A Kieswetter or a Buttler will always miss sharp chances because they're not specialist keepers.

I'd go for Chris Read. A couple of sharp catches taken will make up for the loss of 20 or 30 lower middle order runs. I'd then have Kieswetter and Buttler back learning their trade on the County circuit under the guidance of Bruce French. They've both suffered by being at Somerset at the same time. Now Buttler has moved on lets see who progresses the most with regular Championship cricket.

[PaulWinch again]

I think Kieswetter has developed a lot of the last year in all aspects of the game, Read is in his mid-thirties and I think we need to look forward now.

[Villan For Life]

I think Kieswetter has developed a lot of the last year in all aspects of the game, Read is in his mid-thirties and I think we need to look forward now.

I think both Kies and Buttler need more time in the middle with the gloves on. A year of Read would take the pressure off them and help them develop into better players.

[Villan For Life]

I know that the IPL isn't everyone's cup of tea but the game on ITV 4 at the moment has some of the best hitting that I've seen in a long time.

Virender Sehwag scored 122 of 58 in a total of 226-6 for Kings XI Punjab. In reply, Chennai Super Kings scored 100-2 off 6 overs with Suresh Raina scoring 87 off 25 before being run out.

Both innings were clinical and proper cricket shots were to the fore.

[aj2k77]

England again bat themselves in to a hole and then lose a cluster of wickets trying to up the rate. Change of tactics batting please.

[Villan For Life]

This is getting close. Fabulous innings from Buttler.