The Cricket Thread 2016

[Chris Jameson]

I see Bell has come out and said Pietersen deserves a chance. That's interesting, is that an indication the team is breaking ranks from Cook?

Wonder if it's just a coincidence that Pietersen is the co owner of the agency that represents Bell?

[taylorsworkrate]

I see Bell has come out and said Pietersen deserves a chance. That's interesting, is that an indication the team is breaking ranks from Cook?

Wonder if it's just a coincidence that Pietersen is the co owner of the agency that represents Bell?

Bell and Pietersen's England careers have pretty much coincided. It's hardly surprising that Bell should have this viewpoint, they were both part of a (largely) successful team

[Chris Jameson]

Just a coincidence then.

[aev]

Well he didn't actually say that much really.

[Villan For Life]

The squad for the 1st test has been announced. I'm shocked that KP isn't in it.

No huge surprises in any of the selections.

[Lsvilla]

I see Bell has come out and said Pietersen deserves a chance. That's interesting, is that an indication the team is breaking ranks from Cook?

Wonder if it's just a coincidence that Pietersen is the co owner of the agency that represents Bell?

A bit like Strauss and Cook having the same agent ?

[spangley1812]

I would definitely play Wood to add some variety to the attack in place of Jordan

[paul_e]

I would definitely play Wood to add some variety to the attack in place of Jordan

There's no chance I'd drop Jordan, his slip fielding alone is almost worth a place in the team.

Stokes would be the one to make way for me.  He's got to learn to keep his emotions in check, Australia will destroy him this summer if he lets them get to him and the entire cricketing world saw how easily Samuels managed to do it.  I also don't think he's much cop with the ball, Jordan is raw but he's got a lot more potential as a bowler for me.  So if you take Stokes you pick him as an all-rounder to bat 6 but that means Moeen at 7 and Buttler in a frankly ridiculous position of batting at 8.  Right now you pick 1 of Moeen or Stokes and the former is ahead for me, then I'd suggest Wood, Woakes, Plunkett, Rashid, Finn, etc are competing for the 4th bowling spot and 8th/9th in the batting.

[tomd2103]

I would definitely play Wood to add some variety to the attack in place of Jordan

There's no chance I'd drop Jordan, his slip fielding alone is almost worth a place in the team.

Stokes would be the one to make way for me.  He's got to learn to keep his emotions in check, Australia will destroy him this summer if he lets them get to him and the entire cricketing world saw how easily Samuels managed to do it.  I also don't think he's much cop with the ball, Jordan is raw but he's got a lot more potential as a bowler for me.  So if you take Stokes you pick him as an all-rounder to bat 6 but that means Moeen at 7 and Buttler in a frankly ridiculous position of batting at 8.  Right now you pick 1 of Moeen or Stokes and the former is ahead for me, then I'd suggest Wood, Woakes, Plunkett, Rashid, Finn, etc are competing for the 4th bowling spot and 8th/9th in the batting.

Not sure about picking someone for their slip fielding!  I reckon they will go conservative again and Wood won't play. 

[paul_e]

I would definitely play Wood to add some variety to the attack in place of Jordan

There's no chance I'd drop Jordan, his slip fielding alone is almost worth a place in the team.

Stokes would be the one to make way for me.  He's got to learn to keep his emotions in check, Australia will destroy him this summer if he lets them get to him and the entire cricketing world saw how easily Samuels managed to do it.  I also don't think he's much cop with the ball, Jordan is raw but he's got a lot more potential as a bowler for me.  So if you take Stokes you pick him as an all-rounder to bat 6 but that means Moeen at 7 and Buttler in a frankly ridiculous position of batting at 8.  Right now you pick 1 of Moeen or Stokes and the former is ahead for me, then I'd suggest Wood, Woakes, Plunkett, Rashid, Finn, etc are competing for the 4th bowling spot and 8th/9th in the batting.

Not sure about picking someone for their slip fielding!  I reckon they will go conservative again and Wood won't play. 

It was a pretty glib way to make my point but what I really mean is that I don't see much between their records Stokes is a bit better with the bat (he has that score from Australia distorting his figures somewhat at the moment) but Jordan has a better bowling economy and average but slightly less wickets. Given that Jordan brings something else to the side which Stokes doesn't.  I also firmly believe that that Moeen and Stokes are competing for a spot at 6, picking them both harms Buttler who i think we should be giving more opportunity to bat rather than pushing down the order.

[peter w]

I wouldn't have Moeen Ali anywhere near the team. He needs to go back to Worcester and just get some games, and some overs, under his belt. He's by no way a great spinner but he cannot be picked for his batting alone. he's a one in 5 type batsman with too many class looking 30s before holing out.

[PaulWinch again]

I think Stokes is very close to being a very good player and if we can slightly modify his aggression it could be a very useful asset. We need destructive bastmen, which he is. We also need aggression to counter the Aussies.

[PaulWinch again]

I think Graves is a bit foolish to come out and say he what he said wasn't misleading. If you look at his quotes at the time they clearly implied that if Pietersen scored runs in county cricket he'd be considered for selection.

[aev]

I wonder if Jason Gillespie would want to select him?

[peter w]

Of course he would. he's never been dropped other than the stupid sacking decision. Now you have Strauss picking the team for the coach/selectors. As I said before the summer's tests were a bit too early, but they maybe should have said that but tell him that he'll be going to the 20/20 World Cup in India if he's in form and still scoring runs. maybe even a winter tour as I doubt we'll still have Cook as captain and a new captain and new (ish) coach will put more pressure on Strauss to change things. i also expect to see the end of Whittaker, Broad and maybe Anderson very soon.