After retaining the Ashes, drawing the T20 series and losing the ODI series this summer; England will be touring down under from October through to January. Rumor has it that the Test squad will be announced next Monday (23rd), who should go?
My 15-man Test squad:
Cook ©
Root
Trott
Pietersen
Bell
Bairstow (Reserve WK)
Compton
Prior (WK/Vice-Captain)
Woakes
Bresnan (If fit)
Broad
Swann
Finn
Anderson
Rankin
Australia are not going to prepare turning wickets so that is why I have only included Swann, if the worst was to happen to him in terms of an injury then just call up the spinner from the development squad which will also be in Aus at the same time.
I would pick a similar squad to the above.But Stokes instead of Woakes,Ballance instead of Compton & if Bresnan is unfit Onions.
England 17 man Squad
Cook (Captain)
Prior (Vice-Captain)
Anderson
Bairstow
Ballance
Bell
Broad
Carberry
Finn
Panesar
Pietersen
Rankin
Root
Stokes
Swann
Tremlett
Trott
You can't argue with the inclusion of Monty,he is still England's 2nd best Test Match spinner.Carberry would've been my choice to replace Strauss & not Compton.I would've given Root another year or 2 in County Cricket,but now that he's in & opening I'm not sure what message it would send by moving him back down the order.I don't see a way back for Compton now.
Bresnan will travel with the squad & his fitness will be assessed.Onions will spend the winter playing in South Africa & can be drafted in if injuries occur.
As far as I can see 10 places are nailed-on for the 1st Test - Cook,Prior,Root,Trott,Pietersen,Bell,Swann,Broad,Anderson,Finn.The final batting spot could go to any one of Bairstow,Stokes or Carberry.
Interesting squad but taking Carberry is a big mistake, he is just not good enough, and i have serious doubts about Stokes as well.
With a squad of 17 glad they to picked a couple of "young uns", so pleased for Stokes and Ballance. Personally would have picked Compton over Carberry. Also with Bresnan injured, in the quick bowling attack there is too much of alikeness, Onions, for me, just had to be in the squad for Tremlett
I shall be listening to the Tuffers and Vaughan show whilst watching Mikaela Witt doing her tease stuff on RLC me thinks.
From the excellent BBC web site:
Listen to the Tuffers and Vaughan Cricket Show at 21:00 BST on BBC Radio 5 live on Monday evening to hear more debate on the Ashes squad, while BBC Test Match Special will have exclusive ball-by-ball commentary on the series.
England Test squad for Australia: See Boomers post above.
England performance programme squad: Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Danny Briggs (Hampshire), Jos Buttler (Somerset), Varun Chopra (Warwickshire), Ben Foakes (Essex), James Harris (Middlesex), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Simon Kerrigan (Lancashire), Alex Lees (Yorkshire), Tymal Mills (Essex), Jamie Overton* (Somerset), Sam Robson (Middlesex), Reece Topley (Essex), James Vince (Hampshire), David Willey (Northants), Mark Wood* (Durham)
*Overton and Wood will remain in the UK and specialise in strength and conditioning work
The performance programme squad is a promising one.
There is a lot of talent in there that if nurtured well could reap dividends in the long term.
Does this mean that Sam Robson has decided he is English & not Australian.Quite ironic that he's been opening the batting for Middlesex with Chris Rogers who at 36 isn't going to be around for long,Robson is only 24 & Australia aren't exactly blessed with batting talent,especially openers.
(23-09-2013 22:25 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote: [ -> ]Does this mean that Sam Robson has decided he is English & not Australian.Quite ironic that he's been opening the batting for Middlesex with Chris Rogers who at 36 isn't going to be around for long,Robson is only 24 & Australia aren't exactly blessed with batting talent,especially openers.
You would have to assume so and being a adopted Englishman seems he will fit in well with the rest of the squad!
