There may be troubles ahead: England selection issues.

[Arthur Crabtree]

More runs for Woakes. He's having a good tour with bat and ball.

[D/L]

Yet it seems that the more senior and established players are the onres that support Cook/Flower, or at least on the surface, while even some of the anti - KP press talking of the secret meeting after Melbourne have indicated that the younger or inexperienced members of the team were sympathetic with KP.

Conjecture again, with "seems" and "indicated". If we stick only to what we know, it would seem strange for anyone around Pietersen to have sympathy for someone who may suddenly display appalling disloyalty to them.

And its conjecture to say the opposite, D/L. Whats your point?...

The point, and I'm surprised it needs to be "pointed" out, is that Pietersen's potential for disloyalty towards those around him is a matter of public record.

Most of the rest on here is conjecture, much of it probably not very well informed and some of it probably pure fantasy.

[Alviro Patterson]

Lets make no bones about it now he has gone, Flower had an appalling record of developing younger players, or picking players and developing them full stop.

Bit harsh is that, Flower is merely given what the selectors choose and some of their selections have been at least baffling.

Not all England players have suffered from Flowers reign. Bell, Broad, Swann, Bresnan, Anderson and Trott have improved as players during England's recent rise. Tredwell for the limited amount of games played has done a solid job. Joe Root is almost unrecognisable since first selected for England, particularly in the limited overs formats. Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes are ones to watch out for.

Broad was 22 when Flower took over and considered a prodigy. His average was 34 over his career before Flower turned up (played at a very early age), fraction over 28.3 now..... I dont think you can really say that a developing player that young improved because of the coach, more likely due to experience.

The same can be said of Jimmy Anderson, who has a career average of 30, under Flower 28.... but then he was capped first when he was twenty, and would naturally as a sportsman with increased experience expect to have played under Flower at his peak, and have played under other coaches nowhere near his best, as a bit of a test peak.

Consider the alternatives that Flower has picked himself, and Shehzad arguably isnt going to be a county bowler for much longer, Bresnan has just had the worst two years as an international and Finn is now bowling at cardboard cut outs. I dont think Swann's level can be compared, he hardly played under anyone else and was old enough for age not to factor.

Out of all the other bowlers he picked, Woakes and Kerrigan were picked then didnt even feature in the subsequent Ashes away squad (Woakes also has been poor in ODI's), Arshad Khan/Tredwell played on test, Rankin and Tremlett were picked over Onions for their bounce, but never played despite bouncy wickets, the latter being the best standout bowler in a while in the domestic game, but not even getting picked for the second XI.

Players still develop and improve as cricketers regardless of age. All good and well expecting the more established players to perform but they have to back it up with action.

Ajmal Shazhad's career is far from over and a player unlucky with injury. Last years Pro40 campaign he took 22 wickets @ 18.27 avg, 5.60rpo, 19.5 strike rate. Repeat that in the 50 over competition and he'll be in the mix for the World Cup.

Like Bairstow and Root, Chris Woakes is another player whose reputation is through the County Championship. Can't expect a player who is picked based on form in one format and replicate it in the other.

In fairness to Tim Bresnan he has battled through serious injury in the last 2-3 years, but England still keep picking him even when not fully fit.

[Gingerfinch]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/26351312

[Aidan11]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/26351312

Just seen this. It would be great to have Trotty back.

[KipperJohn]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/26351312

Just seen this. It would be great to have Trotty back.

Yes it would. Many people live with stress related illness all their lives, yet manage to achieve the goals/targets set by themselves and others. Like any other illness, it is a question of severity and management of the cause and symptoms.

Even if he doesn't go on and emulate what he had achieved so far, he's already had a great career. You never know, he could come back and do just as well or better.

Whatever, I'm sure everyone wishes him well.

[Durhamfootman]

It would certainly solve a few problems for whoever becomes the new team director.

Whether he'd be back for the SL series, I couldn't say, but I'd be prepared to bet that he'd be back for the India series, if he scores a bucketful of runs for Warks

Good luck to him.

[Making_Splinters]

Well, I've said it numerous times on this thread, glad to see JT on his way back.

[Alviro Patterson]

A relief all round that Jonathan Trott's illness hasn't affected his desire to continue playing cricket.

[D/L]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/26351312

Just seen this. It would be great to have Trotty back.

That would depend on what we actually got. Trott completely over his problems and with minimal likelihood of them returning would be good news.

As we know, and as we have seen before in international cricket, "stress related" conditions can return to cause huge problems, particularly on tour. The selectors need to be very cautious.

[Gingerfinch]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/26351312

Just seen this. It would be great to have Trotty back.

That would depend on what we actually got. Trott completely over his problems and with minimal likelihood of them returning would be good news.

As we know, and as we have seen before in international cricket, "stress related" conditions can return to cause huge problems, particularly on tour. The selectors need to be very cautious.

Difficult problem for the selectors. As mentioned before, he might be ok for the home tests, with his home comforts etc, but what happens when they go on tour?

[D/L]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/26351312

Just seen this. It would be great to have Trotty back.

That would depend on what we actually got. Trott completely over his problems and with minimal likelihood of them returning would be good news.

As we know, and as we have seen before in international cricket, "stress related" conditions can return to cause huge problems, particularly on tour. The selectors need to be very cautious.

Difficult problem for the selectors. As mentioned before, he might be ok for the home tests, with his home comforts etc, but what happens when they go on tour?

No player should be allowed to pick and choose between home and away series, though. That may be fair only if all players were allowed to and, particularly now with central contracts, that would be a recipe for chaos.

I think there was discussion of this principle each time Trescothick withdrew from a tour.

[Gingerfinch]

As I said, difficult one. If he says "I cannot tour" then he shouldn't be picked for the summer, imo. On the other hand, if Trott says he's ok to tour, then the selectors should take his word that he'll be ok, and select him.

[sussexpob]

As I said, difficult one. If he says "I cannot tour" then he shouldn't be picked for the summer, imo. On the other hand, if Trott says he's ok to tour, then the selectors should take his word that he'll be ok, and select him.

Difficult one. At the end of the day if Trott is fit to only play in the summer, are England in the position to ignore his selection? One the counter, we do have to be sensative to the fairness and balance of selection policy, and we have already had players who have been shot down picking and choosing what they do (and I guess from an IPL perspective, one may ask very fairly if a person chooses not to tour, why can a player not miss the May tests to earn a million?).

Its the delicate balance between being mindful of a players problems, while remaining fair. Personally I am one for picking the best squad based on availability, and if a player is unavailable for a personal reason of importance (and not just IPL) they should be considered home and away.

Having said that, its a weak opinion, and one that I am happy to see go both ways.

[D/L]

...On the other hand, if Trott says he's ok to tour, then the selectors should take his word that he'll be ok, and select him.

Always mindful of the failry recent (and damaging) experience of Trescothick having said the same thing, of course.

Many would not criticise them if they said, "Thanks, but no thanks".