Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

Topley is back, but he may not be by the end of the month

I'm not sure Gentle Ben could have done anything else after begging Mo to come out of retirement to answer the call. I suppose, with Stokes, it's the continual grind of ODI cricket that he wanted to avoid, rather than the short, sharp ODI cricket of a WC.

Complicates selection. I'm now getting two out of Livingstone, Mo and Brook.

Brook really struggled in the IPL earlier

Livingstone hasn't performed in a while

All the pundits seem to think that Buttler, Bairstow, Root, Mo, Wood, Woakes and Rashid are nailed on. Now that he's made himself available, Stokes will definitely start, so there are 7 places left in the squad. Curran must surely be under serious consideration as an allrounder batting 7 or 8 alongside Woakes and Mo

They'll need an opener alongside YJB, maybe Malan as cover for Root at 3 and if JB and Stokes are finishers at 5 and 6, they'll need a number 4... could very well be Brook

another spinner... might be Livingstone, or maybe Jacks?

Topley if he's fit alongside Wood and one other quick.... but he'd have to be quick... I wonder where Archer is at with his fitness/injury?

Durhamfootman wrote:I'm not sure Gentle Ben could have done anything else after begging Mo to come out of retirement to answer the call. I suppose, with Stokes, it's the continual grind of ODI cricket that he wanted to avoid, rather than the short, sharp ODI cricket of a WC.

No hint of irony there, DFM?

Saw an article saying Archer is expected to be fit, can't remember where it was.

Dan Lawrence an option? Surely Livingstone has to play as well.

Billings?

I had...

Bairstow
Roy
Root/Malan
Brook
Buttler
Stokes
Moeen/Livingstone
Woakes/Curran
Wood
Rashid
Topley/Archer

Plus maybe another specialist spinner.

Well a name has been put to Stokes knee condition. Patellar tendinitis. If he has an operation it doesn't sound as if it is a big one. Keyhole surgery.

Read that Atkinson will be in the WC squad.

Salt has played a lot recently. But formats have been crowding each other, so it's not always easy to read much into it.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ben- ... ce-1392741

I can't believe that Brook misses out in the ODI squad for Stokes instead of Roy.

Squad looks a batter short, and heavy on pace. No Archer, but he was a long shot.

Slipstream wrote:https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ben-stokes-returns-to-england-odi-squad-ahead-of-world-cup-defence-1392741

I can't believe that Brook misses out in the ODI squad for Stokes instead of Roy.

Neither can I. It isn't the WC squad yet though. Wait and see, eh ?

The article does say that this is planned to be the WC squad.

Archer is in the reserves to go to India but they have another Archer type in Atkinson.

What I am interested to see is Atkinson, Tongue and Turner in the T20s. Now must be looking for younger, faster wicket takers. Gone is Wood, Woakes and Jordan.

Test bowlers to India - Robinson, Anderson? Wood, Atkinson and Tongue. I put a question mark for Anderson - maybe Woakes will have a good ODI in India and he will replace Anderson.

Slipstream wrote:https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ben-stokes-returns-to-england-odi-squad-ahead-of-world-cup-defence-1392741

I can't believe that Brook misses out in the ODI squad for Stokes instead of Roy.

I can

He genuinely struggled like hell in the IPL. I think he had one big score in the entire tournament and played pretty much every game. The franchises worked out how to get him for not very many. Now this is 50 over cricket, but when does he ever play 50 over cricket, so after so many failures in similar conditions at the same grounds and with a perennial winner anywhere and everywhere in Stokes suddenly becoming available as a dedicated batsman, I can understand it

I know nothing about Gus Atkinson, but his is a name that has been bandied about, so in the absence of Archer, that hasn't surprised me either. Roy has been around for a while and has had success in the past, so with Hales retiring, so I can understand that.... don't agree with it... but I can understand it

David Willey's inclusion is the jaw dropper for me..... WTF That caught me completely by surprise. His only USP is being a leftie, but Curran does that better, does it more reliably, and bats better than Willey too. I'd question how much Willey gets to play. Feels like a luxury pick to me.... might not need him, but good to have around just in case

@willis_macp
Brydon Carse has replaced the uncapped John Turner in England's squad for the 4-match T20i series v New Zealand next week. Turner has a side injury.