There may be troubles ahead: England selection issues.

[Dr Cricket]

What assurances were given to KP and by whom/ My recollection is it came from Graves in one of his Waffling moments, which the press then worked into an offer to KP.

KP states that Graves told him in a phone call after taking his the job to cancel his IPL deal and score county runs, and he would be considered. Graves himself stated as much to the BBC, while not commenting direct on the phone call, he said basically exactly the same thing.

KP then scored the 300 for Surrey not long after and they went running to the hills to change their story, saying no amount of runs could replace "trust issues" and that he was not going to be picked. By memory, he score the 300 and was summoned by Strauss straight away and told to forget it, he wasnt being considered at all.

So yes..... having someone make a detrimental financial decision on a false assumption was pretty morally bankrupt. Where Graves was "waffling" is neither here nor there.... in Graves case, he is incapable of any discussion that doesnt come across as waffle.

Graves had no authority to make such promises to a single individual if such a promise was really made as it was a cricketing matter outside of his provinence. Of course the moral of the story is you can't trust a shopkeeper from Yorkshire.

Technically graves does really since he is the head of ECB but generally the head of ECB doesn't get involved with the selection barring the KP sacking since they mostly take care of the money and politics side of cricket.

[hopeforthebest]

What assurances were given to KP and by whom/ My recollection is it came from Graves in one of his Waffling moments, which the press then worked into an offer to KP.

KP states that Graves told him in a phone call after taking his the job to cancel his IPL deal and score county runs, and he would be considered. Graves himself stated as much to the BBC, while not commenting direct on the phone call, he said basically exactly the same thing.

KP then scored the 300 for Surrey not long after and they went running to the hills to change their story, saying no amount of runs could replace "trust issues" and that he was not going to be picked. By memory, he score the 300 and was summoned by Strauss straight away and told to forget it, he wasnt being considered at all.

So yes..... having someone make a detrimental financial decision on a false assumption was pretty morally bankrupt. Where Graves was "waffling" is neither here nor there.... in Graves case, he is incapable of any discussion that doesnt come across as waffle.

Graves had no authority to make such promises to a single individual if such a promise was really made as it was a cricketing matter outside of his provinence. Of course the moral of the story is you can't trust a shopkeeper from Yorkshire.

Technically graves does really since he is the head of ECB but generally the head of ECB doesn't get involved with the selection barring the KP sacking since they mostly take care of the money and politics side of cricket.

Grave can give an opinion but has absolutely no say in cricket decision making, he was not involved in the sacking of KP as he wasn't Chairman at that time and the then chairman Giles Clarke didn't make the decision either.

[Dr Cricket]

you are a bit deluded if you think he has no say, especially when you consider it was giles clarke that made KP return for the india tour in 2012, not Cook like the media claims. KP, Clarke and Cook had a meeting in Sri lanka during the T20 world cup to discuss his return to the Test team and the england fold again.
Cook actually wasn't even in the meeting personally attended through skype.

No one knows if cook wanted KP in the team then or just listened to orders higher up, but the fact remains The boards had meeting to discuss KP return during that time.
http://www.wisdenindia.com/cricket-news ... ference-12
http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-cricke ... IZ20121003

Giles clarke and the boards played a major role in recalling KP for the india tour.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cric ... 17230.html

[Dr Cricket]

If the board/Giles Clarke had no say they wouldn't be organising meetings with KP, trying to resolve the issues with KP and the players and playing an active role in his inclusion to india.
if anything the board persuaded Flower to pick him in the team again.

[Arthur Crabtree]

The Guardian is saying Wood is going to be picked for the ODIs.

[Arthur Crabtree]

If Buttler doesn't play any fc cricket this summer (as he hasn't all season) I wonder if England will look to another keeper this winter, bearing in mind there may be some pressure on Bairstow to bat at 4 or 5, as much because of his ordinary keeping as his improved batting.

There seems to be a little surprising talk that Mo is going to be picked as a top five bat this winter. He was a surprising opener last winter.

And then there's Hales, the return of Stokes, spin options, whether Ballance and Finn have done enough. It feels like the selection is in a blender.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Plus, as I mentioned elsewhere, England won't contest withdrawals by players for the tour of BD, should it happen.

[Dr Cricket]

Plus, as I mentioned elsewhere, England won't contest withdrawals by players for the tour of BD, should it happen.

but withdrawals could be an handicap if someone performs in bangladesh.
anyway can't see england touring bangladesh if any player pulls out.
although from what I am hearing is that ECB is under pressure to tour Bangladesh and basically hoping the security will be bad enough so the tour doesn't happen or the players pull out, Cue the articles saying they can pull out with no consequences.

ECB are in a muddle at the moment, might have to do some research on why ECB need Bangladesh support considering Australia pulled out quite quickly last year in way safer times and the promise FTP/Big coup doesn't really add up for ECB wanting or under pressure to tour Bangladesh in October.

I hope what ever decision ECB makes it is made in the players interest and not what political or money stuff ECB are trying to achieve.

At the moment I would say england are 75% likely to tour Bangladesh and haven't read anything that suggest it won't happen only an another terrorist attack or england players pulling out would see the tour called off.
Bangladesh at the moment got a pretty good security for the players and teams so if ECB want to tour Bangladesh it could happen since ICC, ECB and most boards are happy with what Bangladesh are providing in terms of security.

EDIT but it is dangerous times in Bangladesh so it would be a big risk to go Bangladesh and will be a lose lose situation for ECB.
what ever happens a tough decision for ECB.
wouldn't surprise me if they somehow tell the players to pull out after they agree to tour so it looks like ECB didn't pull out.
also quite baffling BCB didn't consider neutral venues since they had the time to arrange it.

[Dr Cricket]

Might have found a possible reason why the decision is tricky, although no way of knowing if it is true till we hear more but when the new FTP was signed it was stated all tours had to take place unless of act of God, terrorism and other leagal usual stuff but is quite possible England can't use the terrorism point to cancel the tour since Bangladesh could probably use the security arrangement being good enough and England past visit against them so they get the money for England pulling out.

And unlike Australia they can not postpone the series since the calendar full and so they really either have to tour, postpone it so they don't have to pay Bangladesh the cost of canceling but probably losing more money postponing it since it will likely affect the English summer or winter tours.
Or cancel it all together and probably face a legal battle.

Might even be a clause that what ever happens ecb has to pay out since it should be remembered Bcb and smaller board all asked for assurances that tours and money will be paid irrespective of what happens if they voted for the big 3 and new FTp.

With England being quite influential in cricket the cost of cancelling is quite big as well with ecb having to pay the sky rights of Bangladesh cricket, sponsors, Bangladesh home cricket rights And other things, won't be enough to bankrupt ecb but sizeable enough to say it will be about 2 yrs of profit and when their only make profit when India tour it is a pretty big hit In the pocked for ecb.

Very tough decision for ECB hopefully they make the right decision for the right reasons.

Actually way tougher decision than the Pakistan stuff since Bangladesh at the moment 50-50 since you can play but at the same time quite dangerous not clear cut as Pakistan.

[Making_Splinters]

I think England might have to just grin and bear it for the India tour and look to blood new players in Bangladesh with a relatively soft first home tour in the summer to get them bedded in.

India and Bangladesh are a huge opportunity for Rashid or another to replace Ali as the top spinner for England, equally Ali has a big opportunity to cement his place in the side as a batsman.

Of all the players in the side Ali has the most to lose this winter.

[Dr Cricket]

Technically the first test tour is SA, wi is last in August, so no real easy time to bed them in, although don't rate SA since they started being racist so it could be soft if they purposely pick poor teams and SA are in a tough period of the rand being low a racist country and a lot of cricketers leaving the game so they may actually be awful and not have many players to choose from could easily be an India 2011.

[Making_Splinters]

Ah, of course. Still Bangladesh is about as good of a tour as you can get to give players a chance, certainly better than an Indian side who look very good if they stop make daft selection decisions.

I don't hold out much hope for our Indian tour simply because our spin bowling is so weak and our batsmen are not that secure against a turning ball.

I'd go with: Cook, Hales, Root, Stokes, Bairstow, Ali, Woakes, Rashid, Broad, Finn, Anderson for India.

Make or break for Hales in India, then look to give Root the Bangladesh series off to bed in a new batsman for the home summer when we won't be playing two spinners and a new opener if needed.

[Dr Cricket]

Would be against England picking a reserve team if all player available since I reckon Bangladesh winning is a good chance and it would be carnage and embarrassing if England were the first proper team lose to Bangladesh in a series.

Probably be far tougher tour facing Bangladesh for new players than any other tour at the moment since you lose what ever happens unlikely batsman will average 100 plus and average 10s with ball.
Also It is the warm up to India test no warm up if the test takes place in Bangladesh.
In reality the Bangladesh test is more tougher than the Indian tour since England expected to thrash Bangladesh where as in India they only expected to compete.
Be honest at the moment tough to call the England vs Bangladesh series since I do think it is matter of time because Bangladesh beat a side in test at home and can't see England dominating Bangladesh at Bangladesh either.

[Making_Splinters]

Wouldn't be a reserve side with just one player missing, Root plays all three formats so will need a break with a very busy summer and England need to look at a new batsman.

[Arthur Crabtree]

For India I'm imaginativly proposing (with a nod to county performances).

Cook/Ballance/Root/Hildreth/Moeen/Bairstow/Woakes/Rashid/Broad/Rayner/Anderson
(though maybe a batter for Woakes or Broad) plus,
Hales/Stokes/Tredwell/Foster/Finn. Wood maybe ahead of Finn.

Obviously, there won't be that many changes.