ICC World Cup 2015 - Pool A

[rich1uk]

Yes. Including fast snicko.

Presumably Buttler could say the same things as a keeper as he could as vc. The main difference with making him vc is he'll be skipper if Morgan gets injured/dropped.

Which is surprising. Wonder if it'll go to his head, like the Big Cheese.

don't think he is that sort of character

[Arthur Crabtree]

I haven't got an impression of what he's like. You do get a picture over time, however much their pr is rehearsed. But then I wouldn't have got Prior right.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Everyone, even KP, says Steely is just a nice bloke. But he comes across as being thin skinned, petulant, immature, self serving and a bit incoherent- admittedly under unusual pressures.

Anderson seems shy, cautious and lacking in confidence...

[Aidan11]

I hate all those banal answers players and coaches give to loaded media questions. Why can't they just be honest?

Moores: "I haven't a clue what to do but if we somehow get to the quarter finals I can at least say I'm doing better than Ashley Giles".

Morgan: "I didn't want to be captain. It's hard. That Cook bloke rings me up every night with abuse. I can't take any more"

Bopara: "Every day feels like I've won the lottery. I have no right to be here but they keep picking me. I'm the jammiest cricketer going".

Hales: "AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

[hopeforthebest]

Joe Root has been at it again, defending captain Morgan with the same speech he practiced for defending Cook. It's not easy for any player to answer questions about his captain's poor form but Root is just too effusive to be believed for my taste.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Yes, good point Hope. Moores was calling his team steely this week as well.

[KipperJohn]

It will be very tough at the MCG - which is why I'd like to see Ballance in instead of Bopara. Only 2 overs bowled again today so that part of his game barely seems to matter. If he isn't going to bowl, or only as a last resort then bring in a better bat with a clearer mind.

Definitely need to put some robustness into the middle order with Morgan finding runs hard to come by.

When the chips are down forget all the talk about balance of the side, winning the toss and such like - this will be about strength of character and playing the situation in front of a partisan crowd in an intimidating stadium.

If Moores can make tough decisions he'd put Ballance at 5 and move Morgan to 6 - can always change the order as necessary.

[hopeforthebest]

It will be very tough at the MCG - which is why I'd like to see Ballance in instead of Bopara. Only 2 overs bowled again today so that part of his game barely seems to matter. If he isn't going to bowl, or only as a last resort then bring in a better bat with a clearer mind.

Definitely need to put some robustness into the middle order with Morgan finding runs hard to come by.

When the chips are down forget all the talk about balance of the side, winning the toss and such like - this will be about strength of character and playing the situation.

If Moores can make tough decisions he'd put Ballance at 5 and move Morgan to 6 - can always change the order as necessary.

I too would bring Ballance in to replace Bopara but I'd have hin open with Bell and move Moeen to 6. Moeen claims he's overcome his problem with the the rising ball but I see no evidence that there's much truth in that. Even today against good but not really fast bowling, he looked uncomfortable. I think he'd do better lower in the order when the ball has lost some of it's hardness.
Although Ballance only achieved a 70% S/R that was mainly due to taking 20 deliveries over his first 3 runs, after which he scored 54 off 61 deliveries. Not bad for his first outing.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Seems tough on Ballance (though this is what he's there for) to completely ignore him in preparation for the WC and then put him in the first game. It would make Peter Moores look less than capable. And he has Morgan's form on his hands too, having made him skipper.

[hopeforthebest]

Seems tough on Ballance (though this is what he's there for) to completely ignore him in preparation for the WC and then put him in the first game. It would make Peter Moores look less than capable. And he has Morgan's form on his hands too, having made him skipper.

Moores has a ready made excuse, i.e. a broken finger prevented an earlier inclusion.

[Making_Splinters]

Moores is an idiot, sooner we're rid of him the better. It's oft said the definition of madness is to do the same thing and expect different results.

England missed a trick with the King of Spain, luckily it's the Red Rose who'll benefit from that.

[Aidan11]

Wouldn't have had Gilo myself but if it was a toss up between him and Moores I would have picked Gilo each time.

[Gingerfinch]

Giles's s comments on the BBC all time ODI XI makes me think we are better off without him.

[Making_Splinters]

Wouldn't have had Gilo myself but if it was a toss up between him and Moores I would have picked Gilo each time.

Giles did an excellent job at Warcs, he was unlucky to simply be Flower's underling when things started to go bad.

[Aidan11]

If Steve Harmison does a decent job in charge of Ashington FC he might be our man.