Arthur Crabtree wrote:I thought Ballance was a Flower pick. Although it might be they become refiled as Whitaker picks if they don't work...
There seems to be tail wind for Duckett batting at four, which I'm not sure the England party has done anything to encourage. Will they field two debutants in the top four? Away from home?
I can see the coach might feel differently from the selectors, but they are working together and the coach is a selector. If the team is picked to spite the squad, they really are in trouble. And the system isn't working. A fairly orthodox squad was picked full of pace options. And yet many are saying they'll pick two plus Stokes. They took Gary Ballance among few experienced batting options, but they're going to leave him out? They've packed the squad with spinning all rounders...
If I had a quid to put on the team I expect, it'll be four seamers, two spinning all rounders and Ballance at four. If it's not, I wonder why the squad is like it is.
Thought it was obvious that england picked a longer/bigger squad because the squad is for all 7 test in asia plus it was reported by broad in the daily mail, that the plan originally was that Anderson play one test in Bangladesh and Broad plays one test in Bangladesh.
plus they probably wanted option in india considering the players will be based in Loughbourough when the india series starts or in UAE for the last 2 test in india.
Edit plus it should be noted England lions are not doing anything when the test matches are played, so they really need a larger squad so the reserves are having nets in india or actually nearby with some game time experience.
reckon if England lions actually played a series in Sri lanka or UAE then the squad would be slightly smaller with not too many pace options in it.
Anyway telegraph reporting that Duckett will make his debut but england are not sure if he is opening yet.
At the moment they wandering if Duckett is capable of opening in Australia not sure why that is a consideration at the moment considering the Ashes is 18 months away and 14 test matches away, lol what they going to do if Hameed fails in the next 7 test drop him.
then again no surprise the pathetic ashes are always the main priority in English cricket.