ODI Series & T20i, England v New Zealand, 2015.
Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2015 3:46 pm
First match starts tomorrow in Birmingham, 13.00.
June
09: Edgbaston
12: The Oval
14: Rose Bowl
17: Trent Bridge
20: Riverside
23: Old Trafford (T20).
Once again, England attempt to climb Everest/Sagarmatha by catching a bus from in front of the corner shops. It's easy to feel a bit underwhelmed by this ODI series, but really, this is a fresh start for England, and with the last of Flower's Unlovables gone, even if temporarily, I'm going to attempt to get behind the boys.
This is made more difficult by the opponents being Brendan McCullum's popular and charismatic Kiwis, who are massive favourites for the series.
An inexperienced team for England, though surely that disadvantage has to be seen by reflection of England's experienced team being so bad. Surely this collection of tenderfoots and wannabes have as much of a chance of doing something as the old guard?
Cricinfo guesses these for the line ups:
England (possible): 1 Alex Hales, 2 Jason Roy, 3 Joe Root, 4 Ben Stokes, 5 Eoin Morgan (capt), 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 David Willey 8 Adil Rashid, 9 Chris Jordan, 10 Liam Plunkett, 11 Steven Finn
New Zealand (possible): 1 Brendon McCullum (capt), 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Grant Elliott, 6 Mitchell Santner, 7 Luke Ronchi (wk), 8 Ben Wheeler, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Mitchell McClenaghan
Wood, Taylor and Billings to fashion the bibs. Though surely dropping James Taylor from the WC would be a stunning decision? And it is at least debatable whether Finn should have survived a poor tournament.
The presence of the struggling Eoin Morgan as skipper actually makes selection more complicated.
Anyway, enjoy your latest brave new world, and don't forget to call for the return of Ian Bell at the top of the order should England come unstuck.
June
09: Edgbaston
12: The Oval
14: Rose Bowl
17: Trent Bridge
20: Riverside
23: Old Trafford (T20).
Once again, England attempt to climb Everest/Sagarmatha by catching a bus from in front of the corner shops. It's easy to feel a bit underwhelmed by this ODI series, but really, this is a fresh start for England, and with the last of Flower's Unlovables gone, even if temporarily, I'm going to attempt to get behind the boys.
This is made more difficult by the opponents being Brendan McCullum's popular and charismatic Kiwis, who are massive favourites for the series.
An inexperienced team for England, though surely that disadvantage has to be seen by reflection of England's experienced team being so bad. Surely this collection of tenderfoots and wannabes have as much of a chance of doing something as the old guard?
Cricinfo guesses these for the line ups:
England (possible): 1 Alex Hales, 2 Jason Roy, 3 Joe Root, 4 Ben Stokes, 5 Eoin Morgan (capt), 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 David Willey 8 Adil Rashid, 9 Chris Jordan, 10 Liam Plunkett, 11 Steven Finn
New Zealand (possible): 1 Brendon McCullum (capt), 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Grant Elliott, 6 Mitchell Santner, 7 Luke Ronchi (wk), 8 Ben Wheeler, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Mitchell McClenaghan
Wood, Taylor and Billings to fashion the bibs. Though surely dropping James Taylor from the WC would be a stunning decision? And it is at least debatable whether Finn should have survived a poor tournament.
The presence of the struggling Eoin Morgan as skipper actually makes selection more complicated.
Anyway, enjoy your latest brave new world, and don't forget to call for the return of Ian Bell at the top of the order should England come unstuck.