2nd ODI: India v England at Cuttack on Jan 19, 2017

[Arthur Crabtree]

He averages 32 in his last 20 games. Three fifties. SR 85.

Cook averaged 27.5 in his 20 games before he went. One fifty. SR 73.

Morgan is doing a lot more than Cook was in his last year, and the captaincy was dragged away from Steely by a revolt from the junior selectors. Plus Cook was part of the problem, and Morgan appears to be part of the solution.

I was pushing for Taylor ahead of Morgs about a year ago, but eventually accepted that EM didn't actually deserve to be dropped.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Average needs to be 35, SR 90 really, as a minimum, so needs to improve.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Cricinfo's predicted team.

England (probable): 1 Jason Roy, 2 Alex Hales, 3 Joe Root, 4 Jos Buttler (wk), 5 Eoin Morgan (capt.), 6 Ben Stokes, 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Chris Woakes, 9 David Willey, 10 Adil Rashid/Liam Plunkett, 11 Jake Ball

[andy]

Would rather see Woakes left out tbh,

MY SIDE WOULD BE

1.Roy 2.Hales 3.Root 4.Billings 5.Stokes 6.Buttler (wk) (c) 7.Moeen 8.Willey 9.Rashid 10. Plunkett 11. Ball

[Dr Cricket]

Win the toss and win the game coming up in Cuttack.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2017 ... s-buttler/

team batting first will probably have to get 400 odd in first innings to be safe of victory.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/engin ... 92289.html
last time around india got 360 although they did thrash Sri lanka.

last time england played here.
India chased 270 odd easily.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/engin ... 61047.html
although that was the old england that thought 270 was match winning.

[Arthur Crabtree]

A lot more of the India players still around than England.

KP captain. Freddie. Could do with them.

Not so much Bopara.

[Arthur Crabtree]

There seems to be a bit of a tailwind behind Billings at the moment, and it might indicate that England's batting is actually quite strong now that it feels impossible to get him in the side. Or more, that it would potentially be crazy to get him in the side. Buttler is probably England's best ODI batter ever (hard to compare to the old timers when the bowlers had a chance, but even so, a reasonable shout). Root would be a shoo-in to the best England ODI side ever. Stokes is potentially a once in a generation all rounder. And that's partly why Morgan is under a little pressure.

[rich1uk]

having billings in the side would allow us to move buttler to #4 as well, which is where i think he should bat, morgan wont bat below buttler unless we have got off to an exceptional start

[Arthur Crabtree]

Maybe it'd be more of a captain's role for Morgan at six. Chaperone the lower order during a collapse. Hold his nerve in a tight finish. It's a good position for an experienced player. Though again, it's a role that others outside the team might play better.

[dan08]

Could just play Billings instead of Moeen seeing as Morgan won't go. It's not as if the sixth bowling option actually adds anything.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Having only five bowlers seems one of those problems that are forgotten about after a couple of wins (like other solutions like having a left arm seamer, having pace-off options, etc). Having five good bats plus Stokes, plus bowling all rounders should be enough. If Billings has to be in that much, just have to drop a batter. If he's not worth dropping a batter for, leave him out.

[Making_Splinters]

A sixth bowler is vital in ODIs.

[rich1uk]

rashid replaced by plunkett for today

looks like those people "calling for his head" may have had a point

[hopeforthebest]

If the ground is small as the last was then leaving Rashid out was necessary even fom him as another tonking might set him back mentally. I suspect they see Root as a sixth bowling option but as you say a true sixth bowling all rounder is needed.

[alfie]

Guess if they wanted another fast bowler Rashid was the obvious casualty. Pity , because he's been pretty handy in ODI - and generally hasn't had a bad tour all round. But they have to do what they think will help win games - and develop bowling combinations for the future.

On the last point : I am less bothered than many about issues of Morgan - Billings - Bairstow , etc . England need more than eleven players who can be used in the side , surely ? Australia , for example , don't mind resting players : they have a solid squad who can do a job ; and have gained that partly by giving opportunities to fringe players when it suited...

I don't actually think Morgan is any tactical genius ; but he has been a successful captain in ODI and (even if he has slipped a bit recently as a batsman) still has the potential to play the odd brilliant innings : I see no need to rush him out the door. I do hope the other batsmen get chances to show what they can do ...and I'd imagine minor injuries and rotation should enable that to happen. If Morgan really does demonstrate that he's past his sell-by date then fine - they have the replacement.

Bowling first. Four early wickets again would be nice