Counting down to the back-to-back Ashes series in 2013/14

[Arthur Crabtree]

I'm by no means anti-Bopara. If he could score some runs, I'd love to get his bowling into the team. We've invested too much in him to give up entirely- maybe. But he was dropped because he was utterly unpickable in two squads, and then has done nothing, anywhere since. It's only fair on everyone concerned that he should do something before being picked again. This is the worst selection in TEN YEARS!

fact

[braveneutral]

Think it is odd and agree with your reasoning but 10 years is strong although struggling to come up with some counter-suggestions. This is where the post fizzles out into nothingness and the poster hopes you all glance over it.

Reminds me a bit of the selection of Benson and Hedges in Mike Bassett football manager but struggling to think of a brand named Bopara.

[andy]

Interviews with Chris Rogers at interval of the cricket here...good to see him getting a chance again.

[GarlicJam]

England will be playing a 2 day match in the Red Centre.

Nov 29/30 will see England playing the Chairman's XI in Alice Springs, as Manuka Oval is being resurfaced around that time. Besides the fact that temperatures are likely to be in the high 30's, even low 40's, for the match, this has to be a great development for all. The England players will get to see a part of Aus not normally included in tours - and there's every chance that they will have a tour day organised for them out to Uluru (Ayer's Rock) and the Olga's (can't remember their new name, Something-Kate). It will also be great for the people of the Alice to see big time sport in their own town. I remember seeing England play a similar match out in Kalgoolie (in 1986?), it was a great occasion for the locals. Should be good for the development of cricket within the indigenous communities in the Outback, as well.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Should be a great experience for the England players. Not sure many of the Test team will go with those temperatures. I remember Bill Bryson writing about Alice Springs in his travelogue about Australia (recommended) and it sound like a very old fashioned place. But different, and thank goodness for that. As an enclave of humanity in that vast wilderness, where any travel once meant to risk your life, Alice Springs must have been a town of mythic proportions for explorers and settlers. Nice one CA!

[GarlicJam]

I like that post, Arthur.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Looking slightly further ahead, to the Ashes of 2016, does this look a possible England XI for that time:

Cook/Root/Compton/Taylor/Stokes/Bairstow/Woakes/Bresnan/Broad/Kerrigan/Finn?

The squad completed by Meaker/Buttler/Panesar/Vince/Chopra. Unless Bopara is still around the squad.

[Kim]

Looking slightly further ahead, to the Ashes of 2016, does this look a possible England XI for that time:

Cook/Root/Compton/Taylor/Stokes/Bairstow/Woakes/Bresnan/Broad/Kerrigan/Finn?

The squad completed by Meaker/Buttler/Panesar/Vince/Chopra. Unless Bopara is still around the squad.

Sam Hain will be playing for England by then.

Or Australia.

[GarlicJam]

Or Australia.

I assume he is an Australian then?

[Kim]

Difficult one. Both parents English. Born in Hong Kong. Lived all his life in Australia. A phenomenon with the bat. Warwicks seconds debut at 14. Aus under 19 debut at 16.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Sorry,I had my Hain radar turned off. Soon as he scores a fc run I'm going to go big on this.

There is a point (maybe) that quite a few England players will be approaching their mid thirties together. I'd guess KP will go after the away Ashes series. Bell, Prior and Trott are maybes for 2016. It'd be nice if a couple of them were playing. Anderson and Swann will have gone, and will be huge losses. We'll have stopped waiting for Tremlett to come back. Onions will be gone.

Jamie Overton and Harris could be contenders. There are half a dozen young keepers who will be more 7-8s than 5-6. But better keepers than Bairstow/Buttler. The side I named above doesn't really look like a transitional side (good) it looks like a new side (bad).

Who knows what the Aussies will look like.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Let me change this!

[Arthur Crabtree]

This was a double post and the site wouldn't let me delete it.

[Kim]

This lad may be worth noting (in addition to Hain) Arthur - http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/con ... 16572.html

6 foot 8.(new Tremlett?) Apparently coming on leaps and bounds tho haven't seen him in flesh

[Arthur Crabtree]

Surely he's got to go through the getting himself to a division one team phase yet. ;)