The enigma that is Kevin Pietersen

[Making_Splinters]

its ok to have a low-ish strike rate if you are consistently making big scores to allow others around you to take chances

bell does neither , you cant afford his strike rate when he is not going on to make the big scores like cook and trott do

Well aside from the fact that the season before last Bell made over 900 list A runs with 2 tons and 7 fifties at an average of over 60 being the second highest run scorer in the entire country behind Trott as well as two fifties from four innings in T20.

Didn't have a great season last year, but he's in form has already made 82 off 84 in his one pro 40 innings this year.

[bigfluffylemon]

Actually, Strauss never announced a formal T20 retirement but still a ridiculous rule.

Strauss is available for selection for T20s. He just doesn't get picked.

[Making_Splinters]

This sounds like a classic case of "More money to be made elsewhere with less effort". Play a few tests and a dozen IPL matches each year and rake in a few million instead of going on long tours.

Well aside from A) The IPL hardly clashes with England ODIs and B) He'll lose money by having his England contract downgraded.

[rich1uk]

its ok to have a low-ish strike rate if you are consistently making big scores to allow others around you to take chances

bell does neither , you cant afford his strike rate when he is not going on to make the big scores like cook and trott do

Well aside from the fact that the season before last Bell made over 900 list A runs with 2 tons and 7 fifties at an average of over 60 being the second highest run scorer in the entire country behind Trott as well as two fifties from four innings in T20.

Didn't have a great season last year, but he's in form has already made 82 off 84 in his one pro 40 innings this year.

so what ?

hes always played well in domestic limited overs cricket

but never translated that into ODIs

[dan08]

We can't afford both Bell and Bopara in the ODI team. I would prefer if we didn't pick any of them...

[meninblue]

I am shocked

[greyblazer]

If that is the case Strauss should have officially announced his retirement after 2011 WC from t/20's? I remember him saying he will quit from t/20 cricket after the first t/20 match played in WI in 2009. Maybe I am wrong.

[shankycricket]

Strauss never announced an official retirement from T20. He just said that he doesnt want to be the T20 captain as he doesnt feel he is good enough to be in the T20 side. Something along these lines, I think.

[Gingerfinch]

Strauss never announced an official retirement from T20. He just said that he doesnt want to be the T20 captain as he doesnt feel he is good enough to be in the T20 side. Something along these lines, I think.

That would explain it!

[shankycricket]

We can't afford both Bell and Bopara in the ODI team. I would prefer if we didn't pick any of them...

If we pick Nash as the opener, then we might not need Bopara as Nash is a 6th bowling option. So yes. But without KP we havent got a chance, to be honest.

[greyblazer]

This is the t/20 match I was thinking of. I remember him saying he wasn't good enough to play. Even if that is the case as per the stupid rule he should have officially announced that he would retire from t/20's too after the 2011 WC.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/wiveng2009/ ... 52674.html

[shankycricket]

@Andrew McGlashan says Strauss was perhaps given 'special dispensation' but no such thing for the no.1 batsman in t/20 cricket

But Strauss doesn't play in the IPL. That may have had a bearing?

WTF?

Language!

It may have, then again, it may not!

Couldn't think of another reason.

Apologies! The WTF wasnt directed at you. It was directed at the ECB if that was indeed the case. But if memory serves right, Strauss never officially retired from T20.

[rich1uk]

We can't afford both Bell and Bopara in the ODI team. I would prefer if we didn't pick any of them...

If we pick Nash as the opener, then we might not need Bopara as Nash is a 6th bowling option. So yes. But without KP we havent got a chance, to be honest.

its certainly big shoes to fill

maybe he had a bad run in the ODI side but he was still one of the few matchwinners we had , none of the potential replacements really inspire me in the regard , either people who have had loads of chances and failed to impress or youngsters who might or might not be ready to step up at this level

with KP retired and morgan in poor form our ODI batting suddenly looks uninspiring

[Making_Splinters]

The point is pretty simple Bell is one of the best limited overs bats in the country, he's also in form both domestically and internationally and I'd give him a run at the top of the over based on current performance and out performing everyone else in the recent past, my objection to Bell has always been he's been in the way of better players in the side or that he can't fit into the side in a position that suits him, now neither of those apply so I'd throw him in for the Windies.

Other options would be Carberry or Nash, though Hales would sadly almost be more likely.

Nice to see people are taking any chance to have a dig at Bopara.

[Gingerfinch]

@Andrew McGlashan says Strauss was perhaps given 'special dispensation' but no such thing for the no.1 batsman in t/20 cricket

But Strauss doesn't play in the IPL. That may have had a bearing?

WTF?

Language!

It may have, then again, it may not!

Couldn't think of another reason.

Apologies! The WTF wasnt directed at you. It was directed at the ECB if that was indeed the case. But if memory serves right, Strauss never officially retired from T20.

Ok