There may be troubles ahead: England selection issues.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I dont know if your being sarcastic or not, but thats the way I see it.

Not at all. I was being sincere. Your explanation is very convincing. I'll assume you're right, but keep an ear out for further info from those involved. I'd expect this sort of stuff to be on the ECB website. I appreciate the information.

[Arthur Crabtree]

This is the England Lions squad to tour Sri Lanka. It looks quite strong and presumably these are the players who are lining up behind the Ashes squad. Also, I suppose these players won't be in the ODI series in WI, which explains Buttler and perhaps Finn's absence. Maybe Briggs (only one specialist spinner in the squad for first class matches in SL).

Chris Woakes (Warwickshire, capt), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Scott Borthwick (Durham), Varun Chopra (Warwickshire), Ben Foakes (Essex), James Harris (Middlesex), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Simon Kerrigan (Lancashire), Alex Lees (Yorkshire), Tymal Mills (Essex), James Overton (Somerset), Sam Robson (Middlesex), James Taylor (Nottinghamshire), James Vince (Hampshire).

Nice to see the Lions have some first class cricket on tour after mostly playing Limited overs.

Ben Foakes seems to get into a lot of these squads for someone who hasn't much county experience (I think).

Taylor has been captain before, but now Woakes(?)

[sussexpob]

This is the England Lions squad to tour Sri Lanka. It looks quite strong and presumably these are the players who are lining up behind the Ashes squad. Also, I suppose these players won't be in the ODI series in WI, which explains Buttler and perhaps Finn's absence. Maybe Briggs (only one specialist spinner in the squad for first class matches in SL).

Chris Woakes (Warwickshire, capt), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Scott Borthwick (Durham), Varun Chopra (Warwickshire), Ben Foakes (Essex), James Harris (Middlesex), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Simon Kerrigan (Lancashire), Alex Lees (Yorkshire), Tymal Mills (Essex), James Overton (Somerset), Sam Robson (Middlesex), James Taylor (Nottinghamshire), James Vince (Hampshire).

Nice to see the Lions have some first class cricket on tour after mostly playing Limited overs.

Ben Foakes seems to get into a lot of these squads for someone who hasn't much county experience (I think).

Taylor has been captain before, but now Woakes(?)

Nice to see Taylor make this one. Old Foakes copped a duck in the EPP in this match

[meninblue]

(only one specialist spinner in the squad for first class matches in SL).

I remember Danny scored a hundred last month.But i guess he is a specialist spinner. Isn't he If not, England think tank and selectors have quickly forgotten that the strategy of two specialist spinners helped them come back from 0-1 to win the series, which was historic for them. Now they are making the same mistake again to start with. They are reducing the probability of a win by trying to play against the nature. If you ask any eight year club cricketer in Asia, he will pick two spinners in the playing 11, irrespective of the format or season it is. But the selectors are not picking even two in the whole squad. Experience from the India tour has been wasted.

[sussexpob]

(only one specialist spinner in the squad for first class matches in SL).

I remember Danny scored a hundred last month.But i guess he is a specialist spinner. Isn't he If not, England think tank and selectors have quickly forgotten that the strategy of two specialist spinners helped them come back from 0-1 to win the series, which was historic for them. Now they are making the same mistake again to start with. They are reducing the probability of a win by trying to play against the nature. If you ask any eight year club cricketer in Asia, he will pick two spinners in the playing 11, irrespective of the format or season it is. But the selectors are not picking even two in the whole squad. Experience from the India tour has been wasted.

If you ask any 8 year old English fan about cricket, they already appreciate that Team England often is dictated on whether the face fits, not what the face does... Briggs face celarly doesnt fit

[Arthur Crabtree]

Or he'll be in the WI (he's in the ODI squad in Australia).

Who's next after Briggs and Kerrigan? Rafiq?

[meninblue]

(only one specialist spinner in the squad for first class matches in SL).

I remember Danny scored a hundred last month.But i guess he is a specialist spinner. Isn't he If not, England think tank and selectors have quickly forgotten that the strategy of two specialist spinners helped them come back from 0-1 to win the series, which was historic for them. Now they are making the same mistake again to start with. They are reducing the probability of a win by trying to play against the nature. If you ask any eight year club cricketer in Asia, he will pick two spinners in the playing 11, irrespective of the format or season it is. But the selectors are not picking even two in the whole squad. Experience from the India tour has been wasted.

If you ask any 8 year old English fan about cricket, they already appreciate that Team England often is dictated on whether the face fits, not what the face does... Briggs face celarly doesnt fit

Is he a specialist spinner or part timer.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Specialist. He's been seen more as a limited overs spinner to date, and this is a first class tour. But he did play in the EPP three day games in Australia. He's nearly always in limited overs squads, but doesn't get on the pitch.

[sussexpob]

(only one specialist spinner in the squad for first class matches in SL).

I remember Danny scored a hundred last month.But i guess he is a specialist spinner. Isn't he If not, England think tank and selectors have quickly forgotten that the strategy of two specialist spinners helped them come back from 0-1 to win the series, which was historic for them. Now they are making the same mistake again to start with. They are reducing the probability of a win by trying to play against the nature. If you ask any eight year club cricketer in Asia, he will pick two spinners in the playing 11, irrespective of the format or season it is. But the selectors are not picking even two in the whole squad. Experience from the India tour has been wasted.

If you ask any 8 year old English fan about cricket, they already appreciate that Team England often is dictated on whether the face fits, not what the face does... Briggs face celarly doesnt fit

Is he a specialist spinner or part timer.

Specialist spinner who is no div with the bat.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Five seamers and one spinner. These aren't must win games, so it seems reasonable to adopt a strategy that might be helpful in the future, even if they think the seam bowlers are stronger now. It'd be handy to look at spin options as well. Maybe they rate Borthwick's wrist spin, but he didn't seem to bowl that much for Durham last summer.

[meninblue]

Then it does makes sense of the selectors for including two specialist spinners and i think they will play both in playing 11 from whatever happened in India series.Can't make blunders so soon.

[Arthur Crabtree]

If Briggs is a potential spin option, maybe he'd be better off playing in Asia than struggling to get a game in WI. Still, it'll be interesting to see how Kerrigan gets on. Maybe a lot of responsibility being a lone spinner in Asia.

[sussexpob]

If Briggs is a potential spin option, maybe he'd be better off playing in Asia than struggling to get a game in WI. Still, it'll be interesting to see how Kerrigan gets on. Maybe a lot of responsibility being a lone spinner in Asia.

Shame Arjuna Ranatunga has retired.... he would have loved all those pies.

[Slipstream]

Or he'll be in the WI (he's in the ODI squad in Australia).

Who's next after Briggs and Kerrigan? Rafiq?

Ollie Raynor?

[Arthur Crabtree]

He must have had a good end of season, because I remember looking up the Div1 spinners and only Jeetan Patel had figures that weren't terrible. And yet Raynor ended the season with 41 wickets at 23. Unless I missed him.