Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

Arthur Crabtree wrote:He was in my squad. But it's a facet of a curious group of players that even if they lose Stokes, they still need a back up top three batter more than a like-for-like. I know Livingstone has been batting at three for Lancs, but I don't know if he would be considered there for England, who also don't have cover for Cook and Stoneman.

If England replace Stokes, they'll also need another pace bowler, as I doubt they'll travel with only five.

Hussain and Nick Compton suggesting Samit Patel but I also think they need another pace bowler.

looks like the lions won't actually play any game in Australia, just a training camp not sure how the selectors or anyone could know what the players could do if they don't actually play any games.
the lions will first be based in brisbane and then move to perth.

it seems the only games the lions actually play will be against West indies in the later half of the winter so again games after the winter is over like last year.
yet again ECB can't find fixtures against the strong teams.
apparently they will play one fixture against Queensland 11 but won't be a proper game and chances are the team they face would be awful.

Although the white ball team will have a far better preparation since they play 3 games against perth BBL team so likely to face a strong team.

https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/487828

said this many times before but not really sure what ECB are doing with the lions setup, they basically doing nothing, not really a surprise england are struggling to find players coming through when they isn't really much of a lions setup to pick players from.
not much games to test their ability against other decent opposition.
quite shocking they couldn't set a game up against Australia A, guessing they couldn't negotiate terms for it.

Dom Bess (Somerset), Joe Clarke (Worcestershire), Paul Coughlin (Durham/Nottinghamshire), Alex Davies (Lancashire), Ben Duckett (Northamptonshire), George Garton (Sussex), Nick Gubbins (Middlesex), Tom Helm (Middlesex), Keaton Jennings (Durham/Lancashire), Dan Lawrence (Essex), Jack Leach (Somerset), Liam Livingstone (Lancashire), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Jamie Porter (Essex), Amar Virdi (Surrey), Tom Westley (Essex), Mark Wood (Durham).

A few players there with no sort of a season behind them.

Arthur Crabtree wrote:A few players there with no sort of a season behind them.

Always is in Lions squads but it's not greatly different from the summer squad.

Good to see Lancashire finally starting to produce some players who deserve international recognition. Obviously Triple L was always going to go, but Davies has earnt his call up after a breakthrough season at the top of the order, not to forget he's a decent keeper to boot so brings cover for two spots in any side. Not really sure what Saqib Mahmood has done to get a place on the trip though.

It'll be interesting to see how Jennings will fit into our team next year, all of Hameed, Davies and Jennings will want to be opening with one eye on the Test side, not to mention that Triple L will want to keep batting three for the same reason. Personally I'd reward the local lads and have Jennings at four, though I suspect some guarantees have been made to get his signature on paper.

agree about Davies. He seems to have had a good season.

His namesake looks as though he may have turned a corner at Somerset, after a couple of years in the doldrums

although that was more of an aside, an observation if you will, than a suggestion for England selection

Flintoff claimes on the BBC that the current Test side is the best we've ever had. So a side with out a second opener, number 3, number 5, third pace bowler and an average spinner is the best we've had Fred? I think not.

Not the best side England have had this decade.

Making_Splinters wrote:Flintoff claimes on the BBC that the current Test side is the best we've ever had. So a side with out a second opener, number 3, number 5, third pace bowler and an average spinner is the best we've had Fred? I think not.

I think Fred needs some urgent medical attention if thats honest.

sussexpob wrote:

Making_Splinters wrote:Flintoff claimes on the BBC that the current Test side is the best we've ever had. So a side with out a second opener, number 3, number 5, third pace bowler and an average spinner is the best we've had Fred? I think not.

I think Fred needs some urgent medical attention if thats honest.

Agreed, but what's he going to say? 'They're a bit crap to be honest, but we thought we were alright in 2006 and we got hammered 5-0. So I wouldn't bother watching if I were you...'

Agnew wrote this was among the worst squads to go to Australia, so it is possible to be more critical. He'll probably get a telling off from the Gruppenfuhrer though.

The difference being that Agnew is a journalist whereas Flintoff is a personality. More importantly, Agnew is also right.

Worth acknowledging that Agnew has been told to suppress thoughts negative to the message of the ECB before by Strauss. But he has been open in his criticism of the England selections. I wonder if he just forgot and remembered his responsibilities, or has the balance of power altered?

Flintoff is a sort of radio journalist, arguably. What he says about the Ashes is clearly nonsense. Is he on message? Or is he revealing himself a blinkered Botham/McGrath type patriot? Or is he merely wrong?