Rebuilding for the next World Cup.

[braveneutral]

I'd like to see Roy in the side, one of the few players in England who can utterly destroy an attack.

I dunno, Saker's destroyed ours.

[Durhamfootman]

Plunkett?
Brooks?

a leftie would be nice.... one who actually plays rather than the lefties usually quoted.

[westoelad]

I take it Jimmy will concentrate on tests, if not then tell him to. Same for Bell, even if he's scored a few lately.

I've never heard that they are thinking of retiring. Though they have young families. Maybe they'll want to hang around for a WC in England?

Jimmy was quoted as saying he'd have to consider lessening his workload after the World Cup. Fully expect him to announce his retirement from ODI's very shortly.

[Arthur Crabtree]

OK, thanks for that.

[Arthur Crabtree]

a leftie would be nice.... one who actually plays rather than the lefties usually quoted.

Footitt is getting some notices.

[Durhamfootman]

a leftie would be nice.... one who actually plays rather than the lefties usually quoted.

Footitt is getting some notices.

I can't remember who he plays for. Used to be Derby? no longer, I think

[Arthur Crabtree]

Used to be at Notts, where he was very wayward and didn't take many wickets. I think he was somewhere before that. Had an amazing season for Derbys last year.

[Arthur Crabtree]

No started at Notts.

[shankycricket]

How about?

Hales
Roy/Vince
Taylor
Root
Stokes
Buttler
Moeen
Woakes
Rashid
Finn
Topley

[Arthur Crabtree]

Finn hasn't come out of this tour well. Rashid will get a chance, at least with the Lions. Topley rarely seems to be fit, as is the lot of young pace bowlers. Very plausible top eight. Hope they all get a go.

[Durhamfootman]

a leftie would be nice.... one who actually plays rather than the lefties usually quoted.

Footitt is getting some notices.

I can't remember who he plays for. Used to be Derby? no longer, I think

no .... he is in the Derby squad for 2015 after all. Not sure how I missed him earlier

[Durhamfootman]

If I was a young seamer in county cricket, capable of bowling somewhere near the 85-90mph mark, I'd be practicing my yorker every bloody day in the nets for the whole year, and bowling it repeatedly every time the TV cameras appeared

[m@tt]

Haven't posted on CMS for a few days, though I've ranted plenty elsewhere.

Changes are needed.

Downton's year has been a complete disaster, I can't identify a single positive thing he has done, he has to go (the MD position can probably go to).

I've tried to give Moores the benefit of the doubt. But it's just clear that whilst he may be of use elsewhere within the ECB coaching structure, he's over-promoted. His tenure will sadly be summed up by the "we'll need to check the data" quote. If you can't see from the team balcony what's wrong, you're in the wrong job.

Saker's overstayed his welcome. Always sad when that happens because for a time he did a great job but something has gone wrong and our fast bowlers have gone backwards. He can be on gardening leave for the rest of his 6 month contract.

Selection committee. A novel idea - only selectors turn up to the meetings. No executives, no statisticians (by all means ask for stats etc in advance), no one other than selectors and the head coach. I'm also concerned that the current team consists of two guys with zero international playing experience, a former batsman with a grand total of 55 international runs, and a fine former Test bowler but a classic no. 11. That's not to say any one individual is wrong, international experience shouldn't be a prerequisite for the job, but the mix is questionable.

The team. The players have obviously let themselves down. But I also feel for them. They can play, they have done so before. From their media utterances, it appears they have had their heads filled with junk.

The senior players can have the rest of the summer off from the ODI side. Bell, Anderson and Broad are needed in the Test side. That's not to downplay the summer ODIs, nor to say they'll never play ODIs again, however with 4 years now till the next World Cup, we will learn didly squat playing them. Better to give others a shot. But the aim will always be to win - we may be trying to give players experience but there will be no lose-to-win rubbish.

Morgan's captaincy spell did not go well, his form is poor, so he needs a spell out of the side to rediscover it with Middlesex and his IPL team. Bopara's done - yes he didn't play but if a player with well over 100 caps couldn't be trusted more than a half-fit Ballance, then there's no point. Finn can play against Ireland come May, but he also needs to be give time with Middlesex.

For the Ireland ODI, given that the Windies tour party and IPL players will miss out, I'd go with:
01 Hales 02 Roy 03 Taylor 04 Vince 05 Stokes 06 Billings 07 Willey 08 Woods 09 Tredwell 10 Finn 11 Rankin
and then come the summer series, look to go with
01 Hales 02 Roy 03 Taylor 04 Root 05 Buttler 06 Stokes 07 Ali 08 Woakes 09 Willey 10 Woods 11 Finn
(5/6/7 will be flexible depending on match situation)

Though I'm really unsure on the bowlers. Willey and Woods could easily read Footitt and Brooks. I don't know enough about them to say, but they've been involved with the Lions and EPP so much be close to selection. We need to find a left arm quick and another fast bowler who offers something a bit different such as great yorkers or a skiddier style.

The batsmen don't worry me. We just need to let them do their thing. The bowlers does worry in that there just isn't anyone standing out in county cricket, no bowlers who get people excited in the same way that Roy, Vince and Billings get people excited. That people keep bringing up Mills despite him always being injured says a lot. Topley, once fit again, also another one to consider and the Overton twins too (though I have been concerned that they've attracted attention more for their builds than their returns).

Of course there are big scheduling problems that need to be fixed but that's a longer term thing - you can't just rip up the schedule for the coming six months. We need to find a way to get international players playing more domestic one day stuff and T20, without necessarily dropping half the international summer. It's a tough balancing act, and at the same time there's demand for a T20 franchise league. I wouldn't want to be making the decisions on that!

[Arthur Crabtree]

Spot on Matt.

[rich1uk]

cant argue with much of that

I know people will complain about stokes at #6 and moeen at #7, especially moeen after doing reasonably well at the top, but that team looks way better balanced to me, and I don't see why the way stokes and moeen play cant work in those positions

who is your captain matt ? root, taylor or buttler ?