England's Summer of Cricket against Sri Lanka and India

[Shaggy]

Etienne Delport @EtienneDelport
3 of 4 batsmen that outscored Cook in the Ashes have been dropped. Stokes, KP & Carberry gone. Root the only one remaining. #EngvSL

[RichC]

Utter madness!

Who's to blame if this summer we completely bomb?

[Alex]

Has to be Cook right? Hes set everything up now in his image. Dull. So there can only really be one person to look too?

[Buzzo]

Utter madness!

Who's to blame if this summer we completely bomb?

There can only be one.

[Chazza]

It's a depressing squad that reeks of conservatism. It's like a squad from the late 90s! Ali's record is not good enough with either bat or ball. He averages 40 with the ball in 1st class cricket, and he's meant to be the spinner?

Over both Brothwicky and Patel who hit tons last week and have much more to their overall game.

[Buzzo]

The pressure on Cook, given the decisions he has made this summer is immense. As soon as there is any sort of collapse questions will be asked, I personally feel he has been over promoted, a phenomenal opener but a terrible captain and tactician.

As a Scot, I have always supported and followed England at cricket since I begun to watch it in the 90's (as an escape from GCSE revision), and have ventured down for a few test matches - but for the first time, given the decisions that have been made in the last 6 months I am really struggling to want to see this side do well.

[captainfog]

The squad isn't that bad. You can argue the toss about the spinner, but at the end of the day none of them are good enough and so they've decided to go down the route of picking a part timer (he's a bit better than that) and packing the side with seamers. I presume they will be preparing green wickets.

The only conservative choice is Prior for Butler. Personally I would have gone with Jos, but with no Trott or KP they probably felt we lacked experience. Pressure is on Prior, if he doesn't make runs he will be quickly ****ed off. I would say he has two tests to save his career.

Robson - good choice
Jordan - good choice

Both of the above are the future.

I'm disappointed there is no Stokes, but he's not played much this summer and he's not established enough to walk back into the side with minimal preparation. I just hope they don't replace him with Woaks who is the epitome of English cricket in the 90s.

[Shaggy]

I think plenty of conservative decisions have been made.

No Stokes - very conservative. Yet Prior, who has played the same amount of cricket, walks back in despite not even being in the side in our last two Tests.

Prior ahead of Buttler speaks for itself.

Ali is a hugely conservative pick. Not very good at either batting or bowling but does a bit of both so he's in too.

Woakes. Dear me.

Plunkett has apparently been bowling well (and fast) but England did well under Flower because we brought new/young players through, not bringing in 29 year olds who've been outcasts for 7 years. Onions - who thrives in early English summer conditions - is overlooked always because he would be a "backward looking pick". So what the **** is Plunkett?

Shocker of a squad. We'll probably beat Sri Lanka regardless but I hate the look of the squad.

[captainfog]

His first class record is modest but I was impressed with Ali in the winter and I'm glad he's been given a chance. If it doesn't work out then we can bring someone else in.

Plunkett is a strange choice, but he probably won't play.

[Shaggy]

His first class record is modest but I was impressed with Ali in the winter and I'm glad he's been given a chance. If it doesn't work out then we can bring someone else in.

Plunkett is a strange choice, but he probably won't play.

But this is what we used to do in the dark days. Give someone one chance, **** them off and give someone else one game, **** them off, and give another straggler a go. Borthwick was given a chance so they should stick with him. He's 24 and eminently more talented IMO than Ali who is 27 and has a distinctly modest record. I just don't get it.

[Shaggy]

BBC TMS @bbctms
Jos Buttler on missing out on Test selection "You never know if you'll be ready until you play .. Hopefully one day my dream can come true"

[captainfog]

But this is what we used to do in the dark days. Give someone one chance, **** them off and give someone else one game, **** them off, and give another straggler a go. Borthwick was given a chance so they should stick with him. He's 24 and eminently more talented IMO than Ali who is 27 and has a distinctly modest record. I just don't get it.

Yeah, but I think his performances in the winter have earned him that chance. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by him this summer

[Shaggy]

I hope so but I doubt it. Since getting in the England side in the shorter forms he averages 9 in T20s and 37 in ODIs, about the same as his first class record. It's just pants.

And as for his bowling, we'd be as well letting Root have a tweak.

[captainfog]

I hope so but I doubt it. Since getting in the England side in the shorter forms he averages 9 in T20s and 37 in ODIs, about the same as his first class record. It's just pants.

And as for his bowling, we'd be as well letting Root have a tweak.

He's hardly played any T20s and he's averaged 37 in about 4 innings in ODI and looked good against a decent Windies attack. He's more than a part timer with the ball now. From what I understand that part of his game has come on a lot recently and he certainly kept it tight in the Caribbean. If you want someone to tie up an end then you could do a lot worse. He is better than Root.

[Shaggy]

Not that I give much credence to T20 but he played six T20s and averaged 9.

Played 3 ODIs, top score 55, average 37. Which isn't bad like, but he also averages 37 in first class cricket which is way off Test standard.