Cricket World Cup 2015

[captainfog]

Loads of boring limited overs cricket, but I'll probably still watch or listen to lots of it.

Much can change between now and then, but if I had to pick right now I'd go into in the world cup this squad. Fifteen is such a small number of players, you have to be really decisive. I decided to take Balance because he's versatile and can bat anywhere in the order and can give it a good whack. I thought we should have a backup wicketkeeper in case Butler gets injured so I went for Bairstow. He's well practiced at carrying the drinks and so should do a fine job. The last two spots went to bowlers. Treadwell as back up for Moeen and Finn as backup for the quicks. I've included Bopara in my starting lineup because I think his batting has really come on in the last 12 months and his bowling can be really useful and real asset on those drop in pitches. Shock Horror! I included Woakes! We need a death bowler, is he it? Would like to see a bit more of him. Yes, I dropped Cook. Obviously.

Bell
Hales
Ali
Root
Morgan
Bopara
Butler
Stokes
Woaks
Broad
Anderson

Bairstow
Balance
Finn
Treadwell

[Chazza]

Roy and Taylor should be in the one day squad.

Bell out to concentrate on test cricket.

[captainfog]

Roy and Taylor should be in the one day squad.

Bell out to concentrate on test cricket.

Ahead of who though? Give them a go in the the tour of Sri Lanka and see how they go. Definitely time to force their way in. I like Bell in this format, he can score quickly and be the guy the innings is built around.

[Chazza]

Taylor has been immense in the one day format recently piling on runs.

Bell has been poor in one days for a while hasn't hit a ton since the 12-13 tour of India.

Roy is a destructive opener in T20 and should be given a chance at 50 overs.

Taylor is ahead of Bairstow and Ballance for me at the moment.

[Subby]

If it wasn't for Morgan yesterday India would have handed England their ar$e$ to them yet again.

[Alex]

Yea, but he was there. So that doesnt work does it

[captainfog]

Taylor has been immense in the one day format recently piling on runs.

Bell has been poor in one days for a while hasn't hit a ton since the 12-13 tour of India.

Roy is a destructive opener in T20 and should be given a chance at 50 overs.

Taylor is ahead of Bairstow and Ballance for me at the moment.

Would you only take one wicket keeper in your 15?

[Chazza]

One specialist.

Root can keep if required or Morgan.

[captainfog]

In that case I'd stick a big biffer in the squad like Roy. Never seen him play but his reputation sounds like exactly what we need. I'm completely meh about James Taylor after seeing play a couple of innings of test match cricket a few of years ago. Not convinced he has what it takes to make the step up.

[Buzzo]

Nowhere else to put this.

Just the 15 wickets for Rushworth so far (they are still playing)....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/o36833

...only 11 with the bat though

[Shaggy]

****ing hell!

[Buzzo]

Its finished. Rushworth's match figures.

20 Overs
3 Maidens
95 runs
15 wickets

[captainfog]

Mark Butcher made a very good case for the inclusion of Lumb. He has convinced me. Here is my amended 15:

Lumb
Hales
Ali
Root
Morgan
Bopara
Butler
Stokes
Woaks
Broad
Anderson

Bell
Balance
Finn
Tredwell

It's a toss up between Balance and Taylor for a spot in the squad. I'm going for Balance.

[Alex]

Do Hales and Lumb still open for the T20 side?

[captainfog]

Do Hales and Lumb still open for the T20 side?

They open for their county together. Lumb smashes it from ball one which takes the pressure of Hales and lets him build his innings.