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[Dobbs]

England Test squad for the pre-Ashes camp:

Andrew Strauss (captain) (Middlesex), James Anderson (Lancashire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Ravinder Bopara (Essex), Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Paul Collingwood (Durham), Alastair Cook (Essex), Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire), Graham Onions (Durham), Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire), Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire), Matt Prior (Sussex), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire).


England team v Warwickshire at Edgbaston (July 1-3):

Andrew Strauss (captain), James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Ravi Bopara, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Andrew Flintoff, Monty Panesar, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Graeme Swann.


England Lions v Australia at Worcester (July 1-4):

Ian Bell (captain) (Warwickshire), Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire), Joe Denly (Kent), Steven Davies (Worcestershire), Stephen Harmison (Durham), Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire), Stephen Moore (Worcestershire), Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Graham Onions (Durham), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Vikram Solanki (Worcestershire).



I like the thought of sticking Onions in the Lions squad to face the Aussies, so the selectors can see what he can do against a side fighting for the Ashes rather than a demoralized Widnies squad playing in conditions they hated with an unsupportive captain.

[Joeey92]

Im Pleased bell is captain of the lions side, hes a quality player

[Liam-SCCC]

i want to see Bell in the squad to face the Aussie in the Tests

[stevie]

Would rather have Foster in a squad but not going to happen.

[Apple]

I think if Matt gets injured they will call in fozzy and i would have liked him in the squad

[Timbo]

After the truly world class display of wicket keeping by James Foster, I'd hoped he would AT VERY LEAST be in the Lions squad

[stubbzy]

i couldnt agree more timbo.

james foster is the best keeper in england. i dont care what anyone says. he has scored several hundreds also for essex when his side really needed him to.

my arguement is, how come cook or strauss isnt expect to bowl as well as been a world class bat, so why does the keeper have to be a world class batsmen also.

[Apple]

i couldnt agree more timbo.

james foster is the best keeper in england. i dont care what anyone says. he has scored several hundreds also for essex when his side really needed him to.


 because england are chasing a dream of Adam Gilchrist

my arguement is, how come cook or strauss isnt expect to bowl as well as been a world class bat, so why does the keeper have to be a world class batsmen also.

[bucko2007]

In my opinion, on average, it is better to have a keeper that is going to score 20 runs per innings more than another who will take maybe one catch in 5 tests that the other one wouldn't, and maybe save about 5 byes per test match...
Prior is the obvious choice for the ashes, he is averaging around 50 in tests, Foster would simply be blown over, leaving the tail exposed and a collapse on the card. A long batting line up is essential, it prevents the opposition from getting momentum by rolling you over.
With regards to saying why Cook and Strauss aren't asked to bowl, I understand the point you are trying to make, but I think you overlook the fact that specialist bowlers and batsman are far more essential to victory than a specialist wicket keeper. You have specialist batsmen, specialist bowlers and then hopefully a batsman that can keep half decent. Also its a bonus if one of your batsmen can bowl... if not then you just have to pick a bowler instead of a batsman

[JimmyT85]

And chasing the dream of having another Alec Stewart!

[Coach]

In my opinion, on average, it is better to have a keeper that is going to score 20 runs per innings more than another who will take maybe one catch in 5 tests that the other one wouldn't, and maybe save about 5 byes per test match...

BC Lara (Dropped on 15 behind the stumps) 501*
Ring any bells?

[bucko2007]

Yeah it does ring bells, but how many times has that happened mate?? You can always come up with freak statistics like that, but on average it is better to have a keeper that will score 20 runs per innings more...

[stubbzy]

but he could easily cost england 20 runs; missed stuimpings, dropped catches, byes, not creating as much pressure by standing up to the stumps. and foster is also very handy with the bat.

here are fosters batting stats

Batting and fielding averages
 Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 4s 6s Ct St
Tests 7 12 3 226 48 25.11 654 34.55 0 0 27 1 17 1
ODIs 11 6 3 41 13 13.66 71 57.74 0 0 0 0 13 7
T20Is 5 5 2 37 14* 12.33 32 115.62 0 0 0 1 3 3
First-class 147 218 28 6784 212 35.70   12 33   406 34
List A 143 109 29 1978 71 24.72   0 7   175 42
Twenty20 55 46 10 733 62* 20.36 536 136.75 0 3 58 23 25 20

[bucko2007]

Averaging 25 in tests says it all... Foster wouldn't even be my second choice as a test keeper

[Apple]

mate thats wat geriant jones was averaging for about 2 years and he kept his place