Print

[The_Bird]

Lets be honest there is no real fringe bowlers playing in these games. No Harris, Onions, Tremlett, Panesar.

Overton and Rikki Clarke come on people

[uknsaunders]

The current England Lions is about a 3rd/4th XI. Not representative of the team that plays against touring teams in the summer, except for James Taylor.

[ProCricketer1982]

Lets be honest there is no real fringe bowlers playing in these games. No Harris, Onions, Tremlett, Panesar.

Overton and Rikki Clarke come on people

You are correct. It seems to be a youngsters team rather than 'second best xi'. Aus have some youth, but more mid 20's+ players. Still, Taylor is the only one to stand up and be counted though. Meaker is a little disappointing, I thought he'd be quite good. His stats for the Lions recently is pretty poor.

[PedalsMcgrew]

I'm not too worried by any of the Lions results. They're there to learn first and foremost and I imagine that they have learnt a lot about Australian conditions and about themselves. My big worry is the discipline amongst this touring party. Coles and Stokes sent home? That's appalling! I wouldn't be surprised if some heads roll amongst the backroom staff after this. Can you imagine Andy Flower allowing this to happen on a full England tour?

As for Coles and Stokes I have no sympathy. Both have impressed me as players over the last couple of seasons but if that is their attitude to playing for England then leave them in County Cricket until they grow up....

[uknsaunders]

Both Coles and Stokes have apologised for their actions.

[Kulli]

Both Coles and Stokes have apologised for their actions.

They couldn't really not do so if they wanted to continue to have any England aspirations.

[Binsy]

Coles will never make it for the full England side but shame to see Stokes wasting his talent. Not his first indiscretion either, so he really needs to buckle down and have a good 2013 for Durham.

[Vic Nicholas]

Oh please, stop crying lads!!!

We all know that whatever shortfalls you have when the current crop retire will be plugged by lads currently plying their trade on the High Veldt with Afrikaans as their first language who will be examined with a fine  tooth and comb by genealogists searching for a speck of British DNA in the lads ancestry.

The ECCB have talent scouts permanently stationed in Cape Town and Johannesburg ready to rape and pillage the Saffer left overs for the glory of the British Empire XI.

Fear not lads, some young Saffer you have never even heard of yet will save you!

[Vic Nicholas]

In all seriousness, the Overton brothers are so overrated as to be laughable.

They both need to lose about 20 kilos each before anyone can take them seriously.

Reece Topley impressed me during the U19 WC - so he is in the wings at least.

The batting looked extremely brittle in Oz during that tournament though. The big shot Bell-Drummond didn't impress me at all.

[Number4]

Haha welcome Vic

[Vic Nicholas]

Haha welcome Vic

I love having a joke Foury - as ya know!

That Reece Topley though, sheesh he is going to be good!

[Number4]

I love having a joke Foury - as ya know!

That Reece Topley though, sheesh he is going to be good!

I was quite disappointed in Hales to be honest

[The_Bird]

What do make of Joe Burns Vic?

Looks a class act doesn't he?

[alba caerulea]

Vic what are your views on the Pakistan-born (and raised) leg-spinner Fawad who by all accounts is going to be fast-tracked through citizenship qualification in order to make him available to the Australian selectors?

I think it's about time you accepted that all nations in all sports will do whatever they can to get the best possible side out on the field. It's 2013 and it's happening, deal with it   

[ProCricketer1982]

Vic what are your views on the Pakistan-born (and raised) leg-spinner Fawad who by all accounts is going to be fast-tracked through citizenship qualification in order to make him available to the Australian selectors?

I think it's about time you accepted that all nations in all sports will do whatever they can to get the best possible side out on the field. It's 2013 and it's happening, deal with it   

Doping is happening in 2013.. .Doesn't mean you should 'deal with it'.
Steroids is happening in 2013... Doesn't mean you should 'deal with it'.

Just because things are happening for financial/being the best reasons doesn't make it right. If someone is born in place A but grows up etc in Place B then I can see why you might want to play for Place B BUT  when you are born and bred in Place A but are choosing to play for Place B for financial reasons (which this will be) then that's just plain wrong.

PS. You don't have to waste your time asking about KP, Trott etc. I think they are South African so shouldn't have played for England. (even though as they are now I want them to do well!)