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[Bats_Entertainment]

Shocking selection from England , I just can't understand why Onions has been selected in the test team.

Erm, he hasn't?

[Toby]

Erm, he hasn't?

Sorry lack of proof reading on my part . The mistake has been amended

[jw17]

Is it just me that feels England have done the right thing in not selecting Onions as he wont be in the starting 11 so letting him play competitive first team FCC in SA for Natal in a reasonably similar climate and on reasonably similar pitches in a better thing to do and bring him over if he is needed rather than him sitting on his (No Swearing Please) in a changing room and not getting a competitive bowl all winter.

[Manormanic]

you cant tell if someones good enough after such a short period. to score 2 test tons against anyone is still a test ton and still takes skill and ability. he dug in against india, facing spinners first up is never easy. the way the media and everyone got on his back as soon as he had a couple of low scores was shocking. theres pressure to perform anyway, let alone when the worlds ready to stick the knife in. I dont blame him one bit for his reaction. England were bang out of order with the way it happened. Roots face fits, unfortunately for compton, his doesnt. Root hasnt done much recently but wheres the knifes for his place? no where to be seen.

True he made two test tons but - lets be honest here - he did so on pitches that were somewhere south of the feathery roads he is used to batting on at Taunton.  That's not to knock the guy, but I do think you need to place those innings in the wider context - which is that at no other point in his nine tests did he look a convincing option.   Yes, he might have made a case for a second chance, but I suspect the feeling was that a combination of his lack of suitability to partner Cook, his lack of decisive footwork and his poor attitude when dropped counted against him.

Root...look, the kid is going to be world class.  That said, I do somewhat suspect that he needs clarity from the selectors - he either opens in all formats, or he bats four in all. 

[Manormanic]

Is it just me that feels England have done the right thing in not selecting Onions as he wont be in the starting 11 so letting him play competitive first team FCC in SA for Natal in a reasonably similar climate and on reasonably similar pitches in a better thing to do and bring him over if he is needed rather than him sitting on his (No Swearing Please) in a changing room and not getting a competitive bowl all winter.

If that had been openly stated, yeah - but the way it has been presented its a snub.

[Manormanic]

Shocking selection from England , I just can't understand why Onions hasn't been selected in the test team.
But what was more surprising was the lack of Borthwick and Taylor from the performance squad.

Whole performance squad sucks - no Rashid? near enough a thousand runs at 50 and he bowls leggies.  No Borthwick, whose figures are slightly worse but still very impressive, yet they've found space for Kerrigan, who probably deserves a second chance, and for Briggs WHO DOES NOT TURN THE BLOOMIN BALL!!!

Experience in Ali and Chopra - but Taylor - who made a test squad two months back - not worth a spot?

And Foakes.  Is he Cook's butler or something?

[jamielsn15]

Bit late on this, working yesterday, but some quick observations...

Panesar - has to go. He's served his time, missed the 5th test (I'm sure we all agree he would have performed significantly better than Kerrigan, Briggs, Borthwick, AN Other Novice).  If he doesn't deserve to be picked, does he never play again for England?  I wouldn't wish a marriage break up on anyone -it clearly affected him as he was tee total before.  Selectors have had assurances from Essex that he's ok - he has to go.

Great selection going for Carberry - experienced, top fielder, great batsmen in arguably better form than Compton and clearly a decent bloke to have around.  Compton dug his own grave by criticising Gooch (according to Cricinfo) and going public with his thoughts about being dropped.  He hasn't been treated fairly, but nor was Carberry in 2010 and he didn't complain...

I agree with Michael Vaughan that Bairstow shouldn't start, he has too many technical weaknesses at the moment.  I'd start Ballance, with Stokes coming in if they go with 5 bowlers.  Bairstow as reserve wk and comes in at 7 if Prior can't play.

Thought Woakes has a rough deal at The Oval, but I like the potential for England in years to come - Woakes and Stokes is a tabloid headliners dream and they could be very versatile players for England in the coming years.

My team for the first test would be;

Cook
Root
Trott
KP
Bell
Ballance
Prior
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Rankin (performed well in ODIs, is man in possession - you've picked him, so play him...)

[Bats_Entertainment]

Woakes and Stokes is a tabloid headliners dream

Potentially Woakes, Stokes and Foakes, in years to come?

Saw Gary Ballance's 148 at The Oval. I like him, he looks a 'tough' cricketer. But oughtn't a prospective Test batsman being going in higher than no.6 in county cricket?

[Manormanic]

Saw Gary Ballance's 148 at The Oval. I like him, he looks a 'tough' cricketer. But oughtn't a prospective Test batsman being going in higher than no.6 in county cricket?

To be fair, he has batted five most of the year - Yorkshire have turned out a lopsided side for this game as it is a dead rubber.

And its worth noting that the rest of the line up are prospective test bats as well!

[Nickauger]

Bit late on this, working yesterday, but some quick observations...

Panesar - has to go. He's served his time, missed the 5th test (I'm sure we all agree he would have performed significantly better than Kerrigan, Briggs, Borthwick, AN Other Novice).  If he doesn't deserve to be picked, does he never play again for England?  I wouldn't wish a marriage break up on anyone -it clearly affected him as he was tee total before.  Selectors have had assurances from Essex that he's ok - he has to go.

Great selection going for Carberry - experienced, top fielder, great batsmen in arguably better form than Compton and clearly a decent bloke to have around.  Compton dug his own grave by criticising Gooch (according to Cricinfo) and going public with his thoughts about being dropped.  He hasn't been treated fairly, but nor was Carberry in 2010 and he didn't complain...

I agree with Michael Vaughan that Bairstow shouldn't start, he has too many technical weaknesses at the moment.  I'd start Ballance, with Stokes coming in if they go with 5 bowlers.  Bairstow as reserve wk and comes in at 7 if Prior can't play.

Thought Woakes has a rough deal at The Oval, but I like the potential for England in years to come - Woakes and Stokes is a tabloid headliners dream and they could be very versatile players for England in the coming years.

My team for the first test would be;

Cook
Root
Trott
KP
Bell
Ballance
Prior
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Rankin (performed well in ODIs, is man in possession - you've picked him, so play him...)

I would argue that 600 runs @ 40 (Carberry), is not showing as good a form as Compton - 889 runs @ 46, in division 1 as well, where there's no gorging on Leicestershire and Goucestershire. Carbs has done sweet fanny adams in CC cricket and is very lucky to be going!

[Alvaro]

Hoi! Gloucester are going to finish fourth!

I suppose Compton has been unable to gorge on Zummerset's pie chuckers...

[Nickauger]

Oh are they, shows the standard even better then doesn't it

[Bats_Entertainment]

Carbs has done sweet fanny adams in CC cricket.

Do you watch much county cricket?

[Tumo]

Do you watch much county cricket?

he means this season. And he's correct. 600ish runs @ 40 is nothing major, compared to others not selected (Lumb/Taylor spring to mind, being a Notts fan, but plenty others out there!)

[Bats_Entertainment]

he means this season. And he's correct. 600ish runs @ 40 is nothing major, compared to others not selected (Lumb/Taylor spring to mind, being a Notts fan, but plenty others out there!)

Compton was born to average 46 in championship cricket and help you draw Test matches in NZ.