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[joeljonno]

How an ODI series in SL prepares you for Perth and some serious fast bowling I have no idea.

It's a choice between playing ODIs in the sun continent or not at all.

Some practice is better than none.

The best way to prepare would to play a range of games against a range of opposition in Aus, no point having too much practice against quicks when you are playing Pakistan or India who rely on spinners more.




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[Manormanic]

Example batting plan for a OD game.
After 10- 50/1  (5s)
@ 35 overs - 190/3 (5.5s)
@ 40 overs - 220/4 (6s)
@ 50 overs - 280/  (6s)

There is some logic to this in English conditions or in the UAE but on Australian pitches I suspect the ability to make rather more than 280 is a necessity.

Cook should stay as skipper.  I don't agree with it, but a chance at this point would be detrimental to the team ethic.  And Ali really should play because aside from his bowling, his bating early doors is a good balance between aggression and common sense.

With those two in the side, and with Root and Morgan at four and five, it would make most sense to drop Ian Bell.   Cook could then drop to three and build an innings after the openers have looked for a fast start - if they really rocket away, he can always drop further down (if Bopara was in as the fifth bowler so much the better here)

My side for the WC would be:

Hales
Ali
Cook
Root
Morgan
Buttler
Bopara
Stokes or Jordan
Broad
Finn
Anderson

[Kez]

Agreed the method is more suited to English and probably NZ conditions but it can be adapted to fit where in the world you are, but i reckon most teams would take 280 batting first in most places.

And todays ODI scores in Oz 267 chased down with an over to spare and the saffer were close to those scores mentioned previously. 

I still feel with Mo at the top of the order the scoring will be quick enough.
And do people not realise Cook has a T20 hundred?

50 overs is a long time... As Rohit Sharma proved the other day, albeit in very friendly conditions.

[Gerry SA]

Sorry but how exactly is Moeen Ali a viable option as opener on bouncy pitches? Ali was struggling against India's medium pacers earlier this year.

So what's he gonna do against Johnson/Starc/Hazlewood/Cummins etc? On rapid pitches?

Sri Lanka aren't exactly providing the most spiteful attack going around are they?

[Bats_Entertainment]

pieterson

Wow! Progressive!

[Manormanic]

Agreed the method is more suited to English and probably NZ conditions but it can be adapted to fit where in the world you are, but i reckon most teams would take 280 batting first in most places.

They may well do - the issue is, the England side is set up with 280 as the absolute limit of its possible ambitions, as opposed to an acceptable enough near par score when the big guns don't quite go on to make a really big contributions, which is where the best teams in the world would have it.

You also have to factor in the fact that England lack a real game changer with the ball, a mystery spinner or a death bowler, any of whom would make 280 a much more defensible score. 

[joeljonno]

Sorry but how exactly is Moeen Ali a viable option as opener on bouncy pitches? Ali was struggling against India's medium pacers earlier this year.

So what's he gonna do against Johnson/Starc/Hazlewood/Cummins etc? On rapid pitches?

Sri Lanka aren't exactly providing the most spiteful attack going around are they?

Because he is young and learning quickly.

Got to give the man a chance.

The medium pacers weren't too quick for him, he might use the pace of those guys.

Either way, at least we'll get them out of way first up, will make others seem easier after that.


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[Buzz]

PLEASE CAN ALEX HALES OPEN THE BATTING WITH MOEEEEEEEN.

Seriously, only in England would Alex Hales not be first name on the team sheet. They would really complement each other too.

Only just seen the suggestion of cook at three... not a bad one based on he has to get picked according to the ECB. I would rather have ballance at 3.

[WalkingWicket37]

PLEASE CAN ALEX HALES OPEN THE BATTING WITH MOEEEEEEEN.

Seriously, only in England would Alex Hales not be first name on the team sheet. They would really complement each other too.

As in:
"I like your beard"
"Thanks mate, your tattoos look sick as well!"?? 

[WalkingWicket37]

As the ECB seem to be grooming Joe Root, couldn't they give him the ODI captaincy?
They also seem to be paving the way for him to be test captain at some point in the future, wouldn't it make sense get get the future of the side (Hales) opening so that Cook can put his feet up and not worry about failing in ODIs

[jwebber86]

It's ballance even in the squad

[smilley792]

It's ballance even in the squad

nope.

[RichW]

I know Hales had a great season in the UK but I really don't think he is good enough for international cricket.

I know that's probably and unpopular view and I think he probably deserves a chance to show what he can do but he won't be good enough to take it.

The Indians figured his game out in about 2 games and then he could hardly get it off the square.

Team should be (Assuming everyone is fit)

Ali
Bell
Ballence/Taylor
Root
Morgan (C)
Bopara
Butler
Tredwell
Broad
Anderson
Finn

Woakes just isn't international class with the ball especially when not in UK conditions.

Stokes sorry I know he did ok in the Ashes but I just don't rate him. As a genuine all rounder you need to average more with bat then with the ball and he doesn't do that.

[Kulli]

Is Morgan just hopelessly out of form, or do we reckon he's a busted flush?

[jamielsn15]

I'm never one to usually criticise national coaches/managers, etc. I figure they've got to where they are knowing a heck of a lot more about a game than I do (still makes me laugh when people genuinely believe they could do a better job).  However...

Once you get to a point where you're dropping players who are more destructive than your captain (Bell, Stokes) or cant get a look in (Taylor, even Ballance) or putting square pegs in round holes (Hales), something's got to be done.  Why not put Cook at first drop if you want to drop Bell for Hales?  Why stick a young guy in a position he's never played?

I just get the sense across all British sports that the national staff select through fear.  I acknowledge we are a naturally conservative nation, and much more so than Australia, for example, and traits like that embed themselves within institutions, but if there's a time to be bold its now.

That said, we may be saying at the triangular tournament that Hales is in a shocking run of form, Moeen can't play the short ball and Cook is flaying anything short and wide, while Bell is trusting the pitch to hit 360 degrees.  So I'll be the one sitting at the back reserving judgement!