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[uknsaunders]

Someone tell me how Cook retains his place and Bopara gets dropped!  Seems to be one rule for cook and one for everyone else!

and why is Gurney in the team. We have established that he can't get it off the straight and goes round the park early doors. Bring back Jade!

[Kulli]

I presume todays changes are just for one last look at these two lads, rather than any reflections on what they feel is their strongest side.

[Kieron_BT]

This bowling attack could go for 500+

[Twelfth Man]

What do you guys reckon the ODI side for the 1st official World Cup game will be? (Yes, you can leave Cook out of your side)

[rich041187]

Are Anderson and Broad going to be fit? Thought Broad had an operation in September/oct.

[csnew]

Not surprising bopara got dropped. He always seems to get dropped despite doing better than the others. England's odi player of the year for you!

[ppccopener]

Bopara hasn't been dropped at all, he's in the world cup team and one of our better players
England want to have another look at Hales and rightly so, but instead of Cook sitting out,they have changed Bopara
Interesting reading BBC text this morning,they think it is possible Cook will go to the World Cup as captain but possibly not play himself in the strongest 11

which is an unusual way of thinking about selection but then England's selection does not make much sense lately to us fans.

[uknsaunders]

I can see an arguement for taking Cook and playing him against Aus/SA, where a good technique as well as ability will be tested. In the long run it can't be good to have a captain not in the XI but floating around the team.

Noble thing to do would be to resign the ODI captaincy and let the selectors pick him on merit (or not).

[Stuey]

I can see an arguement for taking Cook and playing him against Aus/SA, where a good technique as well as ability will be tested.

The problem with that is your basically saying to Hales or whoever replaces him is that we don't think you are good enough.
One player who has gone under the radar that I feel should be there is Balance, he was Yorkies best limited overs player, got picked for tests then shelved for ODI's....strange.

[ppccopener]

agree entirely Stuey
how Balance cannot make the side is beyond any understanding

[WalkingWicket37]

Both England's wickets have been with filth and Sri Lanka looking untroubled at this stage.
Another dicking on the cards.

And what is Harry Gurney doing near an England squad, let alone playing?

[alba caerulea]

I'm hoping this means Bopara is a cert and they don't need to look at him again. Never been his biggest fan but recently has justified his selection. I feel he could be a player who keeps improving with age and is now one of the more experienced players to build a new team around. No need for Bell or Cook, Morgan and Bopara provide the experience to the batting order plus their more dynamic skill sets. Morgan does need to find some form though but with his pedigree I think he deserves a little longer

As for Gerry, can you just ban him please admin as he offers nothing constructive. If you behaved like he does in a pub you'd either be thrown out or knocked out

[uknsaunders]

The problem with that is your basically saying to Hales or whoever replaces him is that we don't think you are good enough.
One player who has gone under the radar that I feel should be there is Balance, he was Yorkies best limited overs player, got picked for tests then shelved for ODI's....strange.

Regarding Cook - I'm not saying Hales isn't good enough but given we seem to play 7/8 bowlers every game, there is a tactical arguement to bring Cook in to bolster the batting against the stronger bowling attacks.

Agree on Ballance, given he bats 3 in test cricket I can't see why he can't do the same job or open in ODI's.

[WalkingWicket37]

Clever from Moren to bowl Matthews there, as an offie I appreciated that.
Was village to appeal when he's bowled him though...

[Stuey]

Looks like a 300 run chase on the cards for England.....a little sweepstake for fun on Englands score?
I'll start the ball rolling.

A/O - 235