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[FattusCattus]

with all the debate about the current test team, I always find it fascinating when the Lions play, to see if there is a rising star coming through, and who to watch.

The squad's a bit difficult to understand at the moment, with a few names listed who are already in the England set up, so the red ball squad as I understand it, is as follows:

Jennings
Clarke
S. Curran
Porter
Coughlin
Mahmood
Gubbins
Davies
Hameed
Lawrence
Roland-Jones
Leach
Bess

People I'm excited about - Clarke, Gubbins, Hameed and Lawrence with the bat. It'll be interesting to see how they do in sluggish conditions, where it may also turn a bit.

                                      Roland-Jones, Leach and Bess with the ball - TRJ, I hope gets a hat-full of wickets if fit and forces his way back into the test side, and I'd like to see how Leach and Bess go away from Taunton and against some aggressive hitters.

There's a few who, I confess, I don't know what they do - Coughlin, Mahmood and Davies. Can any county-watchers shed any light on them?


Shame Garton and Helm weren't considered for the 4 day stuff - might be a good test for the bodies and their brains!!

                                     

[six and out]

with all the debate about the current test team, I always find it fascinating when the Lions play, to see if there is a rising star coming through, and who to watch.

The squad's a bit difficult to understand at the moment, with a few names listed who are already in the England set up, so the red ball squad as I understand it, is as follows:

Jennings
Clarke
S. Curran
Porter
Coughlin
Mahmood
Gubbins
Davies
Hameed
Lawrence
Roland-Jones
Leach
Bess

People I'm excited about - Clarke, Gubbins, Hameed and Lawrence with the bat. It'll be interesting to see how they do in sluggish conditions, where it may also turn a bit.

                                      Roland-Jones, Leach and Bess with the ball - TRJ, I hope gets a hat-full of wickets if fit and forces his way back into the test side, and I'd like to see how Leach and Bess go away from Taunton and against some aggressive hitters.

There's a few who, I confess, I don't know what they do - Coughlin, Mahmood and Davies. Can any county-watchers shed any light on them?


Shame Garton and Helm weren't considered for the 4 day stuff - might be a good test for the bodies and their brains!!

                                     

Here you go Cat...

Alex Davies - Lancs

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/516039.html

Paul Coughlin - will be Notts (was Durham)

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/517542.html

Saqib Mahmood - Lancs

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/643885.html

[edge]

Several of the test squad (Crane/Foakes/Livingstone I think from memory) are going out and playing the first two games before they head to NZ, so there's those to factor in too.

Coughlin promising allrounder if memory serves? Alex Davies scored loads of runs opening the batting and keeping last year, and Mahmood is a rapid prospect.

[alexhilly1492]

coughlin has left durham for notts over the winter

davies if he continues could be a problem solver for England as keeps and scores plenty as an opener

[Johnny]

Would love to see Al Davies do well. Used to play against him in the Northern League. He's always been a bit small, but you could tell even as a kid he was different class, but really humble with it too.

His dad got me out too many times than I can remember though... filthy slow medium in-duckers that looked utterly buffet, yet always picked up 50ish wickets a season and put him in the hunt for bowling awards.

For the kit nerds, Al was sponsored by Fusion before he became pro and got a deal with GM.

[Manormanic]

The skinny:

Davies - had a real breakthrough season last year, filled in as an opener and managed it despite having the gloves. Was impressed how well he played the short stuff and his patience. Too early to tell at the top level.

Coughlin. Matt Coles minus the beers. Nothing to write home about, but a good county pro.

Mahmood. Young kid, nice action, bit expensive at the moment but if he gets tighter his body should fill out to get him close to 90mph on a good day.

[six and out]

This tour started today.... albeit against a Jamaica XI.... Jennings 129 and Alex Davies 54.

http://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/england/jennings_makes_century_on_first_day_of_england_lions'_tour_of_west_indies.html

[FattusCattus]

Hmmmm, some of my pick not ready the memo!

Wickets for Porter, Roland-Jones  and Garton (whom I really want to do well!)

But nobody scoring any runs apart from Jennings - Hameed and Gubbins still can't buy a run!

[Johnny]

Gleeson added to the Lions squad, as Garton sent home injured.

[golders]

Is Gleeson the sharp Northants lad?

[cricketbadger]

Is Gleeson the sharp Northants lad?

Very

[ppccopener]

England lost but Leach cleaned up
Is this bloke now ready to progress to the full side so we go back and pick a specialist spinner?

Does anyone know if he can bat?

[FattusCattus]

Nope - and if he's a good enough spinner at this stage with Stokes, Jonny B and Woakes, we shouldn't care less if he can bat - as long as he can take wickets.

[FattusCattus]

In other news, there's a few lads there who need to turn up to the show in the next game and score some big runs.

I'm looking at you  Hameed, Gubbins, Livingstone and Foakes!!!!!

[Alvaro]

the pitches are dreck though, @FattusCattus Yu can watch them poke away on a pudding here http://cricketwestindies.org/index.php/match-centre/