The ECB have announced the list of England players who can play for their counties. This is exactly what many of us were hoping for.
Full availability of England squad
James Anderson (Lancashire): Available for championship match against Nottinghamshire (May 2-5)
Ian Bell (Warwickshire): Available for all cricket from April 16 up to and including CB40 match against Derbyshire (May 13)
Ravi Bopara (Essex): Available for all cricket
Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire): Available for championship matches against Kent (April 26-29) and Leicestershire (May 2-5)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire): Currently unavailable, continuing rehabilitation following calf injury. Expected to be available in early May
Alastair Cook (Essex): Available for all cricket from May 2 up to and including CB40 match against Worcestershire (May 13)
Steven Davies (Surrey): Available for all cricket
Steven Finn (Middlesex): Available for championship matches against Durham (April 19-22) and Worcestershire (May 3-6)
Eoin Morgan (Middlesex): Currently at the IPL commitments. Available for all cricket from May 15
Monty Panesar (Sussex): Available for all cricket
Samit Patel (Nottinghamshire): Available for all cricket
Kevin Pietersen (Surrey): Currently at the IPL commitments. Available for championship match against Worcestershire (May 9-12)
Matt Prior (Sussex): Available for championship matches against Warwickshire (April 26-29) and Lancashire (May 9-12) and tour match against West Indies (May 5-7)
Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire): Available for championship matches against Lancashire (May 2-5) and Middlesex (May 9-12)
Andrew Strauss (Middlesex): Available for all cricket from April 16 apart from CB40 match against Netherlands (May 14)
James Tredwell (Kent): Available for all cricket
Chris Tremlett (Surrey): Currently unavailable, continuing rehabilitation following back surgery
Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire): Available for all cricket from April 23 up to and including CB40 match against Derbyshire (May 14)
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
Great news for counties and fans.
posted on 11/4/12
FOURTHREE That's an interesting thought, Certainly they have asked counties to do that in the past.
posted on 11/4/12
I see that Alastair Cook has been named in Wisden as one of the "cricketers of the year" for his average of 84 and double century. Strange that Ian Bell's 118 average and first double century didn't get him that honour.
posted on 11/4/12
Ian Bell was one of the 'Wisden cricketers of the year' in 2008, that's why, you can only be one once.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisden_Cricketers_of_the_Year
posted on 11/4/12
Thanks that's good to know.
posted on 11/4/12
comment by FOURTHREE (U1046)
posted 31 minutes ago
Ian Bell was one of the 'Wisden cricketers of the year' in 2008, that's why, you can only be one once.
=========================================
Surely a reason why it should NOT be called "Cricketers of the year" as many don't even qualify to win it.
posted on 11/4/12
Bressie
Always good having him playing for England and Yorkshire. I idolise the man and had to laugh when having won series after series we left him out, and starting playing Patel, Bopara and Morgan and hey presto
Good to have you back Big Tim
posted on 12/4/12
What I find interesting is that Bell is available only until a fixed date i.e. May 13th but Bopara is available for all games with no fixed date. Does that mean Bopara is doubtful to return to the test squad?
posted on 12/4/12
One reason why Bopara is available from the start may be because he didn't play in the recent Sri Lankan series.
Do the ECB think he doesn't need as much rest as Bell?
Only Patel (of the players back in England|) is available immediately who played in the 2nd Test.
It could 'do your head in' working out why some players are available and some not, ie Strauss not for CB40 against Netherlands, is it because they think the journey over there will tire him out!?
I'm sure the ECB have reasons for this. Thanks to the ECB for publishing this info.
posted on 12/4/12
Bopara doesn't have a central contract so that might be the reason. Essex do not get fully compensated so the ECB have less control over when he plays.
posted on 13/4/12
obviously an agenda against lancashire.jimmy anderson available for one game?thanks a lot.ridiculous.