Surprised no one has mentioned this so far or are you getting complacent with England's domination of the Ashes?
The squad:
Alastair Cook (Essex, capt), Matt Prior (Sussex, vice-captain), James Anderson (Lancashire), Jonny Bairstow, Gary Ballance (both Yorkshire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Michael Carberry (Hampshire), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Monty Panesar (Essex), Kevin Pietersen (Surrey), Boyd Rankin (Warwickshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire), Chris Tremlett (Surrey), Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire)
Looks like England have all bases covered with Carberry as backup opener for Root if he fails like he did pretty much throughout the series barring one innings.
Middle order batting all rounder in Stokes
Balance also included and will join the list of none England born players . Think he is a good player though and a much better option than Bairstow and Woakes.
Monty is reserve spinner
Not sure why Rankin is included when England already have 3 giants in Broad, Finn and Tremlett.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013-14/content/current/story/673743.html
Ashes Squad for Down Under
posted on 30/9/13
Are you all mad?? Gary Ballance 1251 runs at 62.55, Joe Root 467 runs (for Yorks) at 155.67. Not forgetting 180 against the Aussies.
James Taylor 925 runs at 46.25
Taylor is NOT better than either Root or Ballance. His first appearance for England was woeful
posted on 30/9/13
Your wrong Sprinkler
posted on 30/9/13
That should be "you`re wrong Sprinkler" not "your wrong Sprinkler"
posted on 30/9/13
glad you admit to your mistake sprinkler
posted on 30/9/13
posted on 2/10/13
Its a Gary Ballance love-in
Joe Root will play for England for the next 10/15 years, Kharse. Gary Ballance will not
J Taylor > G Ballance ffs.... are you all blind?
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Must be, What makes you think Root will dominate international cricket for 15 years?
Apart from that wonderful innings what exactly has he done overall?
He's played in all formats, played a number of innings yet has been woeful & I'm a Yorkshire member.
Would love to see my county side representing England but Rashid is history, Bairstow is struggling & so is Root.
Brennan is hit & miss. Ballance is on fire & will surprise a lot of people this winter.
Watch this space!
posted on 3/10/13
Middleton, Joe has a batting average of over 40 in Test and ODI formats. Not bad for a lad of 23. Give him time,
I personally think BOTH Root and Ballance will have very succesful careers for England.
I think consigning Rashid to history may be a little unfair - he batted exceptionally well this year, finished third in Yorkshire averages, scored three centuries and took 29 first class wickets. And he is only 25.
Bairstow MAY yet make the grade, again, he is young, give him time. Cool it, we finished 2nd - next year we will win the darn thing
posted on 3/10/13
Root was on ascendancy till ECB pushed him to open. He would have done well in the middle order. Either way ECB needs to try multiple youngsters to prepare for KP, Trott departure in 2/3 years. Root has enough skill to be part of England set up. ECB needs to stop throwing too many things at him. Leave him in middle order and find a different opener for long term.
posted on 4/10/13
Drbantam, Joe Root is not 23 yet. as a 22 year old, only Alastair Cook in modern times has done better for England.
But i admit that Root is yet to prove his worth in the team; however, his grand start to international career warrants a long run for him.
Purely on age and performance, No other English batsman equals Gary Ballance at the moment. 23 years old and averages 55 in FC, 65 this season.
After Gary it has to be James Taylor, another 23 y/0 with near 50 averages.
Even Bairstow, though he looks ugly and nervous, is the right choice for reserve keeper, though mind you, he shouldnt be tried anymore as specialist middle order.
Overall, English selectors can be said to be in good touch.
The best possible squad in my opinion.
PS: kevin pietersen is 33, a great batsman like him can and should play for 37+ years. Every great batsmen in recent years have played even older, eg Tendu, dravid(both till 40,the former still playing), Ponting n hussey(ret at 38), Kallis n chanderpaul (38 and playing).
So he still should have another 4 or 5 years ahed of him, plenty time to think of future for england.
posted on 4/10/13
PS: kevin pietersen is 33, a great batsman like him can and should play for 37+ years. Every great batsmen in recent years have played even older, eg Tendu, dravid(both till 40,the former still playing), Ponting n hussey(ret at 38), Kallis n chanderpaul (38 and playing).
So he still should have another 4 or 5 years ahed of him, plenty time to think of future for england.
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I've never doubted KP's ability to play at the highest level for the next 4 years. But given that ECB is not letting him to play IPL (make more money), I doubt he will continue playing tests for that long or England for that matter. Hussey quit tests. While I am posting this note, he is still playing IPL/CLT20. KP for sure will follow the suit.