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Englands ODI Openers

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posted on 27/10/11

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I'm undecided on Kieswetter.
On one hand he has done pretty well in this format and history says we should maybe persevere.
And another part says his keeping isn't great and he looks like the sort of player who may get a few fifties and the odd ton but is that enough?
I don't mind the latter but he has to come out firing, like he did in the last match.



posted on 27/10/11

Your opener should be capable of getting 70s,80s if not hundreds.Kieswetter can get only 30s and 40s.I might consider him down the order but he is certainly not an opener.

posted on 27/10/11

Isn't England's problem the middle order with the exception of Morgan they all including KP struggle against spin?
Bairstow clearly isnt ready.
Its time to give up on Bopara
Bell a great test batsman but can't hack it in one dayers
Patel jury still out but has performed in some of the games and took on the spin.

I would like to see Butler given a chance. Ive not seen much of Hales and the James Taylor fan club has gone quiet.

In terms of openers I think England need to retry KP as an opener with Cook and perhaps give Kies a middle order role where he can attack the final powerplay.

posted on 27/10/11

Shanky, are you suggesting that openers should have an average of 70+. Who have you in mind to achieve this?

posted on 27/10/11

Bring back Luke Wright sorry just mocking someone else's idea...
Either go back to KP like i suggested other day..Or since Trott is nailed on for a place. Why not open with him? Thankfully the batting and bowling power plays have been moved further along in the innings. I wouldnt have an issue If Trott and Cook went at 5 an over for the first 10 overs.. Good foundation that.

posted on 27/10/11

Shanky, are you suggesting that openers should have an average of 70+. Who have you in mind to achieve this?

Very intelligent comment.
I mean that the opener when set should be able to score 80s or 100s.Kieswetter fails most the time and even when he gets in can only score a 30 or a 40 or at best 50 odd.Thats not enough.When you are set you should get at least 70s and 80s.If Kieswetter got 30s and 40s in each matchthat would still be acceptable but he gets out in single digits half the time and when he is set cant make it count.
He is OK for a lower order slogging role but not an opener.I would try Bell or Hales at the top.Ideally,I want Hales as I feel Bell has had more than enough chances.But I havent seen Hales bat so dont know whether he is ready or not.If he isnt ready then I would give Bell one final crack at the openers' slot in UAE.

posted on 27/10/11

Kash
Flopara has to go.Taylor should replace me.It would be a travesty if Flopara finds a place in the next squad.

posted on 27/10/11

Lol Flopara.

That will depend on his mentor Gooch as there is no other reason why I can see how this serial failure keeps getting in the England squad. Its not as if there isnt players waiting in the wings. Some good young players need to be given a chance.

posted on 27/10/11

Taylor fan club is still here, Only went quiet because others given a chance ahead of him we're doing a job.

Hales is class, He is tall, gives it a whack but is a much more rounded, talented batsman over Kieswetter,

Shanky, you are right about Kieswetter (who is a T20 specialist) but you cannot just judge Hales on that one effort,

He has battered CC teams in all formats for over a season now. Started in the T20 and has grown from there. Now a very settled CC 4 day batsman too,

I think him and Cook could work. I would also stick with Stokes and Bairstow (wk). They have talent and should be nurtured.

I would drop maybe 2 of the trio of Trott, KP or Bell.

I would probably keep KP. He has the X Factor.

Bopara,.. I have never been a fan, but felt he impressed against India at home to warrant a go in India, He is very average!!!

He gets a chance because he bowls, but hardly gets used. Fits into the bits and pieces players like Patel.

I would go with:

Hales
Cook (c)
Pieterson
Taylor
Morgan
Stokes
Bairstow (wk)
Woakes
Swann
Broad
Finn

This may be a bowler light... But they say that about our Test team,

I would use KP as a 6th choice bowler.

In Taylor, Stokes, Woakes, Finn, Hales you have the basis of a very young team to bring through a time of transition.

If I needed another bowler, I would replace Taylor with Borthwick or Anderson.

posted on 28/10/11

Bell

posted on 28/10/11

Warner is another T20 opener, opening in ODI for Oz and his average is 22.

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