England Squad for T20 World Cup

canveyshrimper · Mar 31, 2010

The England squad is confirmed here, it's good to see Ravi Bopara come back. However there's a couple of baffling selections IMO, that of Sideshow, who after coming home early from Bangladesh with an injury, I thought he would be put out to grass. And also that of Michael Yardy.

With Trott being left out Michael Lumb ensures that our Saffer contingent isn't reduced. Although I suppose he was born in Yorkshire and his father is a former Yorkshire cricketer. Kieswetter is the only keeper, as poor James Foster drops even further down the pecking order.

number11 · Mar 31, 2010

canveyshrimper said:
The England squad is confirmed here, it's good to see Ravi Bopara come back. However there's a couple of baffling selections IMO, that of Sideshow, who after coming home early from Bangladesh with an injury, I thought he would be put out to grass. And also that of Michael Yardy.

With Trott being left out Michael Lumb ensures that our Saffer contingent isn't reduced. Although I suppose he was born in Yorkshire and his father is a former Yorkshire cricketer. Kieswetter is the only keeper, as poor James Foster drops even further down the pecking order.

As exemplory as Foster kept in the last T20, I can see the logic in playing Kieswetter. The ball shouldn't move about as much in the Caribbean as it would in England and so Kieswetter's hitting at the top of the order should compensate for his merely adequate keeping skills, with us then being able to play an extra batsman, bowler or allrounder.

Never being a fan of the lumering Yardy, though think he will add more than Tredwell. Shame Rashid has dropped out again as he did quite well in the last world cup. Gutted Sidebottom is anywhere near the squad.

Otherwise, it doesnt look like that bad a team. Certainly one capable of beating anyone on their day. Certainly our batting looks decent, with a number playing in the IPL now, but I would be worried about our bowlers lacking regular T20 experience.

That T20 is a bit of a lottery means we do have a bit of a chance.

Yorkshire Blue · Mar 31, 2010

I have a theory that picking Sideshow is a genius move.

Basically England wanted to delay their selection until as late as possible. This is (a) because England don't know their best team and (b) because form is all important in 20:20.

By picking a player who is bound to be injured, it allows England to call up a form player nearer to the time, once Sideshow has been ruled out with that inevitable injury.