Panesar and Bopara in test squad for Pakistan series

http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan-v-england-2012/content/current/story/544461.html

Fair enough, or not?

Yep, I think that's the perfect squad.

Thanks for that, Hoggy. Hadn't seen the announcement.

As a Surrey supporter, most interesting thing for me is the recall of Steve Davies. I heard yesterday it was on the cards. All very strange. It never made much sense - for cricketing reasons anyway - dropping him in the first place. However, having dropped him, I don't see that anything is that much different to get him back now.

I'm pleased to see Monty back. He doesn't fit the identikit picture of an England player these days but will always be a decent and determined bowler. I hope he gets at least a few more days in the sun.

Bopara seems to have had more than enough chances already. If he was a village cricketer, I would say his place must be down to his wife making splendid cricket teas!

No qualms with that squad, pretty much consistent with England's selections from the summer and the Ashes beforehand. Bopara didn't do badly in the couple of tests he played, and is only there as back-up if one of the main batsmen gets injured.

Bowling unit is as expected, the four bowlers who destroyed India plus Finn and Tremlett who are the two next seamers in line, and Panesar as back-up for Swann or second spinner. Panesar's selection makes sense IMO, he has experience and that's something we'll need. The other younger guys will get a chance with the Lions I imagine.

Finally Steve Davies has always to me been the next in line for tests, so it makes sense to have him there. Kieswetter for the ODIs.

guildfordbat wrote:Thanks for that, Hoggy. Hadn't seen the announcement.

As a Surrey supporter, most interesting thing for me is the recall of Steve Davies. I heard yesterday it was on the cards. All very strange. It never made much sense - for cricketing reasons anyway - dropping him in the first place. However, having dropped him, I don't see that anything is that much different to get him back now.

I'm pleased to see Monty back. He doesn't fit the identikit picture of an England player these days but will always be a decent and determined bowler. I hope he gets at least a few more days in the sun.

Bopara seems to have had more than enough chances already. If he was a village cricketer, I would say his place must be down to his wife making splendid cricket teas!

It seems that England see Davies as a better player in the longer format than his wicket-keeping rivals.
As for Bopara, I agree. Surely it would have been better to give his place to a fresher player. James Taylor, maybe?
Is it Bopara's bowling that's getting him in the squads?

Davies was dropped from the ODI squads - but as far as I know seeing as he was the backup in Australia - he is still the man in possession as far as the reserve keeper spot.

Same basically applies to Bopara - he was the backup batsman in the Summer and did nothing wrong to deserve being shunted out.

Hoggy_Bear wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:Thanks for that, Hoggy. Hadn't seen the announcement.

As a Surrey supporter, most interesting thing for me is the recall of Steve Davies. I heard yesterday it was on the cards. All very strange. It never made much sense - for cricketing reasons anyway - dropping him in the first place. However, having dropped him, I don't see that anything is that much different to get him back now.

I'm pleased to see Monty back. He doesn't fit the identikit picture of an England player these days but will always be a decent and determined bowler. I hope he gets at least a few more days in the sun.

Bopara seems to have had more than enough chances already. If he was a village cricketer, I would say his place must be down to his wife making splendid cricket teas!

It seems that England see Davies as a better player in the longer format than his wicket-keeping rivals.
As for Bopara, I agree. Surely it would have been better to give his place to a fresher player. James Taylor, maybe?
Is it Bopara's bowling that's getting him in the squads?

i think its almost certainly boparas bowling thats keeping him in the frame as he gives an option that none of the other specialist batsmen we have atm can. i'm not really in favour tho of picking a batsman for his bowling ability unless its a 50/50 call on their batting and i just dont think bopara is ever gonna be good enough at this level and would have preferred to see someone like taylor being given a chance.

I genuinely hope Ravi is there as back up. I really don't rate him.

Yeah i think Bopara has won his place as the batsman who can offer a bowling option. Hes unlikley to play though I wouldve thought

The suprise perhaps is that Fatel hasnt been included ( perhaps i a startight choice between him and Bopara)

It would be a big gamble to play two spinners now, although England do bat deep who would you leave out for 5 bowlers ( surely unthinkable england would go into a game with just 2?) Strauss Cook Trott KP(this will pee Greggers off) Bell are pretty undroppable and Morgan is the best player of spin in the side but I guess he'd be the one to make way.

Think its fair enough.
Panesar continues to be the 2nd best English spinner of the day. Borthwick, Rashid and others aren't up to mark as yet, at least in test cricket.
As backup wicket keeper, Davies was the backup in Australia, and there is nothing that would suggest there is any need for a change.
Ravi Bopara continues to get more chances. He got a couple of opportunities in the summer, and although there was nothing spectacular, he didn't do badly enough to be dropped. Seems the English selectors see him as a special tallent. Ian Bell too had similar troubles early in his career, but we all know how he changed over the last couple of years. Anyways Bopara is the backup batter, and I am fine with it.
Everyone else just pick themselves.

Yeah, have to imagine we will go with 3 seamers and 1 spinner unless it is a real dustbowl. XI picks itself at the moment.

Flopara?Oh Dear!

It's a mark of entirely how far England have come that had we been asked to name the squad I reckon 14 out of the 16 would have been unanimous, and most of us may well have picked the exact same 16 (possibly Davies and Bopara causing some debate).

I'm not Bopara's biggest fan I have to say, I just don't think he's got the mentality to succeed at that level. Having said that, the selectors are clearly going for continuity, and there's much to be said for that.

Pleased for Steve Davies, but worried he's going to have to be someone he's not if he's to get a starting place in any format.

Someone raised an interesting point on Twitter...will there be any issues with Davies going to the UAE, given that homosexuality is illegal there?

Its not illegale to be gay, its just illeagal to do gay things there.
Like the rest of the squad wont have a problem because theyve kissed women in public before or drank alcohol.

I guess the only issue would be one of protest on his part to refuse to go because of their stance on homosexuality.

The law will only come into it if you are caught in the act. And i don't think the crowd would be a problem because Pakistan never have more than a few there. Most people would never recognise him anyway. It will not be a problem i should think.

Right so long as he doesnt start humping the umpire mid game it should be fine. Most straight players in the IPL have managed to avoid raping the chearleaders.

I can not see a moral problem (obviously he won't like it) with Davies going to the UAE, because surely the ECB would have asked him before naming him in the squad.

shankythebiggestengfan wrote:Flopara?Oh Dear!

I think you have just made Ravi's month. The more you mocked him in the summer ODIs the better he played

good to see Ravi in the squad.

Great to see Monty back for England, he's had an awesome season for us

Ravi on the other hand shouldn't be anywhere near the test squad!

Would be good to see England employ 5 bowlers(which include both Swann and Panesar) in the desert. Pakistan aren't really that great against spin bowling.

South Africa used 5, but Harris and Botha aren't really half as good as Swann, and still couldn't force the results.

i think its brilliant that Monty is back in the squad, its last chance saloon for ravi. He probably wont play, but if he gets his chance and blows it, then that wil be it for him, especially with the amount of youngsters coming through.