3rd Test England v West Indies

by Adam D Sun 03 Jun 2012, 9:44 am

Just got the press release for the squad so thought I would start a thread for it.

England name 12-man squad for third Investec Test match against West Indies

The England selectors today named a 12-man squad for the third Investec Test match against West Indies commencing Thursday June 7 at Edgbaston.

Pace bowler James Anderson is the only omission from the squad selected for both previous Investec Test matches against West Indies. Anderson received treatment during the course of the second Test for a minor quad problem and it has been decided that missing the final Test in the series will give the 29 year old an opportunity to overcome several minor injuries.
England won the second Test in the three match series by nine wickets at Trent Bridge to secure a series win having won the first Test at Lord’s by five wickets. Preparations for the final Investec Test in the series will begin in Edgbaston on Tuesday.

National selector, Geoff Miller, said: “We have been made to work hard for our two victories so far and are delighted to have secured the series, however we know that we will need to continue to play some good cricket if we want a third win against the West Indies this week.

“James Anderson will miss this Investec Test as we look to manage his workload ahead of a busy period of cricket this summer and beyond, a decision which is in the best interests of the team and James himself.”

England squad – 3rd Investec Test

Andrew Strauss (Middlesex) (Captain)
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Ian Bell (Warwickshire)
Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Alastair Cook (Essex)
Steven Finn (Middlesex)
Graham Onions (Durham)
Kevin Pietersen (Surrey)
Matt Prior (Sussex)
Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire)
Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire)

by **LondonTiger** Sun 03 Jun 2012, 9:59 am

Everyone will assume Finn plays now - but as a swing bowler Onions is a more direct replacement for Anderson.

by Liam Sun 03 Jun 2012, 10:06 am

Onions took 11 wickets for Durham in his last match, although Finn is next in line and a like for like replacement in my view shouldn't be considered.

If Broad has a slight niggle also then I would be tempted to bring in Onions then but I think you need one of the two of Anderson/Broad.

I don't think its as big of deal everyone was making out. I've heard Anderson has a couple of niggles and its not worth aggravating anything when its not worth the risk.

by Cowshot Sun 03 Jun 2012, 10:13 am

So they have rested Jimmy. Very interesting. I think it's a good decision in principle, given modern workloads. Wonder if Jimmy sees it that way?

Finn or Onions? I must admit my instinct is Finn, but I haven't seen much of either of them recently. Agreed Onions is more like for like, but Finn is more of an opening bowler.

by alfie Sun 03 Jun 2012, 12:25 pm

Makes sense if Jimmy is carrying a couple of nagging minor injuries.

Will maybe miss him more than a lot of people think. Last Test he missed ( last year v Sri Lanka ) Broad Tremlett and Finn had a fair bit of difficulty in dismissing them , though to be fair it was a very flat track.

Also leaves a slip catching vacancy - can't see Finn or Onions filling that quite important spot Smile

Better he misses this than a match against SA anyway.

by **LondonTiger** Sun 03 Jun 2012, 3:38 pm

Oh Jimmy will be missed. Do you remember the hype before that Lords(?) match last year about England's 20ft bowling trio destroying fragile SL with pace and bounce?

BTW is Tremlett still injured?

by jbd349 Sun 03 Jun 2012, 6:18 pm

Tremlett is playing a seconds match for Surrey this week so hopefully he'll be back soon.

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Sun 03 Jun 2012, 7:07 pm

I guess Onions/Finn may come down to conditions and pitch reports. Not a bad dillema to have when you're two seamers down.

by guildfordbat Sun 03 Jun 2012, 8:37 pm

jbd349 wrote:Tremlett is playing a seconds match for Surrey this week so hopefully he'll be back soon.

I've even heard a suggestion that he might play against Scotland in the CB 40 on Tuesday.

by guildfordbat Wed 06 Jun 2012, 4:12 pm

Steve Davies has been called up into the England squad as cover for Matt Prior who has an eye infection. Considered a precautionary move.

Davies will travel to Edgbaston and join up with his England colleagues after close of play today in Surrey's Championship match against Sussex at Horsham. If Prior is fine, Davies will return to Horsham in the morning. If not, Davies will make his Test debut. Gary Wilson will deputise for Davies in Surrey's Championship game.

by Duty281 Wed 06 Jun 2012, 4:47 pm

Think this Test will be a draw. Quite a bit of rain forecast and England's best bowler out.

by **Fists of Fury** Wed 06 Jun 2012, 4:50 pm

Yeah horrific forecast here in Brum, and it is tonking it down as we speak.

by gboycottnut Wed 06 Jun 2012, 5:24 pm

guildfordbat wrote:Steve Davies has been called up into the England squad as cover for Matt Prior who has an eye infection. Considered a precautionary move.

Davies will travel to Edgbaston and join up with his England colleagues after close of play today in Surrey's Championship match against Sussex at Horsham. If Prior is fine, Davies will return to Horsham in the morning. If not, Davies will make his Test debut. Gary Wilson will deputise for Davies in Surrey's Championship game.

Why Steven Davies? England should have gone for Craig Kieswetter, as he would have given England another good South African test match player.

by guildfordbat Wed 06 Jun 2012, 5:40 pm

gboycottnut wrote:
guildfordbat wrote:Steve Davies has been called up into the England squad as cover for Matt Prior who has an eye infection. Considered a precautionary move.

Davies will travel to Edgbaston and join up with his England colleagues after close of play today in Surrey's Championship match against Sussex at Horsham. If Prior is fine, Davies will return to Horsham in the morning. If not, Davies will make his Test debut. Gary Wilson will deputise for Davies in Surrey's Championship game.

Why Steven Davies? England should have gone for Craig Kieswetter, as he would have given England another good South African test match player.

Why Steven Davies? Because he's the number two England Test keeper and this call up reaffirms that. Sorry that doesn't fit with your Saffer ribticklers.

by gboycottnut Wed 06 Jun 2012, 5:48 pm

guildfordbat wrote:
gboycottnut wrote:
guildfordbat wrote:Steve Davies has been called up into the England squad as cover for Matt Prior who has an eye infection. Considered a precautionary move.

Davies will travel to Edgbaston and join up with his England colleagues after close of play today in Surrey's Championship match against Sussex at Horsham. If Prior is fine, Davies will return to Horsham in the morning. If not, Davies will make his Test debut. Gary Wilson will deputise for Davies in Surrey's Championship game.

Why Steven Davies? England should have gone for Craig Kieswetter, as he would have given England another good South African test match player.

Why Steven Davies? Because he's the number two England Test keeper and this call up reaffirms that. Sorry that doesn't fit with your Saffer ribticklers.

But isn't Davies bent?

by Liam Wed 06 Jun 2012, 5:59 pm

And...

by **Biltong** Wed 06 Jun 2012, 6:05 pm

gboycottnut wrote:But isn't Davies bent?

gboycottnut, I am hoping you are not inferring to what is most obvious. You know that kind of prejudice is not tolerated on 606v2

by Liam Wed 06 Jun 2012, 6:15 pm

Why even make that comment, does being gay mean you aren't a good cricketer. Its not even a good WUM its just stupid and idiotic.

by gboycottnut Wed 06 Jun 2012, 6:54 pm

No being gay doesn't make a player a bad cricketer. Sorry for any offense for my comment above.

by **Biltong** Wed 06 Jun 2012, 7:14 pm

apology accepted gboycottnut.

thanks mate.

by Duty281 Wed 06 Jun 2012, 10:07 pm

Weather in Birmingham

Terrible for Thursday and Friday, good for Saturday and not looking too good for Sunday and Monday. So yeah, a draw is most likely.

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Wed 06 Jun 2012, 10:20 pm

Duty281 wrote:Weather in Birmingham

Terrible for Thursday and Friday, good for Saturday and not looking too good for Sunday and Monday. So yeah, a draw is most likely.

See this is where everyone says "well why dont they pick a 5 man bowling attack and go for broke"

by robbo277 Wed 06 Jun 2012, 10:27 pm

Appears that if we're going to win this test we can only bat once. Bowl first, look to dismiss the West Indies cheaply then look to bat long. Would be a good opportunity for Davies if Prior is ruled out. Interesting that they didn't go for a specialist batsman (Taylor?) and give Bairstow the gloves. Either they don't fancy Bairstow with the gloves or Davies is just the next cab off the rank (unlikely).

Still, England win or a rain-effected draw, with or without Anderson and Prior.

by JDizzle Wed 06 Jun 2012, 11:02 pm

Robbo, I imagine the main thinking behind that is that Bairstow, whilst not having had the disastrous start to his Test career that some would have you believe, has yet to make a meaningful contribution with the bat and burdening him with the gloves would not be a wise move at this stage of his Test career.

by DouglasJardinesbox Thu 07 Jun 2012, 10:45 am

JDizzle wrote:Robbo, I imagine the main thinking behind that is that Bairstow, whilst not having had the disastrous start to his Test career that some would have you believe, has yet to make a meaningful contribution with the bat and burdening him with the gloves would not be a wise move at this stage of his Test career.

He's a batting keeper. he should be able to both. Another blunder by the selectors. If he has to be mollycoddled, he's not a test calibre player....

by **Fists of Fury** Thu 07 Jun 2012, 10:49 am

Toss delayed by quite some time. Not raining here at the moment, but looks very grim and the rain was extremely heavy up until 9.30 or so.

by msp83 Thu 07 Jun 2012, 10:50 am

The weather might just let Darren Sammy's men to get away with a draw. Almost the entire test is set to have lots of rain. Terrible, was looking forward to see Sunil Narine in test action.

by **Fists of Fury** Thu 07 Jun 2012, 11:09 am

Raining again. Full covers on.

by Cowshot Thu 07 Jun 2012, 11:18 am

Looks like no chance today, but maybe if we're lucky tomorrow.

by Liam Thu 07 Jun 2012, 11:30 am

Considering the weather, I would consider going in with going with 5 bowlers in Finn, Onions, Broad, Bresnan and Swann. There's probably next to no chance of a result, so why not just send 5 bowlers out there and try and go all out to blow the WI out in less than 40 overs. Big ask but I think you might as well. It would mean a batsmen missed out and I know giving Bairstow the gloves would mean he has another thing to concentrate on other than his batting, but I would rest Prior and bring in 5 bowlers. What do you think?

by msp83 Thu 07 Jun 2012, 11:30 am

Any hope of a ball being bowled Fists?

by Liam Thu 07 Jun 2012, 11:38 am

saying rain all day today. Friday is looking like showers, might be a hole in between lunch and tea. Saturday is an all dayer. Monday and Tuesday showers all day. Such a shame.

by **Fists of Fury** Thu 07 Jun 2012, 11:49 am

Nope, no chance of a ball being bowled today, I'm afraid. If today isn't a total washout I'll eat my hat.

by Mike Selig Thu 07 Jun 2012, 12:10 pm

martyr_94 wrote:Considering the weather, I would consider going in with going with 5 bowlers in Finn, Onions, Broad, Bresnan and Swann. There's probably next to no chance of a result, so why not just send 5 bowlers out there and try and go all out to blow the WI out in less than 40 overs. Big ask but I think you might as well. It would mean a batsmen missed out and I know giving Bairstow the gloves would mean he has another thing to concentrate on other than his batting, but I would rest Prior and bring in 5 bowlers. What do you think?

I think if you're aiming to bowl a side out in less than 50 overs you only need 4 bowlers to do so. This is the same argument we have had before: IMO 5 bowlers doesn't mean you bowl sides out quicker, unless one of your bowlers is misfiring, or incapable of bowling in anything else but short bursts. The latter is not the case with this attack, the former is unjudgeable. I can see the argument that 5 bowlers can turn 400 into 340ish, but I really don't think 5 bowlers increases chances of bowling sides out cheaply.

True Bairstow may not be needed anymore than the 5th bowler, but who knows, batting won't be easy, and Bairstow does score quickly...

There is perhaps an argument for picking 4 seamers given the conditions, but a wicket with moisture in it also turns a lot (remember MCG 2006?).

by **Biltong** Thu 07 Jun 2012, 12:12 pm

Fists of Fury wrote:Nope, no chance of a ball being bowled today, I'm afraid. If today isn't a total washout I'll eat my hat.

haven't you lost enough of these bets by now?

3rd Test England v West Indies Smiley-laughing021

by **Fists of Fury** Thu 07 Jun 2012, 12:23 pm

I'm yet to eat one, dear sir!

by **Biltong** Thu 07 Jun 2012, 12:38 pm

I suspect in the not too distant future we will ll witness on skype how you devour said hat.

3rd Test England v West Indies Smiley-laughing011

by **Fists of Fury** Thu 07 Jun 2012, 12:46 pm

Likely! I'm showing an increasing penchant for offering to eat hats.

by Duty281 Thu 07 Jun 2012, 1:02 pm

The weather will only get worse so that means no play today. It looks very doubtful we'll get any play in tomorrow as well.

by JDizzle Thu 07 Jun 2012, 2:31 pm

DouglasJardinesbox wrote:
JDizzle wrote:Robbo, I imagine the main thinking behind that is that Bairstow, whilst not having had the disastrous start to his Test career that some would have you believe, has yet to make a meaningful contribution with the bat and burdening him with the gloves would not be a wise move at this stage of his Test career.

He's a batting keeper. he should be able to both. Another blunder by the selectors. If he has to be mollycoddled, he's not a test calibre player....

Maybe Davies is just a better keeper batsman than him? If either of those were reasons for calling up Davies, I'd be satisfied with them. it's hradly being molly coddled if they're not grooming him to be the keeper-batsman, just a batsman, in the future.

by alfie Thu 07 Jun 2012, 3:02 pm

martyr_94 wrote:Considering the weather, I would consider going in with going with 5 bowlers in Finn, Onions, Broad, Bresnan and Swann. There's probably next to no chance of a result, so why not just send 5 bowlers out there and try and go all out to blow the WI out in less than 40 overs. Big ask but I think you might as well. It would mean a batsmen missed out and I know giving Bairstow the gloves would mean he has another thing to concentrate on other than his batting, but I would rest Prior and bring in 5 bowlers. What do you think?

Well if the time available is going to be reduced as much as people are saying , I would think the only way a result could be achieved is by knocking West Indies over extremely quickly and cheaply. In which case I would imagine there would be no need for an extra bowler ... If a fifth bowler were required the innings would already have been going too long ...

by DouglasJardinesbox Thu 07 Jun 2012, 4:12 pm

alfie wrote:
martyr_94 wrote:Considering the weather, I would consider going in with going with 5 bowlers in Finn, Onions, Broad, Bresnan and Swann. There's probably next to no chance of a result, so why not just send 5 bowlers out there and try and go all out to blow the WI out in less than 40 overs. Big ask but I think you might as well. It would mean a batsmen missed out and I know giving Bairstow the gloves would mean he has another thing to concentrate on other than his batting, but I would rest Prior and bring in 5 bowlers. What do you think?

Well if the time available is going to be reduced as much as people are saying , I would think the only way a result could be achieved is by knocking West Indies over extremely quickly and cheaply. In which case I would imagine there would be no need for an extra bowler ... If a fifth bowler were required the innings would already have been going too long ...

Why? 2 seamers, short shart bursts, rotate the next pair in, rinse and repeat. Mix it up more. Might work.

by Mike Selig Thu 07 Jun 2012, 4:26 pm

DouglasJardinesbox wrote:
alfie wrote:
martyr_94 wrote:Considering the weather, I would consider going in with going with 5 bowlers in Finn, Onions, Broad, Bresnan and Swann. There's probably next to no chance of a result, so why not just send 5 bowlers out there and try and go all out to blow the WI out in less than 40 overs. Big ask but I think you might as well. It would mean a batsmen missed out and I know giving Bairstow the gloves would mean he has another thing to concentrate on other than his batting, but I would rest Prior and bring in 5 bowlers. What do you think?

Well if the time available is going to be reduced as much as people are saying , I would think the only way a result could be achieved is by knocking West Indies over extremely quickly and cheaply. In which case I would imagine there would be no need for an extra bowler ... If a fifth bowler were required the innings would already have been going too long ...

Why? 2 seamers, short shart bursts, rotate the next pair in, rinse and repeat. Mix it up more. Might work.

Because all the England seamers are more comfortable bowling in long spells than short sharp bursts.

by **Fists of Fury** Thu 07 Jun 2012, 4:49 pm

And that's play abandoned for the day, folks. Not much better forecast tomorrow, either. Saturday (when I'm going) could end up being day 1 at this rate).

by gboycottnut Thu 07 Jun 2012, 4:59 pm

JDizzle wrote:Robbo, I imagine the main thinking behind that is that Bairstow, whilst not having had the disastrous start to his Test career that some would have you believe, has yet to make a meaningful contribution with the bat and burdening him with the gloves would not be a wise move at this stage of his Test career.

Well if England's coaches and mangement are thinking about Bairstow for the wicketkeeping position in the future, they should move him down one place to bat at 7 for the current stage of his test career with the current wicketkeeper Matt Prior moving up to bat at 6.

by robbo277 Thu 07 Jun 2012, 6:00 pm

http://www.ecb.co.uk/news/england/investec-tests/chanderpaul,318200,EN.html

It would be a shame for the West Indies, but if Shiv is out it would give England more of a chance in a shortened game. The psychological effect on both teams could be the biggest factor if he's ruled out.

by DouglasJardinesbox Thu 07 Jun 2012, 8:12 pm

Fists of Fury wrote:And that's play abandoned for the day, folks. Not much better forecast tomorrow, either. Saturday (when I'm going) could end up being day 1 at this rate).

What happens if Saturday is the only days play? Does that mean KP has been re-instated for the ODI's, which means he can play in the T20 WC?

by Corporalhumblebucket Thu 07 Jun 2012, 9:03 pm

DouglasJardinesbox wrote:
Fists of Fury wrote:And that's play abandoned for the day, folks. Not much better forecast tomorrow, either. Saturday (when I'm going) could end up being day 1 at this rate).

What happens if Saturday is the only days play? Does that mean KP has been re-instated for the ODI's, which means he can play in the T20 WC?

by gboycottnut Thu 07 Jun 2012, 9:41 pm

Corporalhumblebucket wrote:
DouglasJardinesbox wrote:
Fists of Fury wrote:And that's play abandoned for the day, folks. Not much better forecast tomorrow, either. Saturday (when I'm going) could end up being day 1 at this rate).

What happens if Saturday is the only days play? Does that mean KP has been re-instated for the ODI's, which means he can play in the T20 WC?

No it doesn't. At the way things are going, this third test match looks like going to start on the 5th day making it more or less like that of an ODI match. Therefore, KP will have to stay inside the England changing room as he technically doesn't play in this length of the game anymore at an international level.

by **Fists of Fury** Fri 08 Jun 2012, 8:56 am

DouglasJardinesbox wrote:
Fists of Fury wrote:And that's play abandoned for the day, folks. Not much better forecast tomorrow, either. Saturday (when I'm going) could end up being day 1 at this rate).

What happens if Saturday is the only days play? Does that mean KP has been re-instated for the ODI's, which means he can play in the T20 WC?

If only!

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