England in West Indies

First topic message reminder :

England are in the Caribbean for a few one day games...Tom Curran is the first Curran to make an England squad replacing the injured Jake Ball and it seems Jonny Bairstow will replace Sam Billings who has failed badly in the two warm up games

Also WI Presidents XI had a fat dude who did really well

As to the squad, it was suggested in last week's The Cricket Paper (an excellent and at £1.50 good value weekly doing as it says on the tin, don't think it's online though) that Wood could come into contention and compete for the last place, probably against Willey.

Much as I like Wood, I find it hard to think that the selectors will trust his fitness. However, he has apparently been bowling under the big tent on the Oval outfield with some of the Surrey squad - so not completely laid up. Not sure where Surrey fit in although guess it's a case of Stewart being happy to help out England and a mate of his recent signings, Borthwick and Stoneman.

One other possible change. Livingstone, I presume. He could come in for Dawson - although Jimbo for sure wouldn't like that.

Another point with Willey, batting aside, is that he isn't yet another right arm seamer. Wood conversely offers a bit more zip...but nothing noticeably more than Woakes or Plucknett do.
Willeyso record hasn't been great though so it could easily go either way. They are in a position with so many all rounders that his batting isnt as big a factor as it might have been.
On the fence really. Chances are someone will have broken down by then anyway. All in its the least interesting selection battle they've had ever. That's not just down to success but also long term coherent planning and a permanent limited overs squad separate from the test team ...rather than the tour games often being played by a test like side then specialists parachuted in the months leading to a tournament according to who had been in form the previous year ..or not because they were good but because there was a theory about a certain type of bowling ( eg Yardy).
For the most part these are the best players available, with a side built around that rather than fishing for someone to "do a job" or "offer variety". Even the finishers are genuinely good batsmen rather than happy slappers capable of a once a year century between single figure scores.
That does go back to the do you pick Willey just to have a left armer or go for wood who in theory is the better bowler.

A bit surprised that everyone seems to think Finn will be in the squad. In terms of seamers' pecking orders, I'd have thought he'd be behind Woakes, Willey, Plunkett, Wood, Ball and Topley at the least, despite his decent series in the West Indies

Fair point...I hadn't realised ball was injured and it's quite possible he would've been selected ahead of Finn for the recent games if not.
Topley I had forgotten even existed and does give that left arm option...if he can ever get fit.

So yeah I'll revise my opinions...There's a couple more candidates who pending fitness could keep Finn out of the squad.

alfie wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:Goose - I accept that's probably a fair point. At least by your usual standards.

If I get the chance at a Surrey members' meeting early in the season, I plan to ask Alec Stewart how much Borthwick's bowling is in the team's plans.

Hope you get the chance , guildford !  Would be interested.

Article/interview on Borthwick on Cricinfo the other day.  Quite interesting.  As were the range of comments it attracted (for once not full of wums).
Clearly the man has ambitions ; wonder if he will get another chance , or has he somehow slipped off the selectors' radar ?

Just going back to this one.

Birthday boy Alec Stewart spoke today at a Surrey members' forum and raised the subject of Scott Borthwick's bowling himself without my having to ask.

Per Stewart: The main reason Surrey have signed Borthwick together with Mark Stoneman is to strengthen and improve the batting following the departures of Steve Davies and Gary Wilson. As for Borthwick's leg spin, that may be used during the summer but is currently viewed as being ''work in progress'' and ''not the finished article''. Nonetheless, it's seen as having potential and Stewart is arranging for Shane Warne to give him some coaching later this season (fitting in around Warne's Sky commitments).

No thread for Pakistan in West Indies?