Ridiculous ICC World Twenty20 Squad
Well, the preliminary squad for the Twenty20 World Cup was announced yesterday, and as I predicted yesterday there are some names in there that shouldn’t be anywhere near the England side. I don’t really know where to start, but I’m going to try and not get too worked up about it as half of the squad will be discarded before the tournament starts.
I think I also have such a problem that this squad resembles nothing like the team that played against the West Indies a couple of weeks ago in a Twenty20 game. Their argument then was that the one day players are good enough to adapt to the shorter game and they were the best players then – so what exactly has changed now?!
I suppose batsmen is as good a place as any to start, and a player of recent times who has been in and out of the side – Vikram Solanki. Its not really been his fault as he’s been chucked in and out of the side without much thought, but when he has been there he has done nothing – so why pick him now? Mal Loye seems to be the new Solanki as well, he’s back in now but will probably dropped like a stone again soon! I’m unsure as well about Mark Pettini as I havn’t seen or heard much about him, but I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt until I do so! Apart from Loye though I can’t see any of these scoring the runs needed to set and chase big targets.
Moving to All Rounders – and there’s a ton of them in this squad. We’ve had bit-part players in the England team before without much success, and players such as Glen Chapple, Darren Maddy, Jeremy Snape and Michael Yardy are hardly going to change that success ratio. The other thing the first three of those mentioned have in common is their age – they’re no spring chickens. I don’t understand how these three players get in the side; ok they’ve had a bit of success in the domestic competition, but the international scene is a completely different kettle of fish. I am pleased to see young players such as Luke Wright included – he is a real prospect and Bopara and Bresnan have some potential as well.
Onto bowlers and possibly the most ridiculous decision so far – choosing Chris Schofield in the squad. He was actually the top wicket taker this season in Twenty20 domestic cricket, but that’s because half of the games weren’t played and better bowlers didn’t bowl enough overs! Schofield was released by Lancashire and played minor counties cricket for a couple of seasons, but half a season playing for Surrey and he’s back in the England side! Ludicrous! Saj Mahmood has got to feel a bit unlucky as well – he’s a better batsman and bowler than Chris Tremlett but doesn’t get a look in, while two other England in and out players Kirtley and Lewis are there as well.
So its fair to say I don’t really agree with the squad but then it is only a preliminary squad and I promised myself I wouldn’t get too worked up about it!
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[…] was announced today and in time honoured fashion I disagree with it! I posted previously about the ridiculous preliminary squad, and everything I said then stands in my thoughts. We have players in the squad who have done well […]