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England v West Indies 2009 / News
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England v West Indies, 1st Test, Lord's
Bell and Vaughan ignored but Bresnan earns call-up
Cricinfo staff
April 29, 2009
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Any concern that Andy Flower's first squad as the official England coach might run to form has been blown away with three of the biggest names all missing out. Ian Bell, Michael Vaughan and Steve Harmison have all been ignored for the first Test against West Indies, while there were call-ups for Tim Bresnan, the Yorkshire allrounder, and Graham Onions from Durham.
There is also no place for Owais Shah who struggled in the West Indies and Ravi Bopara will bat at three as England put a clear emphasis on the future. Shah initially replaced Bell after the first Test in Jamaica but missed his chance as he made just 133 at 22.16 and has spent the last two weeks unable to get a game in the IPL.
It had been expected that the No. 3 slot would go to either Vaughan or Bell, but instead the selectors have opted for youth over experience. Bopara, who cracked his maiden Test century in Barbados before being dropped for the next Test, has long been considered a long-term option as No.3, and now he has his chance to cement it for good.
"The selectors felt that Ravi Bopara deserved his chance after his performance in his single Test in the Caribbean this winter," Geoff Miller, the national selector, said. "There was a lot of competition for that batting position but Bopara now has the opportunity to stake a claim. He showed in Barbados that he has the ability to play at Test level."
Bell has started the season in fine style with 172 in the Championship and 108 in the Friends Provident Trophy but it has been enough to convince the selectors he is ready for a recall. "We need to get him even more passionate about playing...so he doesn't lose his place again," Miller said.
Vaughan's form has been far less convincing despite 82 against Sussex at the weekend and his chances of regaining a Test slot for the Ashes have receded further.
The bowling attack will provoke as much debate as the batting line-up with Bresnan and Onions bringing a fresh look after a winter where England didn't take 20 wickets in any of the Tests. Bresnan, who was briefly recalled to the one-day squad last summer, played for MCC at Lord's at the start of the season and has since impressive with Yorkshire while Onions claimed a five-wicket last week to advance his claims.
"This is very exciting for the two young fast bowlers to be included in the squad for a Lord's Test match and sends a message to all county players that if they put in consistently good performances they will get recognised," Miller said. "Both have had good starts to this season and had been close to Test match selection on a number of occasions. They have earned their place in the party."
With just five batsmen in the squad England will field an attacking line-up, with Matt Prior continuing at No. 6, on a ground where they have struggled to bowl sides out. Since the 2005 Ashes Test there have been six consecutive draws at Lord's, but Flower has ensured he has varied bowling options at his disposal with Monty Panesar also included as a possible partner for Graeme Swann.
England squad Andrew Strauss (capt), James Anderson, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Graham Onions, Monty Panesar, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior (wk), Graeme Swann
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
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Tour Results
England v West Indies at The Oval
- Jun 15, 2009
West Indies won by 5 wickets (with 4 balls remaining) (D/L method)
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West Indies won by 5 wickets (with 4 balls remaining) (D/L method)
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The selection for the first Test of the summer seems to have been met with mixed reactions. I wonder if Bopara should be at three, though he has obvious class and presence. The romantic in me wants Vaughan there and taking sides apart like he used to.One of the classiest players I have ever seen he is also an opener which is better against quality attacks. That himself Stewart and Butcher have on the whole been more succesful than the non openers at 3 in the last 15 years tends to bear out this thought. Bell is unlucky that 5 and 6 are not free in this side,as he has real class as well. Prior is okay at 6, though needs to polish his keeping and put his pads togetherto stop the shooters.Presumably Bresnan's batting got him the nod, but he also has a bit of whoomf a la Botham. Onions is a like an Australian bowler-not express but at the batsman all the time. It's a pity about Harmison-a lot of fun on bouncy wickets but not the dreadful modern puddings. Result? Draw
Posted by LEGEND_KILLAS on (April 30 2009, 12:20 PM GMT)it makes no sense if ur going on current county form like goeff miller says will bell should be in da squad at lease and shah should be in da team cause its a joke how hes been messed about
Posted by R_U_4_REAL_NICK on (April 30 2009, 11:59 AM GMT)Well, let's just hope and pray Simon Jones recovers soon, Andrew Flintoff stays fit and in form (with BOTH bat and ball!), and Kevin Pieterson lives up to his full potential and seemingly everyone's great expectations. Without guys like these, the English squad has about as much bite and depth as a toothless shark floating along the top of the River Thames.
Posted by TheDoctor394 on (April 30 2009, 10:06 AM GMT)Mmmm... I don't know about Bopara at 3. Surely Shah deserved more of a chance. Overall, the team doesn't look terribly strong.
Posted by old_trundler on (April 30 2009, 09:19 AM GMT)I thought this would be easy until I sat down and thought about it. If you want 5 bowlers, its prety hard to drop Prior who we know can bat well in tests, in favour of Foster who is untested (recently) at this level. And the all-rounder at 6 needs to be able to bowl first and foemost, which explains the selection of Bresnan, although I cannot see him as a test quality batsman - he barely cuts it in first class cricket with an average of 26 ish. Someone suggested Rashid, but a leg spinner at Lords in May? So I guess I'd have to agree with the selectors and just suggest Strauss bats KP at 3, allowing Ravi to come in at 4 or 5, which he is much better suited to.
Posted by Woodsy on (April 30 2009, 08:52 AM GMT)The English selectors have gone more for youth than experience.Such a step is fine when playing a team like the West Indies. Once the Aussies visit, they have to revert back to Bell, who is a class act, and Vaughan who has the experience to handle the pressure of an Ashes contest.
Posted by nair_ottappalam on (April 30 2009, 08:46 AM GMT)Its surprising that England have overlooked Michael Vaughan. He has always been a champion performer at home. The inclusiion of Matt Prior ahead of Tim Ambrose is also not a welcome move. It might be okay with the Windies, but England should be looking forward for the Ashes which follows the Windies series. Nair Ottappalam
Posted by dutchy on (April 30 2009, 03:50 AM GMT)England's selectors show yet again they are unable to shake themselves from the cancer of a five batsman strategy. Any extra runs Matt Prior brings in are going to be undone by his sloppy keeping; the extra bowler will not compensate for a lack of runs. They may get away with it for a test or two but ultimately they will be found out. And why is Tim Bresnan called an allrounder when he only averages 25 with the bat at first class level? England have just lost the Ashes and will be lucky to beat the Windies.
Posted by segal on (April 30 2009, 01:41 AM GMT)hi here is my stay.i don't think the england selectores used their heads i mean that you would want a good experienced team to train up for the ashes. i dont think bring in in experienced young guys instead of some one as experienced as vaughn or bell. i think so they go with the steady experienced teams instead of young players who might be unpredictable. bell and vaughn should be in. here is my team (1)cook (2)strauss (3)vaughn (4) pieterson (5) collingwood (6)bell (7)prior (8)hormison (9)broad (10)anderson (11)swann/ panesar
Posted by HowZatbro on (April 29 2009, 23:28 PM GMT)forget the batting lineup, the real question is if these boys can take 20 wickets!