England's fringe players wait by the phone
England will name their World Cup squad on Wednesday. Who are the fringe players hanging by the phone? And could there be a wildcard?
Andrew McGlashan
18-Jan-2011
England will name their World Cup squad on Wednesday and for the first time since 1992 are being considered serious contenders for the title after an upturn in their one-day form. There aren't many places up for grabs with James Anderson and Stuart Broad both set to return to the pace ranks, while Paul Collingwood will travel despite his recent omission against Australia. But who are the fringe players hanging by the phone? And could there be a wildcard?
Ajmal Shahzad
Has been around the England set-up since making his international debut in the Twenty20s against Pakistan, in Dubai, last February where he started with two wickets in his first over but has had limited opportunities to shine. A whole-hearted performer with the ball he has shown the skill to extract reverse swing which will be a valuable weapon on the subcontinent. He lacks a potent outswinger at the moment, but bowls at decent pace. Remains a likely part of the 15-man squad.
Has been around the England set-up since making his international debut in the Twenty20s against Pakistan, in Dubai, last February where he started with two wickets in his first over but has had limited opportunities to shine. A whole-hearted performer with the ball he has shown the skill to extract reverse swing which will be a valuable weapon on the subcontinent. He lacks a potent outswinger at the moment, but bowls at decent pace. Remains a likely part of the 15-man squad.
Chris Tremlett
One of the stars of the Ashes campaign after being recalled for the Perth Test and collecting 17 wickets in three matches. Looked the complete bowler with height, bounce, accuracy and pace which troubled all Australia's batsmen. However, the World Cup will demand different skills on different surfaces and, in the opening ODI at the MCG, Tremlett's natural length offered regular scoring opportunities. Yorkers are not his strength and short bowling can prove expensive. Doesn't offer much with the bat and not the swiftest in the field. If Stuart Broad is fit may be surplus to requirements.
One of the stars of the Ashes campaign after being recalled for the Perth Test and collecting 17 wickets in three matches. Looked the complete bowler with height, bounce, accuracy and pace which troubled all Australia's batsmen. However, the World Cup will demand different skills on different surfaces and, in the opening ODI at the MCG, Tremlett's natural length offered regular scoring opportunities. Yorkers are not his strength and short bowling can prove expensive. Doesn't offer much with the bat and not the swiftest in the field. If Stuart Broad is fit may be surplus to requirements.
Chris Woakes
Woakes has come up on the blindside over the last two weeks after being included in the one-day squad a replacement for Broad. Was handed an international debut in the first Twenty20 and won the match with a nerveless 19 which included a huge six off Shaun Tait. Almost repeated the feat two days later in Melbourne with another massive blow against Brett Lee. With the ball he was steady and unsurprisingly a touch expensive, but Andrew Strauss has been impressed with his character which counts for a lot. Lacks a yard of pace to trouble the best batsmen. One for the future.
Woakes has come up on the blindside over the last two weeks after being included in the one-day squad a replacement for Broad. Was handed an international debut in the first Twenty20 and won the match with a nerveless 19 which included a huge six off Shaun Tait. Almost repeated the feat two days later in Melbourne with another massive blow against Brett Lee. With the ball he was steady and unsurprisingly a touch expensive, but Andrew Strauss has been impressed with his character which counts for a lot. Lacks a yard of pace to trouble the best batsmen. One for the future.
James Tredwell
A model professional who has spent many tours around the England team with barely a game to show for it; two one-day internationals and no wickets since first being included in a squad for the tour of New Zealand in 2007-08. But England's one-day plans include two spinners and if either Michael Yardy or Graeme Swann is ruled out on the morning of a match a specialist will be needed as back up because Kevin Pietersen is too inconsistent with the ball. Fits the bill, too, because of his useful batting and solid fielding. Might not get a game, but he's used to that.
A model professional who has spent many tours around the England team with barely a game to show for it; two one-day internationals and no wickets since first being included in a squad for the tour of New Zealand in 2007-08. But England's one-day plans include two spinners and if either Michael Yardy or Graeme Swann is ruled out on the morning of a match a specialist will be needed as back up because Kevin Pietersen is too inconsistent with the ball. Fits the bill, too, because of his useful batting and solid fielding. Might not get a game, but he's used to that.
Luke Wright
Wright has benefited from a loyalty card with the selectors, but the rewards have not yet been evident. Forty-two one-day internationals for a batting average of 21 and bowling average of 51. Is now outside the starting eleven and arguably should be outside of the squad. However, England have gone so far down the road with him that he seems likely to go to the World Cup as the back-up utility player. It's difficult to believe that a little over 12 months ago he was being considered as a top six option for the Test side.
Wright has benefited from a loyalty card with the selectors, but the rewards have not yet been evident. Forty-two one-day internationals for a batting average of 21 and bowling average of 51. Is now outside the starting eleven and arguably should be outside of the squad. However, England have gone so far down the road with him that he seems likely to go to the World Cup as the back-up utility player. It's difficult to believe that a little over 12 months ago he was being considered as a top six option for the Test side.
Ravi Bopara
If Wright was ditched, this is the man who could benefit. Has 54 ODIs to his name without ever cementing the permanent place that looked his for the taking after showing his talent at the 2007 World Cup. His premature promotion to No. 3 in the Test side knocked him back, but he has always been cut pretty quickly from the one-day side. Last summer he hit a boundary-laden 35 off 27 balls against Pakistan but was dropped two matches later. Can offer useful overs although needs to stop fumbling in the field.
If Wright was ditched, this is the man who could benefit. Has 54 ODIs to his name without ever cementing the permanent place that looked his for the taking after showing his talent at the 2007 World Cup. His premature promotion to No. 3 in the Test side knocked him back, but he has always been cut pretty quickly from the one-day side. Last summer he hit a boundary-laden 35 off 27 balls against Pakistan but was dropped two matches later. Can offer useful overs although needs to stop fumbling in the field.
Samit Patel
This would be the wildcard. Patel is in the 30-man preliminary squad which is as close as he's been to England honours since being cut from the Lions squad two years ago for failing fitness targets. Since then he has struggled to meet the demands set by the management and been consigned to county cricket with Nottinghamshire. Yet, as a dashing batsman and useful left-arm spinner he has the skills to be an ODI player and fill the No. 7 position. In this Flower-Strauss reign, though, attitude counts for a lot.
This would be the wildcard. Patel is in the 30-man preliminary squad which is as close as he's been to England honours since being cut from the Lions squad two years ago for failing fitness targets. Since then he has struggled to meet the demands set by the management and been consigned to county cricket with Nottinghamshire. Yet, as a dashing batsman and useful left-arm spinner he has the skills to be an ODI player and fill the No. 7 position. In this Flower-Strauss reign, though, attitude counts for a lot.
Possible squad Andrew Strauss (capt), Steve Davies, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Paul Collingwood, Michael Yardy, Luke Wright, Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Ajmal Shahzad, James Tredwell.
Andrew McGlashan is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo