Moen Ali, Ravi Bopara, James Vince, James Taylor, Joe Root,
Adam Lyth, Alex Lees, Gary Ballance, Eoin Morgan, Alex Hales, Jason Roy, James Hildreth, Samit Patel, Luke Wright,
Ian Bell, Craig Kieswetter, Jos Buttler, Johnny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Varun Chopra,
Ben Stokes, Jim Allenby.
The above is a list of players that I would rather have in
the ODI squad than Alistair Cook purely as batsmen. Cook for most people, looks
very uncomfortable when he looks to score quickly and has a strike rate too low
for one day cricket and should not even be considered in my opinion. The above
list however, shows how hard it is to pick an ODI batting lineup for England
with so many strong options around the country. There are 22 names on the list above
and all of them could do a job for England in one day cricket I believe, yet we
can fit just 7 of them into the lineup.
This goes to show that England should not be poor at one day
cricket. England have the players in the country to make big scores, it’s just
about picking the right team. If you sat 10 people down in a room to select
their one day sides they would probably all disagree on some players. Then you
add in some strong bowling options in my opinion:
Adil Rashid, Stuart Broad, Tim Bresnan, James Anderson,
James Tredwell, Harry Gurney, Chris Jordan, David Willey, Steven Parry, Luke
Fletcher, Toby Roland-Jones, Steven Finn.
There’s 12 options there that should offer enough to create
a good 4 man attack with many of the earlier options discussed able to bowl the
overs of the 5th bowler plus Ben Stokes can also be considered in
this category.I think its important in one day cricket to have some genuine wicket taking options and not just players there to stem the flow of runs in the easier overs to bowl in between overs 10 and 35.
Bearing all the names I’ve mentioned in mind this would be my 11 plus the other 4 players I’d take to the
world cup:
Alex Hales- England’s most destructive batsman at the top of
the order and he quite simply has to play in my opinion. Hales can pace a
one-day innings superbly and this puts him ahead of Jason Roy in my opinion who
seems to me to be over aggressive at times opening the batting.
Moen Ali- a very good spinner as well as arguably the best
timer of a ball in the team, Ali has to be in the side it’s just a matter of
where. I think opening is the best position for him as his superb timing will
be best utilised during the fielding restrictions.
Joe Root- I think every 1 day side needs 2 players who they
build a total around and Root and Taylor are the men to do this for me. His 100
at Headingley showed he has the ability to make a big score and I think he is
learning all the time in the limited overs formats and will get even better.
James Taylor ©- perhaps my most controversial selection,
Taylor has been outstanding this season and is by far the best player in county
cricket not a regular in the one day side. He’s captained Nottinghamshire
superbly this season so I would give the captaincy to him due to his experience
of it in county cricket, whilst I know Eoin Morgan captains Middlesex in the
limited overs forms, the poorness of the results does not inspire confidence.
Ben Stokes- His performance at Durham on Saturday showed me
that not only does he have to be in this team, but he has to bat in the top 6. This
guy should be huge to England’s future in all 3 formats of the game if handled
correctly.
Eoin Morgan- I prefer Eoin Morgan down the order coming in
towards the end of the innings. People saying he should bat at 4 are speaking
nonsense for me because he is at his best at the end of the innings. Partnership
building in the middle overs is not his strength but as he showed in the t20
international yesterday, is still England’s best and most destructive finisher.
Jos Buttler- 1 of 2 selections that everyone agrees with,
Buttler has gone from strength to strength in the limited overs formats and is
a strong finisher to have in the side.
Adil Rashid- the leading wicket taker in the RL50 thus far,
Rashid is at the peak of his career and offers a threat in the middle overs
that the reliable James Tredwell cannot provide. With Rashid and Ali, England
have genuine threats in the spinner positions.
Stuart Broad- the other selection that everyone agrees with,
it’s vital Broad has a good world cup being England’s best bowler in this form
of the game.
Steven Finn- Finn seems to have rediscovered his form which
is very good to see, with Stokes and Finn England have genuine wicket taking
potential in the quick bowling ranks which is the best way to stem the flow of
runs.
James Anderson- I’m actually not sure I’d pick Anderson for
every game, but in swinging conditions there is no-one better in the world. He
is a poor death bowler however and should not be used as 1. If conditions look
like they are unlikely to swing I’d bring Chris Jordan in for the increased
variety as Anderson struggles in shorter formats where it doesn’t swing.
Plus- Chris Jordan- A very talented bowler and clean striker
with the bat, he misses out on the 11 because of Finn’s ability to take wickets
in unlikely situations.
Ravi Bopara- Its very
harsh to leave Bopara out but I wanted to get Stokes into the top 5. Feel he
isn’t really worth his place as a number 8 on his bowling which is the other alternative
in my lineup.
James Tredwell- a
very reliable performer for England, however, I feel the more attacking duo of
Ali and Rashid offer more of a threat for England whilst also having 4 seamers
if 1 of the spinners has a bad day.
Jason Roy-A destructive batsmen, however, I remain to be
completely convinced of his ability to either make a big innings at the top of
the order or to bat through in a situation where he could come in at say 30-4.
