Cricket

It looks as if Bayliss is going somewhere down this route with the squad he's, helped, pick for the one day series against New Zealand. Morgan, Billings, Buttler, Finn, Hales, Jordan, Plunkett, Rashid, Root, Roy, Stokes, Taylor, Willey, Wood.

Truth be told, there's a couple in there who I'd get rid of straight away - Morgan for starters. Finn, Plunkett and Jordan have all had plenty of chances and never shown why they deserve their place. Unfortunately, at least one of those three pace men is going to be playing. Out of the three, I'd probably go Plunkett for his extra pace and bounce. Finn should never play again as far as I'm concerned and I think Jordan is too samey to Stokes to have room for them both. I'd also have Buttler in the team just as a batsmen, he's good enough to be in there on his batting alone which allows Billings a run with the gloves.

My team would be;

Hales
Roy
Taylor
Root (c)
Buttler
Stokes
Billings (wk)
Willey
Rashid
Plunkett
Wood

Finn should never play again /, that's harsh especially as it was england who fu**ed him up by messing around with his run up

Finn should never play again /, that's harsh especially as it was england who fu**ed him up by messing around with his run up

He weren't good enough before the F**k about with his run up. He's far too expensive and most of his wickets are bad shots, rather than good bowling. Leave him in county cricket where he's good enough.

He weren't good enough before the f**k about with his run up. He's far too expensive and most of his wickets are bad shots, rather than good bowling. Leave him in county cricket where he's good enough.

i agree he's a way short at the moment but can't afford to just throw him to the wolves

i agree he's a way short at the moment but can't afford to just throw him to the wolves

Nah mate, just don't see a future for him in an England shirt.

Nah mate, just don't see a future for him in an England shirt.

still young enough, has the knack of bowling wicket taking balls, yes he goes for runs but he's still young enough to come again, i doubt I'll convince you but i still feel he can come again

still young enough, has the knack of bowling wicket taking balls, yes he goes for runs but he's still young enough to come again, i doubt I'll convince you but i still feel he can come again

I think it's undoubted he'll get chances time and time again, especially with Strauss being in the position he is now. I just don't think he should. But you never know, I said Swann should never play for England and begged for Joe Denly to get a chance.

It'll be interesting to see who the leader of the bowling attack is during the one dayers.

Our team for the opening ODI is;

Hales
Roy
Root
Morgan (c)
Stokes
Buttler (wk)
Billings
Rashid
Jordan
Plunkett
Finn

Very disappointed to see neither Taylor or Willey in the side. Taylor is arguably our best one day player and Willey offers us something different with his left arm seam.

Ah well, Kiwi's won the toss and have decided to bowl. Let's see how different our batting attitude is with this "new look" side.

Roy gone first ball

New team, same old England.

Hales gone too now.

50-2 from 7.2

Morgan given out LBW, he's reviewed it.

Looks a little high to me.

Hitting middle and leg, good decision by the umpire.

171-3 off 23 overs.

Morgan out for 50.

Root on 98*. We're flying here. New England?

Hundred for Root.

Had to do the school run so missed the last hour, looks like we've pushed on since that early wicket.

Hundred for Root.

What's the pitch playing like Billy?
Flat deck or just playing really aggressively?

In work and can't watch any yet

What's the pitch playing like Billy?
Flat deck or just playing really aggressively?

In work and can't watch any yet

Pitch looks dead mate. Their bowling doesn't look a threat. Possibly aided by the fact New Zealand have rested Southee, who famously tore us apart in the World Cup. It's more like we're getting ourselves out than them bowling us out with our aggressive shot selection.

But yeah, the pitch doesn't seem to have demons in it at all which means whatever total we get, the Kiwi's will fancy chasing down given their power hitting boys. Not the biggest boundaries either.

Root just edged through to the keeper off Boult.

It's a difficult position we're in now. Stokes and Buttler both new to the crease but both aggressive players naturally. Do we carry on and risk losing one of them, bringing in the debutant Billings to the crease or just try and build another partnership in the more traditional manner?

I'd go for just lash your bat at it. That's what has got us to 180 within the first half of the innings. If Buttler and Stokes can both hit quick 50s, we're looking at 280 with still 15 overs or so to go.

It's a difficult position we're in now. Stokes and Buttler both new to the crease but both aggressive players naturally. Do we carry on and risk losing one of them, bringing in the debutant Billings to the crease or just try and build another partnership in the more traditional manner?

I'd go for just lash your bat at it. That's what has got us to 180 within the first half of the innings. If Buttler and Stokes can both hit quick 50s, we're looking at 280 with still 15 overs or so to go.

Gower, Holding and Knight having this exact conversation on commentary.

Kiwi's just brought their debutant spinner into the attack. For me, this is one bowler we should target. He'll be bricking it on debut, knock him straight out the attack.

Pitch looks dead mate. Their bowling doesn't look a threat. Possibly aided by the fact New Zealand have rested Southee, who famously tore us apart in the World Cup. It's more like we're getting ourselves out than them bowling us out with our aggressive shot selection.

But yeah, the pitch doesn't seem to have demons in it at all which means whatever total we get, the Kiwi's will fancy chasing down given their power hitting boys. Not the biggest boundaries either.

Root just edged through to the keeper off Boult.

Cheers mate

It's a difficult position we're in now. Stokes and Buttler both new to the crease but both aggressive players naturally. Do we carry on and risk losing one of them, bringing in the debutant Billings to the crease or just try and build another partnership in the more traditional manner?

I'd go for just lash your bat at it. That's what has got us to 180 within the first half of the innings. If Buttler and Stokes can both hit quick 50s, we're looking at 280 with still 15 overs or so to go.

Without watching it is say that if its a new mentality, a new approach to the way we want to play then with two naturally agressive players in you have to keep with the mentality

Half way houses won't get us anywhere

Stokes dragged onto his stumps off the bowling of Boult.

Stewy Downing's double is doing the damage again.

200 up within 30 overs.

Billings gone.

Didn't see the dismissal as I'd gone for a piss.

Suddenly, 200-6 doesn't look a great score and we could struggle to bat out the innings now.

Rashid coming in. Got high hopes for this lad, more for his bowling than batting but he can bat. Hopefully he, and Buttler, can steady the ship now. Now is the time to calm down on the aggressive play I think and play the situation. Let these two get in for a couple of overs before the batting power play and then go back on the attack, especially if Boult has bowled out by then.

The  oh so predictable England collapse........