Memories of 2011 when England had a settled side before sudden change of selection and tactics saw the most erratic England performances that I have seen in years.
When they were good they were world beaters, defending 171 against South Africa, when they were bad they were terrible, letting significant leads against Ireland and Bangladesh slip.
Tomorrow brings the first competitive fixture of England's limited overs tour of the West Indies. The squad has many unrecognizable names for those who do not follow County cricket.
West Indies vs England fixtures
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1st ODI: 28 February
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2nd ODI: 2 March
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3rd ODI: 5 March
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All ODIs played in Antigua
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1st T20: 9 March
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2nd T20: 11 March
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3rd T20: 13 March
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All T20s played in Barbados
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Moen Ali, Harry Gurney and Stephen Parry spring to mind. Ali has been an ever consistent opening batsman and part time spinner for Worcestershire. He has found international recognition on the back of improved performances, but more realistically the decline of other opening options.
With Ian Bell and Alistair Cook rested, and little other options, Ali has the chance to cement an opening spot if he can get some scores with his more dynamic approach to batting (his limited overs strike rate is over 100)
Other opening options such as Joe Denly, Craig Kieswetter and Jason Roy have not shown enough quality recently for international selection. The other options are being groomed in Sri Lanka with the Lions e.g. James Vince and Varun Chopra or have been harrowed by the Ashes tour e.g. Michael Carberry.
Stephen Parry rise has come similarly to that of Ali. Danny Briggs has failed to impose himself as an England international, neither has Scott Borthwick or Simon Kerrigan. Parry has a good T20 record but his selection may come as a left field option due to his lack of First Class and Lions experience.
Stephen Parry Bowling averages
| Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-class | 6 | 11 | 916 | 453 | 14 | 5/23 | 5/46 | 32.35 | 2.96 | 65.4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| List A | 54 | 52 | 2266 | 1881 | 65 | 5/17 | 5/17 | 28.93 | 4.98 | 34.8 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Twenty20 | 56 | 56 | 1236 | 1414 | 63 | 4/23 | 4/23 | 22.44 | 6.86 | 19.6 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Harry Gurney has been brought in to provide a left arm option to England's pace attack. With Tymal Mills with the Lions and with Reece Topley injured Gurney is the stand out lefty in English cricket.
The major title contenders go into tournaments with a settled side with the odd change based on current form. England go into this series with key men out of form. The top three failed to have any impact in the T20s against Australia. Ravi Bopara is always playing for his England career. Jade Dernbach has become the laughing stock of World cricket due to some shambolic recent performances. Tim Bresnan is a good honest cricketer, does not posses the X factor like rivals from other nations.
The only players certain of selection are Eoin Morgan, Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler. Joe Root and Ben Stokes will be given opportunities but the England management still do not know how best to use them.
It is hard to gain form without consistency and now England must select players who they feel will be in Australia next year. If the T20 is seen as giving players tournament experience then those who go to Bangladesh must be selected for the 2015 World Cup.
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